Proposal #1:
Proposed Session Title / Titre de Session Proposé /Título de la sesión propuesta *
Navigating the Complexities of Safeguarding Core Internet Values: Evolution and Challenges for ICANN
Brief Description / Brève description / Breve descripción *
The concept of core Internet values , so central to has been a cornerstone of the Internet’s architecture, has not been comprehensively revisited for over a decade. This oversight comes despite profound . However, with seismic shifts in technology, governance models, and the global political landscape. The Global Digital Compact (GDC), held last September, underscored an increasing emphasis among some nation-states on national sovereignty over global agreements. This shift aligns with the rise of populism and nationalism, as reflected in recent global election outcomes. Such trends have led to policies and strategies that exacerbate e-frictions and contribute to Internet fragmentation. At the same time, the Internet—traditionally grounded in principles of openness, accessibility, and global interoperability—is under mounting pressure from emerging technologies and volatile geopolitical dynamics. This panel seeks to revisit and re-examine these core values, assessing their relevance and adaptability amidst these challenges, and exploring how to uphold them in today’s rapidly evolving environment. Proposal’s Alignment with ALAC and ICANN Initiatives This session aligns directly geopolitical dynamics, these values require adjustment to remain relevant in today’s rapidly evolving environment.
This session will examine how such adjustments could affect ICANN’s remit and mission. It will explore the balance between preserving foundational principles and adapting to emerging realities, leveraging insights from technological, governance, and geopolitical trends, alongside ICANN’s operational experience. The discussion will identify necessary changes, their implications for ICANN, and strategies to address these challenges while upholding its core purpose.
This session directly supports ICANN’s mission of ensuring a stable, secure, and globally interoperable Internet. It also aligns with ALAC’s mission to advocate for end users, as the erosion of core Internet values disproportionately impacts them—resulting in restricted access to information, higher costs, fragmented services, and builds upon the diminished trust in the systems they rely on every day. Moreover, this timely session builds on the momentum from ICANN 81’s All-Community Plenary Session at ICANN 81: Shifting Paradigms: Multistakeholderism, Geopolitics, and Emerging Internet Infrastructures. Building on that foundational discussion, this timely session aims to: This timely session will convene experts across fields to: • Redefine core Internet values in the context of today’s geopolitical and technological realities. • Analyze emerging policy trends that threaten these values and exacerbate e-friction. • Equip stakeholders with actionable strategies to preserve an open and universal Internet. • Foster collaboration to develop a collective response that ensures the Internet’s global integrity and openness. This session serves as a crucial next step in empowering stakeholders to navigate shifting paradigms and protect the Internet as a secure, resilient, and inclusive resource for all. ________________________________________
Why should this be a plenary panel? Because this conversation is not just relevant—it’s critical, especially with the upcoming WSIS+20 Review. Protecting the integrity of the Internet is essential to ensuring it remains a global space for innovation, connection, and opportunity for everyone.
Session Goals
1. Revisiting Core Values: Redefine core Internet values with an emphasis on their relevance to ICANN’s mission in today’s context.
2. Assessing Trends: Examine how technological advancements (e.g., AI, quantum computing), governance shifts (e.g., digital sovereignty), and geopolitical dynamics are challenging these values.
3. ICANN’s Perspective: Use ICANN’s operational experience to evaluate what adjustments are realistic and their potential consequences.
4. Actionable Outcomes: Equip stakeholders with strategies to address these challenges while safeguarding ICANN’s role and the Internet’s integrity.
5. Urgency of Alignment: Highlight why addressing these challenges now is critical.
Key Topics:
1. Revisiting The evolution of core Internet values—their definition, relevance, and evolution over the last decadevalues and their potential need for adjustment.
2. Emerging trends in digital sovereignty, data localization, and cybersecurity frameworks. 3. Strategies for mitigating geopolitical e-friction while safeguarding Internet collaboration. ________________________________________Policies to Reference: • GDPR and other Digital Sovereignty Policies Emerging policy trends (e.g., China, Russia, and European Union frameworks). • Cybersecurity Frameworks: International agreements and national strategies. • Outcomes of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) and preparations for WSIS+20. • The role of ICANN, IGF, ISOC, and the multistakeholder governance model. ________________________________________
Session Structure:
• Introduction by Moderator (5 minutes): Overview of the session’s purpose, objectivesdigital sovereignty, cybersecurity frameworks) and their impact on ICANN’s operations.
3. The consequences of redefining Internet core values for ICANN’s mission and stakeholders.
4. ICANN’s unique experience in balancing global collaboration and practical governance constraints.
Session Structure: (could be adjusted to be 60 or 75 minutes)
• Introduction (5 minutes): Moderator provides an overview of the session objectives, ICANN’s mission, and speaker introductions.
• Panel Panel Discussion (30 25 minutes): A dynamic and interactive session structured around three key questions:
1. Why is it critical to revisit and redefine core Internet values in today’s geopolitical and technological landscape?
2. How do emerging trends like digital sovereignty and nationalism challenge these values, and what strategies can mitigate the resulting e-friction?
3. What role can Internet end users and internet community play in fostering international collaboration and ensuring the Internet remains secure, resilient, and universally accessible?
• Invited community input
o Revisiting core Internet values: What adjustments may be needed and why?
o Examining external forces (technological, governance, geopolitical) and their impact on ICANN’s work.
o ICANN’s experience: What is realistic to implement, and what challenges must be overcome?
• Community Input (20 minutes):
• Open floor for Q/A (20 minutes)
• Panelist Reflections (10 minutes): Each panelist shares key takeaways and actionable strategies.
• Closing Remarks by Moderator (5 minutes): A summary of key insights and next steps. ________________________________________
Target Audience Open floor discussion on stakeholder perspectives and recommendations.
• Closing Remarks (10 minutes): Key takeaways and next steps, with a focus on actionable strategies for ICANN.
Target Audience
This session is designed for ICANN stakeholders, including end users, policymakers, regulators, technologists, academics, and stakeholders across the Internet governance ecosystem. The session will emphasize the critical role end users play in advocating for Internet values and shaping policies to ensure the Internet remains an open, interoperable, and resilient resource for alltechnical experts, and civil society members. It will focus on how ICANN’s remit intersects with global challenges and the practical steps stakeholders can take to uphold core Internet values.
Rationale/Desired Outcomes - Justification/Résultats souhaités / Justificación/Resultados deseados *
By fostering a forward-looking, solution-driven dialogue, this session will strengthen collective efforts to protect the Internet’s core values and promote collaboration among ICANN stakeholder to navigate today’s complex and evolving geopolitical environment.
The key take aways will be: Revisiting Core Internet Values: Redefine and reaffirm foundational principles (e.g., openness, global interoperability, security) to ensure their relevance in today’s shifting political and technological landscape. Understanding Geopolitical Impact: Provide participants with a clear understanding of how emerging trends in digital sovereignty, nationalism, and policy fragmentation are challenging Internet governance. Empowering End Users:Offer strategies and tools to help end users actively participate in governance discussions and influence decision-making processes that safeguard the global Internet. Collaboration Across Stakeholders: Identify opportunities for greater cooperation among governments, technical communities, civil society, and end users to mitigate geopolitical tensions and promote multistakeholder solutions. Practical Recommendations for Global Processes: Develop actionable insights to contribute to the WSIS+20 Review, the implementation of the Global Digital Compact, and ongoing ICANNdiscussions to strengthen global Internet governance
1. Understanding Change: Provide clarity on why core Internet values may need adjustment and how those adjustments intersect with ICANN’s mission.
2. Anticipating Consequences: Evaluate the potential impact of these adjustments on ICANN’s operations and global governance role.
3. Empowering Stakeholders: Equip stakeholders with actionable strategies to help ICANN navigate these challenges while maintaining its commitment to a stable, secure, and inclusive Internet.
4. Driving Consensus: Foster collaboration across stakeholder groups to ensure alignment on how ICANN can protect core Internet values in today’s complex environment.
Which, if any, other community groups do you plan to involve in your session? Please explain your plans for working cooperatively with the group(s), including your contacts, skill sets sought, etc. *
ALAC, GacGAC, RSSAC, and SSAC
Session Leaders/Facilitators and Panelists/Presenters - Facilitateurs de session et présentateurs - Líderes de sesión/facilitadores y panelistas/presentadores *
• Vint Cerf – Internet Pioneer • Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN CEO CEO • Becky Burr, ICANN Borad Borad • Olivier Crepin-Leblond – Chair, Dynamic Coalition on Core Internet Values; Founder, EuroDIG; Chair, CPWG/ICANN • • Fadi Chehadé - was the President and CEO of of ICANN from from 14 September 2012 until 10 March 2016. He built a strong executive leadership team that transformed transformed ICANN. • Ana Cristina F. Amoroso das Neves – Chair, UN Commission on Science & Technology for Development; Head, Internet Governance Office, Portugal • David A. Gross – International Telecommunications Policy Expert; Former US Ambassador to the ITU • Wang Lang – Deputy Director, International Department, China Internet Information Center (CNNIC) • John Crain – – ICANN SVP SVP & Chief Technology Officer • Moderator: Pari Esfandiari Esfandiari, ALAC, EURALO, Dynamic Coalition on Core Internet Values, Global TechnoPolitics Forum
Under which At-Large Priority Activities 2025 work track area does this topic fall? / Dans quel domaine de travail ce sujet relève-t-il? - En qué área de seguimiento de trabajo de las actividades prioritarias de At-Large 2025 se incluye este ema? ... See list of tracks: https://community.icann.org/display/atlarge/At-Large+FY25+Strategic+Priority+Activities *
Policy
Are you planning on inviting any ICANN Board members/Executives? If so, please list hereafter in order for Staff to work with Board Operations on invitations. *
Kurtis Lindqvist, Becky Burr
Additional information or comments /
This discussion is crucial for ICANN as it addresses the growing threats to the core Internet values that underpin ICANN's mission and the stability of the global Internet. With rising trends pointing to increased Internet fragmentation, there is an urgent need to redfine Internet core values to meet today's realities and to align stakeholders on strategies to preserve a secure, resilient, and universal InternetThe DC Core Internet Values Discussion Paper (2017), highlighted the enduring importance of the Internet’s fundamental principles—openness, global interoperability, decentralization, and user-centric design—while proposing the addition of "Freedom from Harm" as a core value to address modern threats. This paper serves as a valuable starting point for exploring how these values can adapt to today’s challenges.
Thank you for considering this proposal. I look forward to your feedback and to making this a timely and impactful session.
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