Senator Ted Cruz, one of the main candidates for the presidential post from the Republican party, addressed ICANN’s chair Steve Crocker with an angry letter, reports Domain Incite. The politician has blamed ICANN in scornful attitude and unwillingness to answer important questions related to IANA transition.
Senator Cruz showed sudden interest in the topic in December last year when it became known that Fadi Chehade, who left his position as the President of ICANN, accepted the offer of an unpaid position of an advisor in Internet governance committee in China. Ted Cruz is obviously concerned that Chehade’s experience can let such undemocratic country as China influence and control the global network. Moreover, it’s well known that the republicans initially are pretty negative when it comes to IANA transition from the US government to the Internet-community at least because this idea was supported by democrat Obama.
Speaking at a recent ICANN meeting in Marrakesh Fadi Chehade said: “And you know that this [Cruz] letter is not driven by anyone really worried about the transition. This is someone really worried about politics. So let’s not bring politics into the transition…” It’s hard not to agree with his words. However, in this case ICANN Corporation itself has given rise to the new tensions. On March 3rd the corporation has received Ted Cruz’s previous letter with a big list of questions related to the role of Chehade in the Chinese advisory commission and possible dangers that this could lead to for the US interest and freedom of the Internet. ICANN promised to answer these questions in two week’s time; however, it hasn’t been done for some reason. Ted Cruz took advantage of the situation, since he is a presidential candidate, it’s important for him to constantly remind everyone about himself.
