THERE are two forthcoming international events that have created a huge debate on who will control the internet in the future. These events are the 8th Internet Governance Forum (IGF), to be held in Baku from November 6 to 9, and the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) which will meet from December 3 to 14, 2012 in Dubai. While the IGF brings all the players including civil society on a common platform, it has no binding powers to make any changes to the way internet functions. The WCIT, on the other hand, is part of the International Telecom Union’s treaty making process and can --- through modifying the International Telecom Regulations (ITRs) --- change the way that the internet functions today and therefore decide who will control the internet.