Internet has made a mark in every individual’s life. Whether it is news, views, shopping, entertainment or disseminating information, every person uses internet. To discuss on the crucial issue of internet governance, Amity School of Communication organized an interactive session with Mr. Fadi Chehade, President & CEO – Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Numbers (ICANN).

Prof. Subi Chaturvedi, Social Activist and Film Maker moderated the session. Prof. (Col.) R.K. Dargan, Professor & Advisor – Amity School of Communication welcomed Mr. Fadi Chehade. During his talk, Mr. Chahade said that internet has become the central source of information. It has been the face of free expression, political maneuverance and peace & harmony. Mr. Chehade said that culture, religion, language, nationality divide human beings but internet unites all. Billions of people connect to internet daily and more will connect in future, we all have to make sure that internet does not make any ideology to differentiate between persons who use net and persons who do not use internet. Mr. Chehade remarked that his country Egypt have been revolutionized by internet. Mr. Chehade posed question to the students that whether they want someone in other country or region to control internet. He said that India has influenced the world in many aspects and now the young Indians should influence the world in Internet governance. Talking about his organization ICANN, he said that to access a website on the Internet one has to type an address into computer -- a name or a number. That address must be unique so that computers know where to find each other. ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that coordination, there wouldn't have one global Internet. ICANN also defines policies for how the "names and numbers" of the Internet should run.

Mr. Chehade said that there have been revolutions all over the world and many governments’ want to control the voices of people. Internet has started at transnational level and if each country makes separate laws and rules specific to that country than internet can not work. In pre-internet time, lots of resources were needed to spread the information but now internet has facilitated the spreading of views by clicking just few buttons. Mr. Chehade added that we are living in digital world and our every movement is tracked through some medium or other. One can not find when he is being tracked. Replying to the question of cyber war activities, Mr. Chehade said that there are different views about whether cyber war is good or bad. To curb security threats, especially in India; ICANN will be launching Center of Excellence in Domain Name System Security in India intended to solve critical Domain Name System (DNS) security issues, such as thwarting cyber attacks.

Prof. Subi Chaturvedi, Social Activist and Film Maker said that we all are living in internet age and we all want to bridge the gaps and converse with the whole world. This is time of learning and having fun and may we live in this interesting time ever. Prof. Chaturvedi added that internet spearheaded many revolutions with the active involvement of youth.

Prof. (Col.) R.K. Dargan, Professor & Advisor – Amity School of Communication said that it is proud moment for students of Amity to listen the views of Mr. Chehade on internet governance and role of ICANN in this regard.

Students, faculty members and Senior officials of Amity University were present during the interactive session.