EU finds US' influence on Internet governance diminished following NSA leaks

The European Union is reportedly going to push for globalizing Internet governance functions after losing confidence in the US' ability to manage Internet.

The EU's proposal is sparked by revelations by whistleblower Edward Snowden about the US' mass surveillance programmes, targeting citizens and global leaders.

According to PC World, EU's draft policy paper stated that large-scale surveillance and intelligence activities have led to a loss of confidence in the Internet and its present governance arrangements.

The report said that currently California-headquartered ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) in a long-standing operating agreement with the US government oversees Internet governance issues, including the assignment of top-level domains.

The EU paper stated that the Internet should remain a single, open, free, unfragmented network of networks, subject to the same laws and norms that apply in other areas of people's day-to-day lives.

It noted that Internet's governance should be based on an inclusive, transparent and accountable multistakeholder model.

The report said that governments including Russia, China and Brazil have called for more international governance of the Internet in recent years.