Internet Governance

Nations at WSIS Better Off with an ICANN-Like Structure

There is much talk currently about the WSIS meeting taking place in Geneva this week which means some needed attention is being paid to Internet governance. While some may view the term "Internet governance" as an oxymoron and my natural reaction is something along the lines of "I hope that they continue to view regulation as too complicated so that we Internet-folks can just keep doing what we are doing" I confess to knowing deep down that we would all be better off with a simple, effective policy framework than with the current anarchic state. more

Online Registries: The DNS and Beyond

As the world grows more connected and more complicated, we all need ways of defining, identifying and keeping track of things and cross-referencing them with their owners. The simplest way to do that is with registries -- everything from the Domesday Book, a medieval registry of land, property and people; to current-day auto registries on the one hand and the worldwide Domain Name System on the other...But now, companies and organizations have to keep track of ever more things and people, not just inside their walls but across extended organizational boundaries. Call this new wrinkle an "external registry". Finally, they may want to interact with things and people, rather than just look them up, via an "active registry".  more

National Academy of Science and the Domain Name System Controversy

The National Academy of Science (NAS) has been brought into the controversy over the future development of the Internet and its domain name system, a controversy recently fueled by the creation of ICANN. The US Congress under Public Law 105-305 mandated that the NAS undertake a study of the domain name system, which is to include options for its development, and the potential impact of the various alternatives. The $800,000 expenses for the study are to be funded by the National Science Foundation and the US Department of Commerce. more

France Proposes One-Hour Social Media Removal Rule After Secret DNS-Blocking Plans

France has proposed legislation allowing authorities to block social media platforms over prohibited content, following revelations that telecom operators were asked to prepare geographically targeted DNS restrictions during protests. more

ICANN Names Three Independent Objectors to Review 2026 New gTLD Applications

ICANN has appointed three independent objectors for the 2026 new-gTLD round, establishing a mechanism to challenge applications on public-interest and community grounds, with safeguards against institutional interference. more

RIPE NCC Freezes Internet Number Resources Under EU Sanctions, but Routing Remains Unaffected

RIPE NCC has frozen Internet number resources linked to 28 newly sanctioned entities under EU rules. The restrictions block resource transfers and new allocations but do not automatically interrupt network routing or connectivity. more

Access Now Documents Years-Long Internet Shutdowns Across Conflict Regions

Access Now documents prolonged Internet shutdowns in Myanmar, Ethiopia and other conflict-affected regions, highlighting persistent connectivity restrictions, damaged telecommunications infrastructure and the difficulty of determining when meaningful access has been restored. more

ICANN87 in Bali Puts DNS Abuse and New gTLD Implementation in Focus

ICANN87 in Bali brings DNS abuse mitigation, registrant protections and the next gTLD round into focus as policymakers examine implementation challenges affecting domain registries, registrars and Internet users. more

ICANN’s New gTLD Round Draws 16 African Applications, 10 Controlled by a Chinese Business Network

A Seychelles company controlled by Lu Heng accounts for 10 of Africa's 16 new gTLD applications, linking ICANN's domain expansion to commercial interests and an ongoing dispute over AFRINIC's governance and IPv4 resources. more

Dutch Police Seize Italian Internet Provider’s Server at US Request

Dutch police seized a server belonging to Italian Internet provider Autistici/Inventati at US authorities' request, raising questions about cross-border law enforcement, terrorism sanctions and the vulnerability of European Internet infrastructure to American legal measures. more

The Fight for a String: Understanding ICANN’s Objection Process in the 2026 New gTLD Application Round

ICANN's 2026 new gTLD objection process presents applicants and rights holders with four distinct mechanisms for challenging proposed strings, each carrying different legal standards, evidentiary requirements and consequences for delegation. more

ICANN Board to Review New gTLD Round Milestones, Root Server Governance Ahead of ICANN87

ICANN's Board will review milestones for the 2026 new gTLD round, root server governance reforms and preparations for international Internet governance meetings, with key implementation questions remaining unresolved. more

From Apps to Agents: How the 2026 New gTLD Strings Mirror a Changed Internet

ICANN's 2026 new gTLD applications reveal a shift toward AI agents, developer infrastructure and digital trust, with .agent replacing .app as the most contested string amid growing competition and persistent geographic disparities. more

Who Checks the Models? The Case for UN Oversight of Frontier AI

As AI agents demonstrate increasingly autonomous behavior, Gabriel Accascina proposes a UN-led evaluation system modeled on WHO prequalification, using independent testing and government procurement incentives to strengthen international oversight of frontier AI. more

ICANN Study Links 56% of Malicious Domains to Related Registrations

ICANN researchers identified associated domains for 56.4% of malicious registrations studied, introducing a public-data detection method that could inform DNS abuse investigations and proposed registrar obligations. more