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I can't quite decide whether to put this in the "ICANN Does Good" category or not. First, did "ICANN" do it? Is ICANN responsible for the actions of the somewhat independent ALAC? Or is the ALAC's delegate better seen as an example of powerless tokenism, one of a handful of votes likely to be drowned out in a large nomcom structurally dominated by insider and corporate interests?
Second, is this "good"? Well in one sense obviously yes; in another less obviously so. Alan Davidson is one of my favorite people to talk to about Internet issues. Smart. Real smart. Heart undoubtedly in the right place. Someone who can talk to the suits and the insiders without scaring them. In some ways a brilliant appointment. But CDT as an organization is resolutely moderate, devoted to a baby-splitting agenda on ICANN issues that has meant never never drawing a line in the sand--and thus having much sand kicked in its face. Its funding and thus consistent presence lead to it being treated as more representative of the ICANN civil liberties community than I think it was...and to a sense of betrayal and puzzlement among the ICANN insiders when a deal CDT signed on to was greeted with howls of complaint by other commentators and ICANN participants who focused on user issues and civil rights.
But even CDT wasn't able to make much headway against the ICANN insiders' coup. So, a couple of years ago, CDT seemed to give up on ICANN. But rather than admit ICANN was a lost cause, CDT just changed its priorities. It just mostly walked away, but quietly, not wanting to burn bridges. This appointment may demonstrate the value of decorous behavior, and I'm sure Alan Davidson will make the right arguments as well as they can be made. But when these arguments lose on votes, it also means that CDT's approach will be softly, softly. And look where that's gotten us so far...
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Alan Davidson to NomCom