The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) - Rio 2007

Debate over U.S. control of core Internet systems threatens to overtake an international meeting in Brazil , that was meant to cover topics including spam, free speech and cheaper-access.

> US Internet Control to Lead Rio Talks

"Let's progress slowly but that's not to say go backwards or just spin our wheels," said Hadil da Rocha Vianna, co-chairman of the forum's advisory group and director of science and technology at Brazil's foreign ministry.

The Internet Governance Forum is the result of a compromise. Many countries complained U.S. dominance wasn't discussed enough during the first forum last year, in Athens. "If last year was viewed as a trial run, this year is in a sense a bit more important," said Michael Geist, a law professor at the University of Ottawa.