While I don't disagree with many of Robert's points (although I don't have the reflexive dislike of the French that seems to be popular these days), one shouldn't think of the U.S. as completely innocent in this. Our own government has made several attempts over recent years to have access to private emails and various personal transactions on the net--things that are none of their damned business--and U.S. "control" of the net makes it considerably simpler to force implementation of this intrusiveness. Yeah, Chirac and various other boogeymen may see the net as some sort of golden goose, but business and private individuals alike won't let those wacky taxation schemes happen. And it is simple chauvinism to assume that all technological innovation comes from the U.S. My own company--American owned, but with engineering centers all over the U.S. and Europe--puts me in daily contact with engineers from Germany, Switzerland, England, France, Italy, etc--and I can assure you that there are bright and innovative people all over the world. The world has caught up with us (or we've slowed down to them). Internet penetration is considerably deeper in many parts of Europe than it is here. There's a chance that we might just have something to learn if we tone down the rah-rah business a little.
There has been much talk and effort by various countries and international bodies about wresting control of the Internet from the US.