Domain name regulator slammed for vendor bias

Domain name regulator Icann has come under fire for putting vendor self-interest above the needs of Internet users.

Campaigners claim the 18 candidates selected by Icann's nomination board to stand in its autumn elections reinforce perceptions that the organisation has an unhealthily commercial outlook.

The Internet Democracy Project (IDP) and Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) are worried that issues like affordability, privacy and accessibility to the internet will be ignored.

In a joint statement, they said: "Arguably, every region should have a consumer and civil liberties candidate representing privacy, speech and access."

IDP and CPSR claim only seven of the 18 worldwide candidates are qualified to represent users and none of the five European nominees meet the group's requirements.

Oliver Muron (France Telecom) and Winfried Schiuller (Deutsche Telekom) were criticised by campaigners for being tied to a supplier. Alf Hanson and Oliver Povov come from the research and development community - already well represented on the Icann board, according to IDP and CPSR - and the fifth candidate, Maria Livanos Cattaui, is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce.

Icann hoped to avoid criticism by allowing users to stand independently if they secured the backing of two per cent of the electorate in their area. With 35,000 voting members in Europe, users have until 31 August to sign up the 700 backers they need.

German independent candidate Lutz Donnerhacke said Icann's election process was counter-productive. "The five they have picked are very loyal to the current Icann board. They're already very deeply involved and could have been made directors without going through the election process," he said.

Jeanette Hofmann, another user standing for independent election, agreed with the criticism, but added: "I do believe the process is still open and that users will wield an influence on the future changes of Icann - provided they improve their own co-ordination."

Icann was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.