united-states internet international
Does the federal government of USA have any powers over functioning of ICANN
<p>Since the very inception of the internet, as we know it today, USA had a pivotal role to play including in the management of DNS (Domain Name System). However internet evolved to be more free.</p>
<p>However, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) — the body governing DNS — is of US origin.</p>
<p><em>Does the federal government of USA still have any powers over functioning of ICANN?</em></p>

<p>The U.S. government previously contracted with ICANN for services, and that contract gave the Department of Commerce oversight authority over ICANN.</p>
<p>But both that contract and the department's oversight responsibilities <a href="https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/stewardship-of-iana-functions-transitions-to-global-internet-community-as-contract-with-us-government-ends-1-10-2016-en" rel="noreferrer">ended in 2016</a>, making ICANN a fully private entity. At this point, the federal government's relationship with ICANN is more like its relationship with any other private company or individual; it can write laws and regulations governing its behavior, but it may not exert direct control over its actions.</p>
