Interpol flags interest in internet regulation

Observer status up for debate.

Interpol has applied to join internet authority ICANN's public policy advice engine as an "international observer" after high-level talks in France overnight.

A delegation from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) including president Rod Beckstrom, chief security officer Jeff Moss and government affairs VP Jamie Hedlund met Interpol's secretary general Ronald Noble at the police's general secretariat headquarters in Lyon.

The talks "focused on internet security governance and enhancing common means for preventing and addressing internet crime", according to an ICANN statement.

Interpol also lodged a formal expression of interest to join ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee.

"Both organisations are international, both are politically neutral, and both are focused on the good of the world. Both also care about improving the security of the Internet for the future," Noble said.

"The internet has no borders, and neither do the criminals who exploit it. As the internet's role in society continues to increase in scope and importance, it is vital for Interpol to help create bridges between the international law enforcement community it represents and ICANN in order to advance internet security practices for the benefit to all."

Existing high-profile observers included UNESCO, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the League of Arab States.

The committee was made up of Governmental ICT representatives. Australia had two members from the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE).

Interpol's application was due to be "explored" at ICANN's international conference in Singapore next month, where an Interpol delegation was due to attend.