Image used with permission by copyright holderThe U.S. government just relinquished control over one very large entity — the internet. As of Saturday, October 1, the federal National Telecommunications and Information Administration no longer exercises control over the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which has long been the manager of internet domain names. But now, ICANN is truly an independent non-profit, free from the oversight of the American government.
Instead, as an autonomous not for profit organization, ICANN will now answer to international stakeholders across the internet community, including a governmental advisory committee, a technical committee, industry committee, internet users, and telecommunications experts.
Lawrence Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the Department of Commerce, released a brief statement early Saturday on the transition, saying simply. “As of October 1, 2016, the IANA [Internet Assigned Numbers Authority] functions contract has expired.”
The decision to release ICANN from under the thumb of the government has become a highly politicized issue, with some lawmakers insisting that the move would be akin to the U.S. “giving away the internet,” and could serve as a threat to First Amendment rights.
But others say that these are misguided notions. As Ingrid Burrington, an expert on the infrastructure of the internet noted, critics of the deal are “under the impression that we owned the Internet to begin with, and we never really did … your Internet is going to keep working the same way.”
Stephen Crocker, ICANN’s board chairman and one of the engineers involved in the formation of some of the earliest internet protocols, also applauded ICANN’s newfound freedom. “This transition was envisioned 18 years ago, yet it was the tireless work of the global Internet community, which drafted the final proposal, that made this a reality,” he said in a statement. “This community validated the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance. It has shown that a governance model defined by the inclusion of all voices, including business, academics, technical experts, civil society, governments and many others is the best way to assure that the Internet of tomorrow remains as free, open and accessible as the Internet of today.”
Nreal’s Air AR glasses head to the U.S., ready to rock with iPhones
Nreal is bringing its augmented reality (AR) glasses to the U.S., and this time the company is porting over all that immersive fun to the iOS ecosystem. The Nreal Air, which have been available in the U.K. since May, carry a price tag of $379 and will be available via Amazon and authorized retail outlets starting today.
The Nreal Air is a watered-down version of the Light AR glasses, but the package is still quite compelling for the asking price. Rocking a more consumer-friendly wayfarer design similar to Facebook’s Ray-Ban Stories, the Nreal Air feature an OLED display offering an effective resolution of 3840 x 1080, the same as the pricier Light version.
Jeep is launching its first two electric SUVs in the U.S. in 2024
Jeep will launch four electric SUVs for North America and Europe by the end of 2025, with at least two coming to the U.S., the automaker confirmed Thursday. While Jeep has some plug-in hybrids in its lineup, these will be the brand's first all-electric models.
The first of these models to launch will be the Jeep Recon, which is scheduled to start production in 2024, with reservations opening in early 2023. While it won't be fully revealed until next year, Jeep confirmed the Recon will have a "one-touch power top, removable doors, and glass," similar to the current Jeep Wrangler. While it doesn't replace the Wrangler, it's definitely inspired by the iconic off-roader, Jim Morrison, head of the Jeep brand in North America, said during a presentation of the electrification plan.
U.S. federal court system cyberattack is worse than previously thought
A cyberattack incident that involved the U.S. federal court system infrastructure has been proven to be an “incredibly significant and sophisticated” attack.
This statement is a stark difference from the one initially provided when the situation occurred in 2020.
