[deadtofu]

Because it's ours. We were just were kind enough to let you use it.

[noir_lord]

Tenuously was yours (since the original internet (in the sense of a global network) was a connection of multiple networks and not all of them where in the US, far from it) it certainly isn't anymore.

The UK had JANET in the late-70's/early 80's other countries had similar, the US was important and influential but the internet would have existed anyway, the concept of connecting a bunch of disparate networks together to form a single internetwork is one of those things that would have happened anyway.

There are 5-6 times as many users outside the US as in the US, most of the equipment running it isn't even made in the US anymore.

So far the arguments I've seen on here have been "well we set it up so it's ours forever" which by that logic means we own all the telecoms systems in the world (we been the UK) as well as all the railways.... (which is absurd but then so is "it's ours" in relation to the internet).

[hueving]

The UK does own it's telecom systems. If I want a phone number that works in the UK, it's going to be via a UK telecom.

Nobody is saying you can't setup a router or networks on your own. But if you want addressing from ICANN, a US company, you have to play by US rules.

[noir_lord]

> The UK does own it's telecom systems.

I know I used to work in telecomms, my point was that having the first system doesn't mean we should control the ITU in perpetum.

In fact the ITU model is a good example of a model that would work here, the UN runs that and I can ring a phone in America or Azerbaijan.

[hueving]

That model doesn't work when we all share the same root name servers. I don't want a majority vote of a bunch of oppressive countries to be able to strip a website of its domain because it has an offensive joke on it.

[serge2k]

uh no, it just means the rest of the world can either submit to the US ruling the internet or tell them to get fucked and go do it themselves.

Which honestly, I'm fine with given the MURICA! style arrogance of "we invented it you just get to use it"

[noir_lord]

The US have been good stewards so there has never been a reason to seriously contemplate moving en masse and without that critical mass you'd end up isolating your national network and having to bridge out anyway.

That said there is essentially zero technical reason why we couldn't just route (pun intended) straight around the US 'control' of the internet if we wanted so yeah it's a case of "we'll let you run it as long as you behave" rather than "you are the only ones who can".

[ionised]

People will use it whatever the US wants. It has no choice in the matter.