The Commerce Department said Friday 2014-03-14 that it is planning to transition out of its oversight role for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN. The move is viewed as a response to increasing international concern about U.S. control over the Internet's structure, particularly in light of the recent disclosures about surveillance by the NSA and other U.S. intelligence agencies.
The US has been able to preserve the security and stability of the Internet while keeping it open and free from censorship.
Under a new regime without US guardianship Non-US entities will add risk to the stability and open nature of the Internet.