The following session was proposed and met with GAC leadership support. It is designed to address critical issues concerning the impact of geopolitical factors on the multistakeholder model of internet governance and explore the implications of new internet infrastructures.

Session Title: Shifting Paradigms: Multistakeholderism, Geopolitics, International Law, and New Internet Infrastructures

Duration: 90 minutes

Session Type: Whole Community Session (Joint ALAC/GAC Session)

Purpose and Focus:

This plenary session at ICANN81 aims to offer a look into how geopolitical dynamics are reshaping the multistakeholder model and influencing the governance of emerging internet infrastructures. The discussion will also address the evolving regulatory frameworks relevant to these new technologies.

Key Discussion Topics:

Geopolitics and Multistakeholderism: The session will explore the impact of geopolitical tensions on global internet governance and infrastructure.
New Internet Infrastructures: Topics will include advancements such as outer space internet and interplanetary communication, and their implications for policy and governance.
Regulatory Frameworks: The session will analyze how existing regulations like the 2024 U.S. International Cyberspace & Digital Policy Strategy, GDPR, the AI Act, and NIS2 address the challenges posed by new internet technologies.

Confirmed Participants:

- Jorge Cancio, Deputy Head of the International Relations Team at OFCOM and GAC Switzerland representative, has confirmed his participation, bringing valuable insights into the geopolitical aspects of internet governance.

- GAC Leadership has expressed strong support for this session, aligning it with the committee’s strategic priorities and current concerns.

Session Structure:

Introduction by Moderator (5 minutes): Overview of objectives and introduction of speakers.
Speaker Presentations (10 minutes each): Contributions from Vint Cerf, Leon Sanchez, Susan Chalmers, Berna Akçalı Gür, and John Crain.
Discussion Segment (20 minutes): Open dialogue on questions regarding the evolution of the multistakeholder model, governance challenges, and regulatory frameworks.
Conclusion (5 minutes): Summary of key points and final remarks.

Expected Outcomes:

- A detailed understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to new internet infrastructures.

- Insights into how existing regulatory frameworks can adapt to emerging technologies.

- Enhanced dialogue among stakeholders on the future of multistakeholder internet governance.

Target Audience:

The session is targeted at end users, policymakers, regulators, technologists, and legal experts, focusing on the impact of infrastructure governance on the broader internet community.

This session is anticipated to provide critical perspectives and facilitate significant discussions on evolving internet governance issues.

Updates to the session agenda and format can be found here: Shifting Paradigms: Multistakeholderism, Geopolitics, International Law, and New Internet Infrastructures

GAC Liaison Report from ICANN80 [by Joanna Kulesza]

Report date: 2024/07/23

The Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) convened in Kigali, Rwanda, from June 10 to 13, 2024, for the ICANN80 Policy Forum. The Kigali Communiqué, drafted during this meeting, was shared with GAC Members and Observers for review, with no objections raised prior to publication. Its full text can be found here: https://gac.icann.org/contentMigrated/icann80-kigali-communique?language_id=1

Meeting Highlights:

High-Level Government Meeting:

- Held on June 9, 2024, the GAC expressed gratitude to Rwanda for hosting the meeting, which was attended by 81 delegations, including intergovernmental organizations. The session focused on the multi-stakeholder model, cooperation between policymakers and the technical community, and efforts to enhance digital inclusion and connectivity.

Inter-Constituency Engagement:

- The GAC engaged in discussions with various ICANN bodies, including the ICANN Board, ALAC, and GNSO, covering topics such as new gTLDs, DNS resiliency, and public interest commitments. These discussions also addressed cross-community sessions on Internet governance and regional challenges.

Internal Matters:

- New GAC members from Liechtenstein were welcomed, and preparations for GAC elections for Chair and Vice-Chairs were outlined. The GAC also acknowledged leadership changes within its working groups and discussed their ongoing efforts in areas like DNS abuse and capacity development.

Key Issues and Future Work:

- The GAC highlighted the importance of transparency in GNSO Statements of Interest, raised concerns about content restriction in new gTLDs, and emphasized the need for clear guidance on Registry Voluntary Commitments. Additionally, the GAC stressed the need for improved mechanisms to address DNS abuse and support for DNSSEC adoption. The committee also called for enhanced efforts to promote the Registration Data Request Service and accurate domain registration data.

GAC Advice

The Governmental Advisory Committee issued several consensus advices to the ICANN Board, addressing two primary issues: the Applicant Support Program (ASP) and the resolution of contention sets in new gTLDs.

Applicant Support Program (ASP):

- The GAC advises that final decisions on ASP applications should be made at the end of the twelve-month application period to avoid disadvantaging later applicants, particularly those from underserved regions.

- It recommends involving community experts in the evaluation process and initiating a dialogue with the GNSO and ALAC to explore potential platforms for new gTLDs supported by ASP to operate their own back-end services.

- Additionally, the GAC seeks a detailed report on the ASP’s Engagement and Outreach Plan, including specific timelines and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), to track progress and make adjustments as needed.

Resolution of Contention Sets:

- The GAC advises prohibiting private auctions for resolving contention sets in the next round of new gTLDs and urges the Board to start a focused community discussion to find alternatives before proceeding with any potentially inconsistent actions with previous advice.

The GAC also follows up on earlier advice regarding ASP communications and outreach strategies, requesting detailed plans and budgetary information by mid-Q3 2024, and emphasizes the need for prompt action on urgent requests for domain registration data to address public safety concerns. The next GAC meeting is scheduled for ICANN81 in November 2024.

The GAC Strategic Plan for 2024-2028, endorsed on June 17, 2024, outlines key objectives to enhance its role and impact within ICANN. The GAC’s mission is to provide public policy advice on Internet stability, security, and global interconnectedness, ensuring ICANN Board accountability. Its vision is to maintain the Internet’s unique identifier systems as a reliable foundation for the global digital ecosystem. The GAC upholds values of transparency, multistakeholder governance, global policy consideration, stability, security, and respect for human rights and international law.

The strategic objectives are:

Role for Governments in ICANN: Reinforce the role of governments within ICANN’s multistakeholder model and evaluate if existing structures adequately support GAC’s policy development and influence.
Effectiveness of the GAC: Enhance participation and effectiveness of GAC members in ICANN processes and ensure their views are well-represented.
Future Rounds of New gTLDs: Ensure future gTLD rounds promote competition, address the digital divide, include necessary safeguards, and allow GAC to address global public interest issues.
DNS Abuse: Proactively address DNS abuse, promote security and stability, and collaborate on best practices for mitigating phishing, malware, and spam.
Domain Registration Data: Support accurate and accessible domain registration data while respecting privacy frameworks.
Universal Acceptance: Promote a multilingual Internet and ensure domain names and email addresses are universally accessible.
Impact of New Technology: Understand and address challenges posed by new technologies on unique identifier systems.
Internet Governance: Keep stakeholders informed of Internet governance developments and contribute to global processes.
Internet Number Resources: Update and coordinate on policies related to Internet number resources.

Issues of Interest to the At-Large Community

Applicant Support Program (ASP)

- Timing and Evaluation: The GAC advises that decisions on ASP applications should be made at the end of the twelve-month application period rather than on a first-come, first-served basis. This approach is aimed at ensuring that underserved regions, which may take longer to prepare their applications, are not disadvantaged.

- Community Involvement: The GAC recommends inviting community members with relevant expertise to participate in the ASP application evaluation process, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and expert oversight.

- Platform Development: The GAC suggests exploring the feasibility of leveraging or contracting a platform for new gTLDs supported through the ASP to operate their own back-end services, involving a facilitated dialogue with GNSO and ALAC representatives.

- Engagement and Outreach: The GAC emphasizes the need for a detailed report on the ASP's Engagement and Outreach Plan, including a campaign launch and stakeholder consultations by June 2024.

DNS Abuse

- Mitigation and Prevention: The GAC is focused on reducing DNS abuse, such as phishing and malware, by promoting security and resilience in the DNS. This involves supporting best practices and concrete measures for abuse prevention and offering capacity-building workshops for GAC members.

Domain Registration Data

- Accuracy and Accessibility: The GAC is concerned with maintaining the accessibility and accuracy of domain registration data while complying with privacy regulations. It advocates for clear and meaningful data access to enhance transparency and accountability in domain registration processes.

Universal Acceptance

- Multilingual Internet: The GAC supports efforts to ensure that all domain names and email addresses, including new Top-Level Domains and Internationalized Domain Names, are universally accepted and function across all Internet-enabled applications and systems.

Internet Governance

- Global Processes: The GAC will ensure that governments and ICANN stakeholders stay informed about global Internet governance developments affecting the Internet’s unique identifier systems and may contribute to global governance processes.

Intersessional Progress Report: Collaboration and Joint Task Updates for ALAC and GAC [by Joanna Kulesza]

Report date: 2024/04/24

This is a report on the bilateral engagement between the GAC and the ALAC in the intersessional period between ICANN79 and ICANN80, emphasizing the significant focus on developing the joint communication regarding the Applicant Support Program, following the ALAC-GAC meeting at the ICANN79 Community Forum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The current draft communication includes the following items:
1. Background and Context: The joint communication aims to consolidate the input and perspectives of both ALAC and GAC on the ASP, reflecting the discussions and agreements reached during our bilateral meeting at ICANN79.
2. Content Development: Since our meeting in San Juan, the working group composed of representatives from both ALAC and GAC has diligently worked on drafting the joint communication. They have incorporated key points and recommendations outlined in the draft statement you provided, which articulates our collective stance on the ASP. The drafting work is being excellently spearheaded by Justine Chew, ALAC VC, on behalf of the At-Large Community.
3. Alignment with Community Feedback: The content of the joint communication has been informed by various sources, including recent GAC communiques, public comments, and contributions from working group members. We have strived to ensure that the communication accurately reflects the diverse perspectives and priorities of the ICANN community.
4. Key Themes and Recommendations: The joint communication emphasizes several core principles and recommendations, including:
- Alleviating the financial burden on ASP applicants to the maximum extent possible.
- Prioritizing outreach to applicants from underserved regions.
- Applying a holistic approach to support ASP applicants throughout the application lifecycle.
- Supporting the longer-term success of ASP-qualified applicants beyond the application phase.
5. Incorporating ALAC and GAC Feedback: The draft communication has undergone iterative review and revision by both ALAC and GAC representatives to ensure consensus and coherence. Feedback provided by working group members has been carefully considered and integrated into the final draft.
6. Annexes and Supporting Documentation: The joint communication will be supplemented by annexes, including the ICANN79 GAC Communique and the ALAC Proposal on the implementation of Subsequent Procedures Recommendation 17.2. These annexes provide additional context and background information to support our recommendations.
7. Next Steps: The finalized joint communication will be presented for discussion and approval during our upcoming bilateral meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. We anticipate productive input for the ICANN Board members and stakeholders to further refine our recommendations and ensure their alignment with ICANN's objectives.

A draft agenda for the bilateral session in Kigali is included below:

Proposed Agenda for ALAC-GAC Joint Bilateral Session in Kigali
Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Time: 07:00 - 08:15 UTC (75 minutes)
1. 07:00 - 07:10 UTC Introduction and welcome by GAC/ALAC Chairs - Jonathan Zuck, ALAC Chair - Nico Caballo, GAC Chair
2. Presentation of Joint Position Paper
- (07:10 - 07:25 UTC) Presentation of joint position paper by ALAC representative
- (07:25 - 07:40 UTC) Presentation of joint position paper by GAC representative
3. Moderated Q&A Session - (07:40 - 08:00 UTC) - Nico Caballo, GAC Chair
4. Closing remarks and next steps (08:00 - 08:15 UTC) - Jonathan Zuck, ALAC Chair - Nico Caballo, GAC Chair

GAC Liaison Report from ICANN79 [by Joanna Kulesza]

Report date: 2024/03/16

The ICANN79 meeting took place from March 2 to March 7, 2024, and comprised various sessions significant to the interests of the end-user community. The GAC held successful meetings with the Board, Address Supporting Organization (ASO), Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO), Contracted Parties House (CPH), Nominating Committee (NomCom), and Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG). These sessions covered a wide array of topics, reflecting the diverse interests and responsibilities within the ICANN community.

The designated GAC and ALAC bilateral meeting, held on March 3, 2024, featured interventions from both committees, including Rosalind Kennybirch and Tracy Hackshaw from the GAC, and Greg Shatan and Justine Chew from the ALAC. During the meeting discussed various topics, particularly focusing on the Applicant Support Program (ASP) for the New gTLD Program, with following key takeaways:

Discussions centered around revisiting challenges from the 2012 Round of the New gTLD Program and addressing them through different components of the ASP. Key points included an overview of the ASP, insights into ALAC and GAC perspectives, and elaboration on pending components such as SubPro Supplemental Recommendation 17.2. The session aimed to provide clarity on the rationale behind the ASP, address challenges for the next round, and propose holistic approaches to its implementation.
Overall, the meeting underscored collaborative efforts between the GAC and ALAC in shaping the ASP for the next round of the New gTLD Program. Additional discussions covered topics such as program communications, funding, and structure, reflecting a commitment to addressing key issues for the successful implementation of the ASP.
The session highlighted the importance of stakeholder collaboration and proactive measures in enhancing the effectiveness of the ASP, ultimately contributing to the advancement of the domain name ecosystem within the ICANN community.
You can find more details about the session here: https://gac.icann.org/sessions/icann79-session-7-gac-meeting-with-the-alac

On March 11^th, as a reflection of their ICANN79 meeting considerations, the GAC published its usual communique, available here: https://gac.icann.org/contentMigrated/icann79-san-juan-communique with following key items for the consideration of the At-Large community:

The meeting saw significant attendance with 71 GAC Members and 9 Observers present. The GAC commenced by honoring former Chair Manal Ismail with the 2024 ICANN Community Excellence Award for her long-standing service and commitment to the multistakeholder model.
The GAC also underwent leadership changes with Nicolas Caballero assuming the role of Chair along with Vice Chairs WANG Lang, Thiago Dal-Toe, Christine Arida, and Zeina Bou Harb. Additionally, new appointments and departures were noted in various working groups, emphasizing ongoing efforts in areas such as public safety and underserved regions.
Capacity development workshops covered a broad spectrum of issues including ccTLD management, IPv6 adoption, and regional internet registry roles. These workshops provided insights and recommendations, highlighting the need for continued capacity building, particularly in developing countries.
Strategic planning discussions focused on priority areas for the GAC's strategic objectives, while preparations for the upcoming High-Level Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, emphasized the significance of such gatherings in reinforcing multistakeholder cooperation.
An experimental open-mic session allowed for broader engagement within the ICANN community, providing a platform for stakeholders to address the GAC directly. Topics such as DNS abuse, cost-benefit analysis of new gTLD programs, and registry voluntary commitments were extensively deliberated.
Regarding DNS abuse, the GAC welcomed new obligations for contracted parties and emphasized the importance of effective enforcement and reporting mechanisms. Discussions also revolved around the need for a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of new gTLD programs and the enforceability of registry commitments, underscoring the necessity for careful legal analysis.
With regard to registration data, the GAC reiterated support for initiatives such as the Registration Data Request Service (RDRS) and emphasized the importance of accuracy in registration data for various legitimate interests while balancing privacy concerns.

Points of Interest for the At-Large:

- Further steps on applicant support were discussed, emphasizing collaboration between GAC and ALAC.

- Addressing DNS abuse and enhancing capacity building outreach remained crucial areas of focus.

GAC Liaison Report from ICANN78 [by Joanna Kulesza]

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