The internet is run by an unaccountable private company. This is a problem

The US government's plan to give up authority over Icann may create the web's answer to Fifa - when problems arise, no one will have the power to intervene

What if instead of organising a football competition every four years, Fifa took on management of the internet? Leaving aside the arrests and bribery allegations, the organisation might look a bit like the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ( Icann), the private California company responsible for overseeing the running of the internet. The scary thing about Fifa is that, when things go wrong, no one else has the power to intervene.

It was thought that 30 September 2015 was supposed to be a significant date in internet governance. The US government was going to hand over key responsibilities to the internet community - but that date will be missed, because Icann's board looks set to oppose plans to make itself more accountable.