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GAC Liaison Reports

GAC Liaison Reports

Joanna Kulesza is currently serving as the ALAC Liaison the GAC. She was selected by the ALAC in October 2021 and took on the role on Thursday, 28 October 2021 at the end of the ICANN72 AGM. Yrjö Länsipuro previously served in this role since 2016 when the ALAC unanimously voted to appoint him as the first ALAC Liaison to the GAC.

 

 

GAC Liaison Report: ALAC Monthly Call

By: Joanna Kulesza, EURALO, ALAC Liaison to the GAC
Reporting Period: Febraury – April 2026
Submitted: April 21, 2026

1. Regulatory Developments Briefing Series

1.1 Review of the Briefing Series – GAC Governmental Engagement Call

Following a productive cycle of seven briefings delivered since January 2025, a dedicated call with the ICANN Governmental Engagement team is scheduled to review the format of the series and decide on its continuation, cadence and ownership going forward. This report reflects the Liaison's preliminary position; input from ALAC members ahead of that call is welcomed.

Options under consideration:

  • Option A – Maintain current cadence (monthly/intersessional, up to nine sessions per year). Next proposed topic: inaugural Organizational Session of the UN Global Mechanism on ICT Security, the successor framework to the Open-Ended Working Group established pursuant to UNGA resolution 79/237, which took place on 30–31 March 2026 at UN Headquarters.

  • Option B – Reduce to quarterly (four sessions per year). Allows for deeper preparation, higher-profile speakers, and sustainable administrative load.

  • Option C – Sunset the series in its current form; replace with ad-hoc briefings tied to specific multilateral events (WSIS+20 milestones, Global Mechanism cycle outcomes, Hanoi Convention ratifications).

Liaison's preliminary view: the series has established itself as a cross-community platform for substantive engagement on regulatory developments of direct relevance to ICANN and to end-user interests. It fills a gap no other ICANN convening currently covers. Option B (quarterly) is recommended as the most sustainable arrangement, conditional on continued administrative support from the ICANN Governmental Engagement team. Feedback from ALAC members is welcomed before the GAC–GE call.

2. ICANN86 Seville – ALAC–GAC Bilateral Meeting Preparation

Preparation for the ALAC–GAC bilateral at ICANN86 (Seville, 7–11 June 2026) is underway, in coordination with the GAC Chair, ALAC Chair, and the ICANN Governmental Engagement team.

Provisional agenda items under discussion:

  • DNS abuse enforcement: follow-up to ICANN85 discussions and the GNSO Council review

  • WSIS+20 follow-up and the Global Mechanism's first-cycle agenda

  • ASP mid-program assessment (pending publication of ICANN org analysis)

Feedback from ALAC is explicitly sought on:

  • Whether DNS abuse and WSIS+20 should be retained as standing agenda items in the bilateral format, given that both topics were covered at length in ICANN84 and ICANN85 bilaterals.

  • Whether the UN Permanent Mechanism on Cybersecurity should be introduced as a new item, reflecting its recent launch and its impact on DNS security and stability.

  • Speaker balance and intervention points; candidate ALAC speakers for each item.

3. Strategic Alignment with ALAC FY26 Priorities

The work reported here directly supports two of ALAC's FY26 Strategic Objectives.

Strategic Objective 1: Evolve and promote ICANN's multistakeholder model. The Liaison's engagement with the UN Global Mechanism's Organizational Session, and the Regulatory Developments Briefing on that process, directly contribute to the At-Large community's informed participation in the post-WSIS+20 international governance environment.

Strategic Objective 3: Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to evolve the Internet's unique identifier systems. Ongoing ALAC–GAC coordination on DNS abuse, Hanoi Convention implementation and registration data access continues to reflect shared responsibility for identifier governance with a user-centric perspective.

4. Recommendations

  • ALAC to endorse continuation of the Regulatory Developments Briefing Series on a quarterly cadence, with the ICANN Governmental Engagement team leading administrative coordination and the ALAC Liaison leading content direction.

  • ALAC to provide feedback on the proposed ICANN86 bilateral agenda by 4 May 2026, with particular attention to the question of whether the UN Permanent Mechanism on Cybersecurity should be introduced as a standing item.

  • ALAC to flag any further topics for Regulatory Developments Briefings in Q2 2026, to allow for speaker recruitment and agenda coordination with the GAC GE team.

Annex: Regulatory Developments Briefing Series – Delivery Record

Seven briefings delivered since January 2025:

  • Briefing 1 – WSIS+20 Discussion (13 January 2025)

  • Briefing 2 – UN Cybercrime Convention and the Second Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention (13 February 2025)

  • Briefing 3 – Regulatory Approaches to Cybersecurity and Internet Governance (with Jan Králík, Council of Europe) (24 April 2025)

  • Briefing 4 – Internet Infrastructure and Multistakeholder Governance in MENA (29 May 2025)

  • Briefing 5 – UN OEWG Outcomes & WSIS+20 Reflections (24 July 2025)

  • Briefing 6 – WSIS+20 Zero Draft: Internet Governance section (11 September 2025)

  • Briefing 7 – WSIS+20 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting Outcomes (15 January 2026)

See the Confluence page for further details and recordings.

GAC Liaison Report: ALAC Monthly Call

By: Joanna Kulesza, EURALO, ALAC Liaison to the GAC
Reporting Period: January 2026
Submitted: January 2026

 

  1. WSIS+20 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting Outcomes – ALAC–GAC Regulatory Developments Briefing (January 2026)

The ALAC–GAC Regulatory Developments Briefing Session on the outcomes of the WSIS+20 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting was held on 15 January 2026 (60 minutes), as scheduled. The session brought together representatives of ALAC, the GAC, and ICANN Org for a focused and substantive exchange on the implications of WSIS+20 for Internet governance.

Title: WSIS+20 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting Outcomes

Date: 15 January 2026, 16:00 UTC
Duration: 60 minutes

The briefing facilitated a structured discussion on WSIS+20 outcomes, with particular emphasis on end-user interests, the multistakeholder model, and ICANN’s technical coordination role within the broader UN digital cooperation framework. The session was well attended and benefited from active engagement across stakeholder groups.

Advance reading materials circulated ahead of the session included relevant UN DESA documentation and ICANN resources related to WSIS+20 engagement.

  1. ALAC–GAC Bilateral Meeting at ICANN 85 – Agenda Development

Preparatory work continued during the reporting period on the ALAC–GAC bilateral meeting at ICANN 85, expected to take place early in the meeting week to inform subsequent discussions.

A draft agenda has been developed proposing discussion of DNS abuse and WSIS+20 looking ahead, with balanced interventions from ALAC and the GAC. At the close of the January reporting period, input from ALAC members on the final scope and prioritisation of agenda items remains outstanding.

In particular, feedback is still sought on:

  • whether DNS abuse and WSIS+20 should be revisited in the bilateral format, in light of recent ALAC–GAC exchanges; and

  • whether alternative or additional issues should be prioritised to maximise the added value of the ICANN 85 bilateral meeting.

Guidance received from ALAC will inform finalisation of the agenda and speaker balance.

 

GAC Liaison Report: ALAC Monthly Call

By: Joanna Kulesza, EURALO, ALAC Liaison to the GAC
Reporting Period: December 2025
Submitted: 16 December 2025

  1. WSIS+20 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting Outcomes – January ALAC–GAC Briefing

In preparation for the ALAC–GAC Regulatory Developments Briefing Session scheduled for 8 January 2026 (60 minutes), this section outlines the objectives, speakers, and timing of a dedicated session focusing on the outcomes of the WSIS+20 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting (16–17 December 2025).

Session Overview

Title: WSIS+20 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting Outcomes
Date: 8 January 2026, 16:00 UTC for 60 minutes 

The session will facilitate a structured exchange between ALAC and the GAC on the implications of WSIS+20 for Internet governance, with particular emphasis on end-user interests, the multistakeholder model, and ICANN’s technical coordination role.

Proposed Agenda and Speakers

  1. Opening and Context Setting (5 minutes)
    Joanna Kulesza, ALAC Liaison to the GAC
    Overview of session objectives, the WSIS+20 mandate, and the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting process.

  2. WSIS+20 Outcomes – GAC Perspective (10 minutes)
    Zeina Bouharb, GAC tbc
    Governmental perspective on WSIS+20 outcomes, including implications for multistakeholder governance, public policy priorities, and ICANN’s role within the broader UN digital cooperation landscape.

  3. Governmental Engagement and UN Processes (20–25 minutes)
    Alexey Trepykhalin, GAC Governmental Engagement Team
    Assessment of WSIS+20 outcomes in the context of ongoing UN digital governance initiatives, including linkages with the Global Digital Compact and anticipated next steps at the intergovernmental level.

  4. Q&A and Interactive Discussion (10–15 minutes)
    Moderated exchange between ALAC and GAC participants on areas of convergence, open issues, and opportunities for coordinated follow-up.

  5. Summary and Wrap-Up (5 minutes)
    Key takeaways, identification of next steps, and proposed coordination between ALAC and the GAC.

References (Advance Reading)

2. GAC Correspondence: Protections for Names and Acronyms of Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) in gTLDs

On 12 December 2025, the GAC submitted formal correspondence to the ICANN Board and ICANN Org concerning updated criteria and processes for the protection of IGO names and acronyms at the second level in new gTLDs (see: https://gac.icann.org/contentMigrated/protections-for-names-and-acronyms-of-intergovernmental-organisations-in-gtlds ).

Key elements include:

  • Updated criteria and procedures for adding and removing IGOs from the protection list, including qualification standards and list maintenance mechanisms.

  • A proposed moratorium on protections for IGO acronyms pending final implementation of relevant PDP Working Group recommendations.

  • Ongoing consideration of whether reserved IGO identifiers should be included in String Similarity Evaluations in the Next Round of new gTLDs.

The correspondence recalls principles articulated in the Dublin Communiqué and requests guidance from the ICANN Board on engagement modalities where applications may conflict with reserved IGO identifiers.

3. GNSO Council Review of the Dublin GAC Communiqué – Issues of Relevance to End Users

On 15 December 2025, the GNSO Council transmitted its review of the Dublin GAC Communiqué, outlining intersections with current and planned gTLD policy work (https://gac.icann.org/advice/correspondence/incoming/20251215/gnso-council-review-of-dublin-gac-communique).

Key issues of relevance to end users include:

  1. DNS Abuse
    The GNSO confirms DNS abuse as a priority area, referencing follow-up work to the Preliminary Issue Report, including associated-domain checks, unrestricted API access, and coordination on DGA-based abuse. Effective mitigation is directly linked to end-user trust and security in the DNS.

  2. Accuracy of Registration Data
    The review addresses concerns regarding the timeliness and effectiveness of registration data validation and verification, noting ongoing work by the Accuracy Small Team and its relevance to accountability and consumer protection.

  3. Urgent Requests for Disclosure of Registration Data
    The GNSO acknowledges continued coordination on urgent disclosure mechanisms for cases involving serious threats, while noting that further positions are pending the outcome of relevant public comment processes.

The GNSO positions its review as an invitation for continued engagement with the GAC to align public policy concerns, technical feasibility, and end-user interests.

4. Scheduling and Draft Agenda for the ALAC–GAC Bilateral Meeting at ICANN 85

This item outlines the proposed scheduling and draft agenda for the ALAC–GAC bilateral meeting at ICANN 85, to be held early in the meeting week to inform subsequent discussions.

Draft Agenda (60 minutes)

  1. Opening and Introductions

    • ALAC Chair (5 minutes)

    • GAC Chair (5 minutes)

  2. DNS Abuse

    • GAC perspective (10 minutes)

    • ALAC perspective (10 minutes)

  3. WSIS+20: Looking Ahead

    • ALAC perspective (10 minutes)

    • GAC perspective (10 minutes)

  4. Discussion and Conclusions

    • Q&A and identification of common positions and next steps (5 minutes)

    • Agreement on follow-up actions (5 minutes)

The bilateral could once again focus on DNS abuse and WSIS+20, with the objective of informing liaison recommendations and strengthening coordination between ALAC and the GAC.

Feedback is explicitly sought from ALAC members on the proposed scope and agenda, in particular:

  • whether DNS abuse and WSIS+20 should be discussed again in the bilateral format, given recent and upcoming ALAC–GAC exchanges on these topics; and

  • whether alternative or additional issues should be prioritised to maximise the added value of the ICANN 85 bilateral.

This feedback will inform finalisation of the agenda and speaker balance.

GAC Liaison Report: ALAC Monthly Call

By: Joanna Kulesza, EURALO, ALAC Liaison to the GAC
Reporting Period: November 2025
Submitted: 25 November 2025

Update on GAC Priorities Following ICANN84

The GAC continues to focus on several policy areas that intersect closely with ALAC’s work. These include support for applicants in the New gTLD Program, the global response to DNS abuse, linguistic and script-related issues, and preparations for major international discussions such as WSIS+20. These areas remain central to the GAC’s engagement with ICANN org, the Board, and the wider community.

Applicant Support Program (ASP) and New gTLD Outreach

The GAC maintains strong attention on the Applicant Support Program, viewing it as essential to ensuring that applicants from underserved regions and economies are able to take part in the Next Round. While the number of ASP applications has increased in recent months, the GAC remains concerned about the very limited number of completed applications and the uneven global distribution of applicants.

From the GAC’s perspective, this low uptake presents risks for the credibility of the Next Round and may hinder efforts to achieve a more diverse and globally representative domain name space. The GAC continues to encourage ICANN org to provide effective, timely support to applicants and to facilitate channels of communication between applicants and relevant government representatives where needed.

The GAC also supports further analysis of the ASP once the current round concludes. Such a review should help identify administrative, procedural, or informational barriers that prevented applicants from completing the process, allowing for improvements to future programs. The GAC remains open to continued dialogue with ALAC and others to help increase the reach and effectiveness of outreach initiatives across all regions.

DNS Abuse

The GAC continues to raise concerns about the overall effectiveness of the DNS abuse response framework. While recent contractual amendments were welcomed, governments continue to note gaps in reporting, transparency, and access to consistent data. Strengthening the enforcement environment remains a priority. The GAC supports the ongoing DNS Abuse PDP and encourages collaboration across advisory committees, including ALAC, to help develop practical improvements that can be implemented across the DNS.

Latin Script Diacritics

The GAC remains attentive to ongoing work on Latin script diacritics, noting that the results of this work will need to be integrated into the Next Round as soon as feasible. The GAC supports efforts to ensure that linguistic diversity is properly reflected in application and evaluation processes and encourages continued coordination between community groups and ICANN org to ensure that linguistically inclusive practices can be applied without delaying program timelines.

WSIS+20 and International Policy Processes

The GAC continues to prepare for the upcoming WSIS+20 Review, recognizing that this process will play a significant role in shaping expectations for international cooperation on digital policy, including issues related to Internet governance. Governments anticipate that WSIS+20 outcomes may influence the broader environment in which ICANN operates, including expectations regarding transparency, accountability, capacity development, and engagement with public authorities. The GAC will continue to follow these developments closely and welcomes cooperation with ALAC where shared priorities arise.

Continued GAC–ALAC Cooperation on Next Round and User-Oriented Issues

The GAC’s current areas of focus continue to align with several ALAC priorities, particularly concerning applicant support, user protection, and inclusive participation. Both committees share the view that the Next Round must be equitable, accessible, and transparent, and that community groups should continue to communicate regularly with ICANN org and the Board on these points. Ongoing GAC–ALAC coordination remains important for reinforcing shared public-interest perspectives.

Planning of GAC–ALAC Regulatory Updates (January–February 2026)

Following discussions with the Government Engagement (GE) Team, the decision has been taken not to hold a regulatory-updates session in December. The GE Team advised that current international processes would limit the usefulness of a late-2025 session. Instead, two meetings will take place early next year:

  • 15 January 2026

  • 12 February 2026

Proposed focus for January:

A WSIS+20 Recap, including key observations from the December UN meetings and their relevance for the ICANN community.

Proposed focus for February:

Developments related to the UN Organizational Session for the future permanent mechanism on ICT security, scheduled for early 2026.

Further topic suggestions from ALAC participants remain welcome.

GAC Liaison Report: ALAC monthly call

By: Joanna Kulesza, EURALO, ALAC Liaison to the GAC
Reporting Period: July – August 2025
Submitted: 25 August 2025

1: AL-ALAC-CO-0825-01-EN – Urgent Review of Next Round Applicant Support Program (15 August 2025)

Document: caballero-zuck-to-sinha-15aug25-en.pdf

Summary (100 words):
The joint GAC–ALAC letter urges the ICANN Board to expedite review of the Applicant Support Program (ASP) for the Next Round of New gTLDs. With the application window nearing closure, current participation is far below targets, particularly from underserved regions such as LAC, Africa, and APAC, raising concerns over geographic inequities. The letter proposes an immediate review addressing communications, application bottlenecks, and policy implementation, including measurable targets and metrics. Recommendations include reallocating outreach resources, simplifying processes, publishing anonymized data, and conducting a joint GAC–ALAC–Board webinar. Timely action is essential to uphold ICANN’s multistakeholder and inclusivity principles.

Acknowledgements:
Thanks are extended to At-Large volunteers, particularly Justine Chew, Avri Doria, and Tijani Ben Jemaa, for their commitment and leadership in initiating this important cooperation on such a vital topic, and for their effective collaboration with GAC colleagues.

2: Confirmation of Agenda – ICANN84 GAC/ALAC Bilateral (Dublin)

Date & Time: 28 October 2025, 09:00 UTC

Tentative Agenda Items:

  • Review of ASP Mid-Program Assessment 

  • DNS Abuse enforcement trends and transparency

  • Follow-up on intergovernmental developments (WSIS+20, UN OEWG)

3: Suggestions for September GAC–ALAC Regulatory Updates Briefing

Input and suggestions from participants are welcome. Possible topics include:

  • Developments in ICANN policy implementation relevant to regulatory authorities in consultation with the ICANN.org GE Team

  • Regional insights on domain name system abuse, privacy, and security compliance

  • The Potsdam Call on Autonomous Weapon Systems – Potsdam, 4 August 2025 (link)

GAC Liaison Report: ALAC monthly call

By Joanna Kulesza, EURALO, ALAC Liaison to the GAC
Reporting Period: June –July 2025
Submitted: 21 July 2025

  1. Key Developments

  • GAC Communiqué – ICANN83
    Issued on 13 June 2025, the GAC Communiqué addressed the following matters of relevance to At-Large:

    • WHOIS / Registration Data Access: The GAC reiterated concerns regarding persistent access limitations to WHOIS/RDRS systems and the need for accessible, transparent procedures.

    • DNS Abuse: Noted incremental progress but emphasized the need for enforcement measures and clear accountability mechanisms for contracted parties.

    • Applicant Support Program (ASP): Expressed concern about the limited uptake in applications and recommended a mid-program assessment to evaluate outreach and implementation.

    • Accountability and Transparency: Highlighted ongoing concerns about the deferral of ATRT4 recommendations and requested a revised timeline from the Board.
      Full communiqué: https://gac.icann.org/contentMigrated/icann83-prague-communique

  • In progress: Joint GAC–ALAC Statement on the Applicant Support Program (ASP)
    Drafting began in early July 2025, following consensus on the need for a coordinated inter-AC/SO statement. Key concerns under discussion include:

    • Regional imbalance in applications

    • Barriers to entry for underserved applicants

    • Need for additional support mechanisms and a mid-cycle review

NOTE: At-Large topic leads: Justine Chew, Avri Doria, Tijani Ben Jemaa

Session Details:

Reference Materials

  •  

    • UN OEWG Final Report (Adopted 11 July 2025):

Letter from the OEWG Chair – 10 July 2025 [docs-library.unoda.org] 

Key outcomes include reaffirmation of the applicability of international law in cyberspace, enhanced cooperation mechanisms, and recommendations for capacity-building and confidence-building measures.

  •  

    • WSIS+20 High-Level Event – Highlights and Outcomes:
      WSIS+20 Forum 2025 Outcomes [itu.int]
      This event marked two decades of global digital cooperation, with announcements on inclusive connectivity, digital public infrastructure, and renewed commitments to the WSIS Action Lines.

  • ICANN84 GAC/ALAC Bilateral (Dublin)
    Scheduled for 28 October 2025 at 09:00 UTC. Tentative agenda items include:

    • Review of ASP Mid-Program Assessment (pending outcome)

    • DNS Abuse enforcement trends and transparency

    • Follow-up on intergovernmental developments (WSIS+20, UN OEWG)

NOTE: feedback welcome

  1. Ongoing Issues of Joint Interest

  • ASP Transparency and Participation Metrics
    As of 15 July 2025, no detailed public update on ASP application volume or regional distribution has been published. Several community groups, including ALAC and GAC, have called for:

    • Weekly reporting on application volume and demographics

    • Clarification of evaluation metrics

    • External review of outreach effectiveness

  • DNS Abuse Metrics and Enforcement
    Calls persist for:

    • Publication of DNS abuse compliance actions

    • Disaggregated metrics by abuse category and registrar region

    • A structured roadmap for enforcement beyond voluntary reporting

Upcoming Events

Date

Event / Milestone

Link / Notes

24 July 2025

Regulatory Briefing: UN OEWG & WSIS+20

Agenda & Registration

July 2025

Draft GAC–ALAC Joint Statement on ASP – Community Circulation

GAC and At-Large policy lists

28 October 2025

GAC–ALAC Bilateral, ICANN84 (Dublin)

Time: 09:00 UTC – Agenda TBA

Strategic Alignment with ALAC FY26 Priorities

These developments directly support and operationalize ALAC’s FY26 Strategic Objectives, as identified in the July 2025 strategy exercises:

[1] Strategic Objective 1:

“Evolve and promote ICANN’s Multistakeholder Model to sustain its inclusive approach to Internet Governance.”

  • The joint GAC–ALAC engagement on the ASP and shared concerns regarding RDRS accessibility exemplify active inter-AC/ASO collaboration.

  • The Regulatory Briefing on UN OEWG and WSIS+20 facilitates informed community dialogue on global governance developments, reinforcing ALAC’s commitment to inclusive participation.

[2] Strategic Objective 3:

“Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to evolve the Internet’s unique identifier systems.”

  • Ongoing ALAC–GAC coordination on WHOIS/RDRS, DNS Abuse enforcement, and policy implementation reflects shared responsibility for evolving identifier governance with a user-centric perspective.

  • ALAC’s advocacy for DNS Abuse transparency and metrics aligns with efforts to strengthen identifier system accountability and operational integrity.

  1. Recommendations

  • ICANN Org is encouraged to publish granular ASP application data and open a public consultation on mid-program review mechanisms.

  • GAC and ALAC to jointly pursue a cross-community session at ICANN84 focused on inclusivity and accessibility in the next round of gTLD applications.

  • Formal follow-up to the 24 July Regulatory Briefing, possibly in the form of an intersessional webinar on ICANN's engagement with the WSIS+20 review process.

GAC Liaison Report: ALAC monthly call

By Joanna Kulesza, EURALO, ALAC Liaison to the GAC
Reporting Period: May –June 2025
Submitted: 24 May 2025

  • ALAC-GAC Regulatory Developments May Briefing 

Laying the Groundwork: Internet Infrastructure and Multistakeholder Governance in MENA
Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025
Time: 16:00–17:00 UTC
Interpretation: English, Spanish, French
Event Page: ICANN Wiki – Event Details

This session will focus on the governance of Internet infrastructure in the MENA region through a multistakeholder lens—an increasingly pertinent subject given the evolving geopolitical and regulatory context.

Agenda Summary:

  • Opening Remarks: Zeina Bourharb (GAC), Joanna Kulesza (ALAC Liaison)

  • Introduction and Scoping Questions: Dr. Chafik Chaya (RIPE NCC)

  • Regional Perspectives Input (tbc)

  • Open Q&A and Forward Planning

Preparatory Call: Scheduled for Tuesday, 27 May 2025.

I warmly encourage colleagues to register and actively participate in this session, which offers a unique opportunity for meaningful cross-community dialogue on regional governance of digital infrastructures. This briefing will focus on the evolving multistakeholder approach and the MENA region, a subject of particular relevance given the current geopolitical context.

Please note, this will be our last regulatory developments session before the Prague meeting and a possible summer break. I would appreciate your thoughts on whether it would be useful to host a regulatory developments briefing in July, considering the upcoming IGF and WSIS+20 meetings our communities might wish to jointly debrief on.

 

  1. ALAC-GAC Bilateral Meeting at ICANN83 (Prague)

Date: Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Time: 09:30–10:15 UTC
Preparatory Call: Scheduled for Thursday, 29 May 2025

Preparations for the ICANN83 ALAC–GAC bilateral meeting are well underway. The preparatory call later this week will be used to finalise the agenda, and coordinate intervention points.

Draft Agenda:

  • Welcome and Introductions

  • Remarks by the GAC Chair and ALAC Chair

  • Applicant Support Program (ASP): ALAC Speaker: Avri Doria

  • Public Interest Frameworks and Advisory Committess Roles: ALAC Speaker: Justine Chew

  • Q&A and Moderated Open Discussion

The session will allow us to further strengthen our close relationship with the GAC on two topics of mutual interest. With regard to potentially identifying new areas for collaboration, please see below. 

Regrettably, I’ll only be able to join the Prague meeting remotely, but our Chairs and the GAC Liaison to ALAC will work together with the staff on the ground to ensure, once again, an informative and productive session.

  1. On ICANN’s Language Regarding Diversity and Inclusion

Recent internal discussions within our community have reflected growing awareness and concern regarding changes in ICANN’s institutional language on diversity and inclusion. This topic, which relates directly to ICANN’s core commitments to geographic, linguistic, and stakeholder diversity as articulated in its Bylaws, has generated meaningful and timely exchanges.

Should the community wish to raise this matter further with the GAC, I remain at your disposal to support and contribute to the discussion.

 

GAC Liaison Report: ALAC monthly call 

By Joanna Kulesza, EURALO, ALAC Liaison to the GAC
Reporting Period: March - April 2025
Submitted: 22 April 2025

1. Draft Agenda Proposals for the GAC–ALAC Bilateral Meeting at ICANN83



In preparation for ICANN83, the GAC proposed the following agenda

items for the GAC–ALAC bilateral session. These topics reflect areas

of joint concern between our communities and are intended to foster

constructive engagement and reinforce the advisory roles we hold

within ICANN’s multistakeholder governance model.

1.1. Applicant Support Program (ASP) – Equity in the Next gTLD Round

Objective: Promote meaningful uptake of the ASP and explore how GAC

and ALAC can collaborate to enhance outreach and evaluation strategies

for underserved applicants in the upcoming new gTLD round.

1.2. DNS Abuse Mitigation – Policy, Enforcement, and End User Protection

Objective: Exchange perspectives on national and regional DNS abuse
mitigation efforts and identify joint opportunities to strengthenprevention, enforcement, and user protection mechanisms.1.3. Universal Acceptance (UA) and the Multilingual InternetObjective: Advance UA readiness through community-level training andadvocate for public sector adoption to promote digital inclusion andlinguistic diversity.1.4. Domain Name Registration Data – RDRS, Accuracy, and AccessObjective: Review early data from the Registration Data RequestService (RDRS) and consider balanced, long-term solutions that upholdprivacy while enabling legitimate access.1.5. Digital Inclusion and Capacity BuildingObjective: Explore synergies in supporting underserved populations viainitiatives such as local IGFs, NRIs, ICANN Learn, and regionalleadership programs (e.g., Fellowship and NextGen).1.6. Public Interest Frameworks and Advisory RolesObjective: Strengthen collaboration between GAC and ALAC in defining,defending, and implementing the public interest in ICANN’s policyprocesses.Feedback from the ALAC on these proposed agenda items is most welcome,including additional topics or refinements. Coordination on the finalagenda is ongoing.________________________________2. April Regulatory Developments Briefing: Session on Cybersecurityand Transboundary Data Access with Council of Europe Expert – April24, 2025The next session of the Regulatory Updates Briefing Series will takeplace on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 16:00 UTC.This session, tentatively titled “Regulatory Approaches toCybersecurity and Internet Governance”, will feature Mr. Jan Králik,Programme Manager at the Cybercrime Division of the Council of Europe.He will offer practical insights into:- DNS abuse and its governance under existing legal frameworks- Cross-border data access under the Second Additional Protocol to theBudapest Convention- The ongoing UN Cybercrime Convention negotiations Zoom Registrationhttps://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/atlarge/pages/227082259/2025-04-24+ALAC-GAC+Regulatory+Developments+Briefing+Series+Regulatory+Approaches+to+Cybersecurity+and+Internet+Governance+Practical+Insights+on+DNS+Abuse+Cross-Border+Data+Access+under+the+Budapest+Convention+and+the+UN+Cybercrime+Convention Agenda and Detailshttps://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/atlarge/pages/180715827/GAC-ALAC+Regulatory+Developments+Briefing+SeriesCommunity participation is encouraged, particularly from those engagedin policy discussions on DNS abuse, cybersecurity, and cross-borderlegal access.________________________________3. ICANN82 Seattle GAC Communique and GNSO Council ReviewThe ICANN82 GAC Communique was published on 17 March 2025 and isavailable here:https://gac.icann.org/advice/correspondence/incoming/20250404/gnso-council-review-of-seattle-gac-communiqueIssues of importance to the GAC:1. Domain Name Registration Data: The GAC continues to seek progresson urgent requests for domain registration data, urging a 24-hourresponse timeline. It supports the enhancement of the RegistrationData Request Service (RDRS) and recommends mandatory participation forall gTLD registrars. The GAC also emphasizes improving registrationdata accuracy and calls for further work on EPDP Phase 2Arecommendations, especially regarding legal entity and reseller data.2. Next Round of New gTLDs: The GAC supports the Applicant SupportProgram (ASP) and requests more granular data on applications fromunderserved regions. It also urges ICANN org to identify obstacleshindering application progress and considers increasing refunds forearly withdrawals. The GAC encourages expanding “ICANN in YourLanguage” for global outreach.3. ICANN Community Code of Conduct: The GAC supports the transparencyof Statements of Interest (SOI) and the proposed ICANN CommunityParticipant Code of Conduct, emphasizing the need for clear disclosureof participants’ interests.4. DNS Abuse: The GAC urges stronger cooperation to address DNS abuse,supporting the use of AI-powered detection systems and furtherdiscussions on bulk registrations and their link to DNS abuse.5. WSIS+20: The GAC welcomes ICANN org's engagement in the WSIS+20process and will continue to foster discussions on themultistakeholder approach to shaping the digital future.The GNSO Council subsequently submitted its official response on 4April 2025, addressing key themes raised in the Communique, including:Accuracy of registration data; DNS abuse mitigation and Domain nameregistration policies (see here for further details:https://gac.icann.org/advice/correspondence/incoming/20250404/gnso-council-review-of-seattle-gac-communique).These items are relevant to several agenda items proposed for theICANN83 bilateral session, particularly those concerning DNS abuse anddata accuracy.