Blocking Internet oversight transition a 'gift to Russia': Obama administration

Delaying or blocking a planned transition of oversight of the Internet's technical management from the U.S. to a global community of stakeholders would be a

"gift to Russia" and other authoritarian regimes, a senior Obama administration official said Wednesday.

The comments before a congressional panel came as several Republican lawmakers are attempting to thwart the changeover, due to occur on Oct. 1, arguing it would stifle online freedom and has not been appropriately vetted.