At-Large Session Reports from ICANN80

What happened?

This session focused on the new DNS Abuse requirements in the RA and RAA contracts that go into effect on April 5th, 2024. There was a panel that included representatives from the CPH as well folks from IPC and NCUC. The CPH participants focused on the the speed with which an agreement was reached and the effort to get it voted on by a majority of the CPH and expressed high hopes for a positive impact on taking down "bad actors."  Elliot Noss made a rare appearance to emphasize the expectation that ICANN Contract Compliance now has the tools it has been asking for and hope to see real results. The IP and business interests suggested it was a good start and the NCUC rep expressed concern that it might trample due process.

What are the At-Large specific takeaways from this session? 

the At-Large perspective is that we've been looking for similar changes to the contracts for many years and welcome them. We have no desire to see due process suffer as a result. Ideally, these ammendments do NOT change the behavior of "good actors" but allow ICANN to punish bad ones, there by splitting the difference between the fears of the NCUC and the expectations of the business community.

What are the At-Large specific action items (next steps)?

Justine has suggested that we perhaps begin holding a series of plenaries on how these ammendments are working out, starting at ICANN 80 so that there are continuous updates.

What happened?

This session focused on the new DNS Abuse requirements in the RA and RAA contracts that go into effect on April 5th, 2024. There was a panel that included representatives from the CPH as well folks from IPC and NCUC. The CPH participants focused on the the speed with which an agreement was reached and the effort to get it voted on by a majority of the CPH and expressed high hopes for a positive impact on taking down "bad actors."  Elliot Noss made a rare appearance to emphasize the expectation that ICANN Contract Compliance now has the tools it has been asking for and hope to see real results. The IP and business interests suggested it was a good start and the NCUC rep expressed concern that it might trample due process.

What are the At-Large specific takeaways from this session? 

the At-Large perspective is that we've been looking for similar changes to the contracts for many years and welcome them. We have no desire to see due process suffer as a result. Ideally, these ammendments do NOT change the behavior of "good actors" but allow ICANN to punish bad ones, there by splitting the difference between the fears of the NCUC and the expectations of the business community.

What are the At-Large specific action items (next steps)?

Justine has suggested that we perhaps begin holding a series of plenaries on how these ammendments are working out, starting at ICANN 80 so that there are continuous updates.

What happened?
This session discuss the organization of the work regarding rewriting IPC-2
https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/new-rirs-criteria-2012-02-25-en

What are the At-Large specific takeaways from this session?
How the rest of the community will be engaged to be part of this discussion.

What are the At-Large specific action items (next steps)?

At-Large can participate at the level of the RIR. At-Large need to be ready to answer consultation from ASO-AC about IPC-2

GDS: Subpro IRT Work Session (2 of 3)

Agenda: https://community.icann.org/x/boAvEQ

What happened?

ICANN org provided an update on:

• The Next Round Implementation Plan, covering implementation of 126 Subsequent Procedures recommendations adopted by the Board; with 10 recommendations still pending revision by GNSO Council as well as other pending dependencies.
• Role and Open+Rep model of the Implementation Review Team (IRT); methodology (i.e. how the IRT undertakes its work), and timeline for a May 2025 completion of the next Applicant Guidebook (AGB).
• Timetable of 3 public comments for chunks of AGB draft text.
• The Draft Applicant Support Program Handbook.  

What are the At-Large specific takeaways from this session? 

At-Large should follow progress of IRT work, paying particular attention to topics of importance to us. 

What are the At-Large specific action items (next steps)?

At-Large should participate in the public comments as needed, and note that there will be no extensions for any of the public comment proceedings. 

Link to Report and Notes 

What happened?

• Item 1: DNS Abuse is growing .  As per  FTC Commission 2023 Fraud Trends reports would of  2.6 million  fraud reported in 2023, Phishing which is considered a form of DNS Abuse reported  1000  cases worth  2.2 million
• Item 2: The DNS Abuse measurement needs to  be  both qualitative and quantitative based on actionable evidence for prompt resolution.

What are the At-Large specific takeaways from this session? 

• Item 1: Need for  consumer awareness and outreach against DNS Abuse and methods used by threat actors
• Item 2:  How can  end users be aware and understand what is the actionable evidence they need to report and where to report for prompt resolution of issues.

What are the At-Large specific action items (next steps)?

• Item 1: Emphasise on  more consumer awareness and outreach on keeping oneself safe but also reporting mechanisms. 
• Item 2:  Follow whether  CPH reports on the  DNS Abuse after the contract is enforced from April 2024. 

Reviews Program Session with the Community on ATRT4 Deferral and Pilot Holistic Review

What happened?

This session provided updates on the timing for the Fourth Accountability and Transparency Review and the status of the Pilot Holistic Review.

The group also discussed the CIP.

https://static.sched.com/hosted_files/icann79/12/Reviews%20Update%20ICANN79%20Webinar%20Presentation.pptx%20%281%29.pdf

What are the At-Large specific takeaways? 

ATRT4 must be done in a not to distant futur.
Proposal discussed: Launch ASAP the PHR and as soon as the PHR started ICANN can start the launch of the ATRT4.
ATRT4 must have a defined scope – no ATRT3 recommendation not completely implemented (particularly CIP and HR).

CIP can be started "officially" the 1st of July 2024 (start of the FY25).

What are the At-Large specific action items (next steps)?

At-Large needs to answer the letter received by the ALAC Chair from Theresa S. (ICANN Org) regarding ATRT4.
At-Large need to start selecting participants to both PHR & ATRT4

UASG Governance and Plans Working Session

What happened?

The UASG Leadership interacted with the community and presented the 5-year Work Plan for UASG from FY25 to FY29 for UASG as a whole, as well as for each of the four Working Groups (Measurement, Tech, EAI, and Comms).

In addition, the UASG Leadership also presented suggested changes to the Governance Processes to enhance the transparency and accountability of UASG.

What are the At-Large specific takeaways?

Since UASG and At-Large work in close relation, particularly for initiatives such as the UA Day, At-Large needs to track the strategic plan as well as governance initiatives within the UASG.

Specific Governance Changes Proposed

Pls see the full report here.

New gTLD Program Next Round: Planning for String Similarity Review Work Session

What happened?

The IDN project presented the String Similarity Review Guidelines ( https://itp.cdn.icann.org/en/files/strategic-initiatives/string-similarity-review-guidelines-07-02-2024-en.pdf ) which are currently up for Public Comment.  The IDN Project has recognized that there are lots of pairs of symbols which, while they are not classed as variants, are sufficiently similar to cause confusion.  They have identified some of these, and developed a process to automate the initial evaluation of proposed TLDs.  The proposed automation will basically eliminate those TLDs which are clearly NOT similar to any other TLD (current or proposed), thus keeping the number requiring manual review to a manageable number.  The only significant oversight appears to be in the matter of variations under the basic character which would be obscured by the underlining which major browsers and word process software packages automatically generate for domain names. 

What are the At-Large specific takeaways?

This is a huge improvement over where the IDN project appeared to be a couple of years ago, and it should be commended for that.  ALAC may also wish to produce a Public Comment (deadline 27 March) on the matter of underlining, and a couple of other more technical details.   (NOTE: This is an interim document, with several unwritten sections still visible.  So there will be opportunities for further comment later.  This is an opportunity to get some things included while the situation is still somewhat fluid.)

What are the At-Large specific action items (next steps)?

CPWG to draft a Public Comment for ALAC.

UA Day 2024 Overview Work Session

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What Happened?

Focus of UA Day 2024

Supporting five types of events:

• UA awareness
• UA technical training
• UA academic curricula
• UA adoption
• UA regional strategy

local and national events

Shortlisted 56 proposals from 50+ countries:

51 national events.

5 regional events.

Support available for UA Day

Developed UA Day materials published at the

https://UniversalAcceptance.day

• Awareness Presentation-1hr
• Awareness Presentation-2hr (AR, ES, FR, PT, RU, ZH)
• UA Adoption Event 
• Academic Curriculum Discussion and Roadmap Development, (AR, ES, FR, PT, RU, ZH)
• Programming Training for UA-4hr (AR, ES, FR, PT, RU, ZH)
• Email Administration Training for UA-4hr (AR, ES, FR, PT, RU, ZH)
• Promotional videos (ICANN, UASG)

How to promote UA Day 2024 events

Strategic approach:

• Identify the target audience
• Invite relevant stakeholders (e.g., ccTLDs, developers, regional/local stakeholders, etc.)

Leverage multiple channels:

• Consider event platforms to record and promote your event.
• Utilize a mix of online and offline channels to reach a wider audience.

Collaborate with:

• The non-shortlisted UA Day proposers.
• Influencers or partners who have a strong following or influence in your region.

UA Day 2024 keystone event

The keystone UA Day event to be marked in Belgrade, Serbia on 28 Mar 2024. Initiated by UA Local Initiative in Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe (CIS-EE), and RNIDS, .rs .СРБ ccTLD.

What are the At-Large specific takeaways from this session?

The ALAC and At-Large has an important role to work with the UASG, RALOs, At-Large Structures, and individual members around the world to promote end user benefits of UA and encourage the adoption of UA at the local and regional levels.

What are the At-Large specific action items (next steps)?

Each RALO needs to actively help and  promote its UA Day approved events for wider participation from the community in the UA Day events. 

Continuous Improvement Program Community Coordination Group (CIP-CCG) Meeting

Agenda:

Slides here

What happened?

The CIPCC held its monthly meeting #4 during ICANN79. 

They let the community know the focus of their work, their objectives, and their progress. 

They discussed the Assigned Task among the CIP volunteers on the creation of the Draft Principles and Criteria for the framework of the Continuous Improvement Program.

Principles discussed:

• Purpose
• Effectiveness
• efficiency
• accountability
• Collaboration

What are the At-Large specific takeaways from this session?

Atlarge would be interested in answering questions about the effectiveness and efficiency of the work of your AC/SO and NomCom and if you feel that you are doing your job well, then what processes could you improve further? 

Atlarge would be interested in organizations and members of their structure being informed of these criteria exercises to make bottom-up contributions that enrich the construction of a framework that will define the continuous improvement process for AC/SO and NomCom in the future.

What are the At-Large specific action items (next steps)?

After ICANN79, CIP volunteers must coordinate with the leadership of their home groups to locate a recurring space in which they can update their organization and request contributions for the discussion and construction that takes place in CIPCC.

From our monthly ALAC meetings, we can report whether these updates are being made periodically as needed for the work of the CIPCC.

Each RALO could work on developing a criteria to measure:

• If it is fulfilling its purpose (based on the purpose of ALAC defined in the bylaws)
• if It is doing things effectively
• It is doing things efficiently

GNSO SubPro Supplemental Recommendations Community Consultation

Agenda: https://community.icann.org/x/1oBkEQ

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GNSO: Registrars and ICANN: Validation, Verification, and Accuracy - Oh My!

Agenda: https://community.icann.org/x/UAFUEQ

What happened?

This session discussed the practices and experiences of gTLD registrars relating to the validation and verification of domain name registration data. Key topics included the onboarding process for ICANN-accredited registrars, RrSG membership benefits, and the importance of data accuracy.

The meeting featured presentations, discussions, and a Q&A session, highlighting the challenges and costs associated with validation and verification processes. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the need for a trustworthy registration process, the use of digital ID for verification in certain jurisdictions, and the potential for collaborative efforts among registrars to streamline and reduce the costs of these processes.

What are the At-Large specific takeaways from this session?

At-Large is interested in the implications of these practices for the broader community, especially in ensuring a safe and secure domain name system while balancing the operational and financial burdens on registrars. The discussions around digital ID and the potential for collaborative verification efforts are particularly relevant, as they could lead to more inclusive and efficient practices that benefit all stakeholders. Additionally, the emphasis on the importance of data accuracy and the challenges associated with achieving it resonate with At-Large's commitment to user trust and the integrity of the domain name system.

What are the At-Large specific action items (next steps)?

At-Large needs to engage with ICANN and other stakeholders to explore further the feasibility and implications of implementing a system where verification performed by one registrar can be utilized by another, potentially reducing costs and administrative burdens.

At-Large should advocate for the development of guidelines that support the use of digital IDs for domain registration verification, especially in regions where such systems are already in place. This would streamline the verification process without compromising security or privacy.

At-Large could facilitate discussions among its members to gather insights and feedback on the current challenges registrars face in validating and verifying domain registration data. This could inform At-Large's contributions to policy discussions and its advocacy efforts.

At-Large may consider organizing a workshop or session at a future ICANN meeting to discuss the potential for collaborative efforts among registrars and other stakeholders to address the challenges of validation and verification, including the exploration of new technologies and methodologies.

At-Large should monitor developments related to NIS2 and other relevant legislation to ensure that the interests and concerns of the broader Internet user community are considered in discussions about domain registration data accuracy and verification.

FY26-30 Strategic Plan Development Community Consultation

What happened?

• Introduction by Maarten Botterman – Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Board
• The Strategic Plan Approach and the Development Timeline were presented by Becky Nash
• Two polls were run during the session to gage the views of the participants in person and online
  • Concerning the vision statement
  • Developing Strategies –Themes based on the three main objectives

What are the At-Large specific takeaways from this session? 

• Item 1 – This is an important exercise and ICANN Board wants to ensure that this is done in a way that supports the MSM and that the MSM is fully engaged in developing the new FY 26 – 30 Strategic Plan
• Item 2 – While in it is not mandatory, it was suggested that preparing for and participating in this exercise can be more meaningful by reviewing the current strategic plan
• Item 3 - ALAC and At-Large by extension, appears in to be very engaged in this exercise and we are able to provide meaningful feedback (in this and other fora in which we participate) because of our levels of planning and preparedness.

What are the At-Large specific action items (next steps)?

• Item 1 - Find ways to ensure that the information for this development of the Strategic is communicated with our End Users particularly through our RALOs, and encourage them let their voices and views be heard so that they can help to shape the new Strategic Plan
• Item 2 - ALAC and At-Large needs to continue to participate in the process and by sharing our feedback
• Item 3 - Development of the draft strategies is underway and we should use every opportunity to provide input even before the draft plan is shared for public comment.

IFR2 Team Meeting and Work Session

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ICANN Grant Program

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GDS: Subpro IRT Work Session (3 of 3)

Agenda: https://community.icann.org/x/doAvEQ

GNSO Council Small Team Plus - SubPro Supplemental Recommendations Work Session

Agenda: https://community.icann.org/x/6ABUEQ

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