Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science

Until what year did the U.S. control the Internet?

1. 2000

2. 2005

3. 2009

4. 2012

The correct answer is: 2009

The U.S. control of the Internet primarily refers to the oversight of the Internet's domain name system and the management of its core infrastructure by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and other federal entities. This situation persisted until 2016, when the U.S. government transitioned oversight of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions to the global multi-stakeholder community. The choice indicating 2009 aligns with a significant shift in this timeline, as it marked an increasing push towards privatizing and decentralizing aspects of Internet governance. During this year, discussions began to gain more traction regarding the need for a more global and inclusive management approach for the Internet, distancing from U.S. regulatory control. In contrast, the other years listed—2000, 2005, and 2012—do not signify pivotal moments that represented a shift towards global governance nor did they coincide with increased international cooperation concerning the management of Internet protocols and domain names. Thus, 2009 stands out in the timeline as a crucial turning point in the transition of Internet governance away from U.S. control.