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At-Large ICANN Plenary Sessions

At-Large ICANN Plenary Sessions

Owned by Michelle DeSmyter
Last updated: Mar 02, 2025 by Aleksey KhapchenkoVersion comment

Proposal #1: 

Proposed Session Title / Titre de Session Proposé /Título de la sesión propuesta *


Core Internet Values: Evolution and Challenges for ICANN 

Brief Description / Brève description / Breve descripción *


The concept of core Internet values has been a cornerstone of the Internet’s architecture. However, with seismic shifts in technology, governance models, and 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 diminished trust in the systems they rely on daily. Moreover, this timely session builds on the momentum from ICANN 81’s All-Community Plenary Session: Shifting Paradigms: Multistakeholderism, Geopolitics, and Emerging Internet Infrastructures.

Why should this be a plenary session at ICANN 82? 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, blockchain, and 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.    The evolution of core Internet values and their potential need for adjustment.
2.    Emerging policy trends (e.g., digital 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:  (90 minutes)

  • Introduction (5 minutes): The Moderator provides an overview of the session objectives and ICANN’s mission.
  • Panel Discussion (25 minutes):
    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?
  • Invited Community Member's Input - ICANN stakeholder perspectives and recommendations. (30 minutes)
  • Open floor (20 minutes)
  • Panelists Closing Remarks (10 minutes): Key takeaways and next steps.

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 stakeholders to navigate today’s complex and evolving environment. 
The key takeaways will be: 
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. *

  1. ICANN Board
  2. ICANN Office of the CTO).
  3. Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), 
  4. ccNSO
  5. GNSO
  6. Noncommercial Stakeholder Group (NCSG)
  7. IETF 
  8. ALAC

Session Leaders/Facilitators and Panelists/Presenters - Facilitateurs de session et présentateurs - Líderes de sesión/facilitadores y panelistas/presentadores *

Moderator: Pari 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. *


Tripti Sinha

Additional information or comments /

The 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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Proposal #2: 

Title

“But you promised…” - Evaluating Community perceptions on the new gTLD program's Global Public Interest (GPI)

NEW TITLE: SubPro’s promise and the New gTLD Round


Session Duration:

90 minutes - now 75 minutes 

 

Objective:

To critically assess whether the new gTLD program is fulfilling its social purposes, examining plans, expectations, and proposed outcomes.  


Overview:  

This session aims to explore whether the ‘promises’ made within ICANN during the development and implementation of the new gTLD program are being met, particularly in terms of their social impact and alignment with the global public interest. This discussion is particularly timely as we approach the next Applicant Guidebook (AGB) revision. Based on community understanding of the successes and failures of the ongoing 2012 round,  the discussions on how the next round (Subpro) would fix everything, and the status of the current implementation of the New gTLD Round, can we identify gaps that should be dealt with before it is too late?


Key Questions to Address:

  1. Has the work on the new gTLD program met the expectations of contributors, participants, in terms of the  global public interest?  Are we building what we need?  Does it meet the threshold of delivering public value according to our mission, commitments, and core values?

       2. Are the 'promises' made during the early stages of the Subpro program being fulfilled? 

   - These are promises people think they heard from leaders, teams, and Board members concerning topics such as IDN/UA, outreach, applicant support, contention set resolution.  

   - Is the implementation aligning with what was expected?

      3. Does the AGB proposed implementation of New gTLD program fulfill the stated goals of the program? 

   - Are there indications that the program is not delivering for the global public interest as expected by the community?  

   - What are the key concerns that need to be addressed?

      4. Are public concerns about the program  being dismissed without sufficient discussion in the understandable rush to meet a schedule?  

   - Are there real issues that need attention, or are these concerns being minimized?

      5. What are the potential circumstances that could hinder or even derail the program's success?  

   - Issues similar to those we have seen like HAN single-character surprises, the need to withdraw Board-approved recommendations, and what appears to be acceleration of ad hoc policy adjustments.  

   - How can these best be addressed?

     6. Is it ok to rely on an increasing number of new  ‘promises’ of fixing issues in future ‘procedures’?  

   - Is this a satisfactory response, or just more deferrals of public interest?  

   - Can we ensure that these issues are tackled now rather than deferred yet again?


Discussion Format:

The session will be structured as a moderated debate, with input from a diverse group of ICANN stakeholders, including community members, Board members, and experts in gTLD policy. Key points of concern, included in the key questions, will be raised and debated, with updates provided on the current status of implementation. The session will aim to offer transparency on the challenges faced and provide a forum for stakeholders to express their views and develop a wider understanding of the current situation. 


Outcome Goal:  

The primary goal of this session is to provide a clear picture of whether the 

New gTLD Round will fulfill its intended public interest purpose. If the program is on track as many believe it is, this will provide reassurance to stakeholders. If not as some are concerned, this session will provide a platform for discussing what may need to be done before it is too late.


Expected Takeaways:

- Clarity on the community understanding on the public interest objectives of the new gTLD program.  

- Identification of areas where the program may not be fulfilling its GPI obligations.  

- Open discussion on how to address any concerns raised before the final stages of implementation and deployment.  

- A plan for addressing small but significant issues that may have been overlooked.


Target Audience:  

ICANN participants, stakeholders in the domain name industry, policy makers, and anyone interested in the future of the gTLD program and its impact on the global Internet community.


Conclusion:

This session will provide an essential benchmark to assess the goals and achievements  of the new gTLD program, engage with relevant stakeholders, and help the Board ensure that the program  serves the global public interest before it has to give the go ahead for the next steps.