Federal Judge Rules That Obama’s Handover of Internet Control Can Go Through

Four state attorney generals, as well as Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and John Thune (R-SD) fail in their attempts to keep President Obama from transferring the control of the internet out of U.S. hands and to the control of an international body.

The transfer of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) from the U.S. to an international entity representing 162 countries will proceed on Saturday as planned.

A primary function of ICANN is done by its Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) department, which coordinates the internet’s domain name and IP address system.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt and Nevada Attorney General Paul Laxalt filed a lawsuit on Wednesday night to stop the White House’s proposed transition of ICANN functions.

Earlier today, a federal judge struck down their efforts.

The complaint that was filed listed concerns with the potential security risks posed to domain names for the military (.mil) and the government (.gov).

The idea that control of domain names and website access could be put in the hands of nations that may not have the best record for human rights or freedom of speech should be troubling to everyone.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t received the kind of attention that it warrants, likely because of the circus this election season has become.

Senators Cruz and Thune had sought to include language to delay the hand over into the continuing resolution to fund the government, but to no avail.

The takeover begins tomorrow, October 1, 2016.

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