AT-LARGE GATEWAY

At-Large Website

ALAC

RALOs

At-Large Regional Policy Engagement Program (ARPEP)

At-Large Governance

At-Large Reports

Policy Comments & Advice

Working Groups

ICANN Meetings

At-Large Summit (ATLAS III)

At-Large Review Implementation Plan Development

ALAC and RALO Elections, Selections, and Appointments

At-Large Priority Activities - 2022

You are viewing an old version of this page. View the current version.

Compare with Current View Page History

« Previous Version 3 Next »

Introduction

This document aims to provide an overview of key policy issues that AfRALO has been working on in ICANN, as well as the key outreach and engagement activities.

AFRALO is the home of the individual Internet user community for the African region. It provides news, key resources and interactive information sharing tools for individuals and enduser groups in the African region who are interested in ICANN and in shaping the future of the Internet.

AFRALO aims to:

   •    Strengthen users’ participation in ICANN decision-making structures

   •    Help ensure that its members will actively encourage more direct participation by end users

   •    Build Internet policy making capacity in the region

   •    Reach out to Internet users on the issues in the scope of ICANN

   •    Represent users’ interests and defining public interest aspects of Internet governance with specific focus on the areas of privacy, transparency, and accountability

   •    Strengthen consumer protection in ICANN policies

   •    Identify social impacts of technical infrastructure design

   •    Take cultural diversity into account when formulating technical standards (e.g. IDN implementation)

AFRALO currently consist of 54 ALSes located in 30 countries and territories.

Hot Policy Topics Selected :

  •  Promoting DNSSEC Implementation in Africa's TLD registries

  • New gTLDs and Geographic names

  • New gTLD Subsequent Procedure

  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Privacy

  • Registration Directory Service (RDS) and Whois

  • ICANN's Accountability and Transparency

  • Diversity and Participation at ICANN

  • Internet Governance activities and issues

  • Capacity Building, Awareness and Outreach to Africa ( e.g Access of ICANN materials in African/Other languages other than English )


Top Topic Issues

Promoting DNSSEC Implementation in Africa's TLD registries

Summary

DNSSEC is important because it adds security to the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol by enabling DNS responses to be validated. Specifically, DNSSEC provides origin authority, data integrity, and authenticated denial of existence.

Why its important to AfRALO and African Internet Users ?

Africa has a low DNSSEC implementation compared to the rest of the world.

Action Items

  • Promote DNSSEC and raise awareness among African ALS about the importants of DNSSEC implementation in their ccTLD registries.


  • Coordinate with ICANN and AfTLD in organizing DNSSEC session for AfRALO ALSs


Registration Directory Service (RDS) and Whois

Summary

RDS and Whois are pertinent issues that relate to the ownership of Domain names. Currently information on Domain ownership are published publicly. There is a strong drive to protect registration data and improve accuracy and access to generic top-level domain registration data, as well as consider safeguards for protecting such data.

Why it's important to AfRALO and African Internet Users ?

In the current RDS and Whois WG there is little participation from Africa despite the issue being relative to the Internet and Domain System in the region. Despite the fact that the pertinent issues that affect the registry have less reports coming from Africa Region and documentation regarding to the violation of Whois records that are publicly limited - there is a need for strong awareness in the the policy discussion and recommendations given that could affect the RDS implementation in Africa region.  

Action Items

  • Promote RDS - Whois and raise awareness among African ALS about the importance of RDS implementation.


  • Coordinate with ICANN and GNSO - RDS WG to have a session to explain the relevance of AFRALO participation in the RDS PDP

  • Request members from AFRALO who are passionate and willing to join the WG to become members to enhance African views and contribute to the Policy recommendations

More information on the RDS can be found https://www.icann.org/resources/reviews/specific-reviews/whois



ICANN's Accountability and Transparency

Summary

ICANN’s core mission is to coordinate, at the overall level, the global Internet’s systems of unique identifiers, and in particular to ensure the stable and secure operation of the Internet’s unique identifiers.

ICANN operates on a multi-stakeholder model that brings all interested parties together to discuss policy issues that fall within ICANN’s areas of responsibility. It follows a bottom-up model of policy development and relies on consensus from its stakeholders. For this model to operate effectively, ICANN needs to encourage participation, instill trust, make information accessible, and have sound dispute and review mechanisms.


ICANN believes that transparency and accountability are the foundations that support these elements in its operating model.

Why its important to AfRALO and African Internet Users ?

Afralo and African Internet Users need to understand the ICANNs multistakeholder process and how it ensures Accountability and Transparency.

Action Items

  • Conduct a session on the processes to engage members to understand clearly the Accountability and Transparency Processes

  • Seek feedback on the current Accountability and Transparent Process




  • No labels