Site Finder as Starting Point for True Innovation Above DNS

Well, I have remained silent on this issue for now -- mainly because of conflicts. I was one of a few members of the technical advisory group asked by VeriSign to look at Site Finder and ask the questions -- what does it add, what does it break, and how can we fix anything it breaks? The scope of the group was unlimited by any VeriSign edict and the members were of impeccable individual credentials. This group has now completed its work so I feel able to comment. more

Warning: The .EU Domain Registration

While the registration policies and accreditation of registrars are yet to be finalized for the newly announced .eu TLD, the following email may find its way to your inbox, if not yet already: "We are now accepting registrations for .eu domain names. You can check on our site to see if your ideal domain has been taken yet..." more

SnapNames: Why the WLS is Better for Consumers

In 2002, VeriSign, the registry for .COM and .NET domain names, proposed the idea of a centralized, registry-level "wait list" for currently registered domain names. The system would let anyone around the world get "next in line" for a name that is registered now but may become available later.

This new registry service, titled Wait List System (or WLS), would augment what is now an ad-hoc group of registrar-level services that are useful, but aren't always fully dependable or even available to the general public. more

When the Registry Itself Is Contested: The Unseen Geopolitical Risk in the 2026 gTLD Round

As the 2026 gTLD round opens, applicants face an overlooked geopolitical hazard: what happens if the registry or RIR underpinning their domain collapses under sanctions or war, leaving contracts stranded and accountability elusive. more

The Internet’s Legitimacy Gap: When Governance Outgrew Its Architecture

Internet governance is shifting from participatory forums to security-driven mandates. As authority accelerates ahead of legitimacy, technical systems face growing instability and operators absorb the risks of politically motivated control. more

SES Pursues Multi-Orbit Satellite Internet via Strategic Partnerships

SES's first multi-orbit partnership was Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink, providing a managed blend of SES MEO and Starlink LEO service for maritime operators, and we can expect similar bundled services in aviation and enterprise markets. more

The Governance of the Root of the DNS

The arrangements regarding the composition and organisation of the provision and operation of authoritative root servers are one of the more long-lasting aspects of the public Internet. In the late 1980s, Jon Postel, as the IANA, worked with a small set of interested organisations to provide this service. It was informally arranged, without contracts and without payment of any form. more

Just Say What You Mean: Avoiding Deadlock on Enhanced Cooperation in the WSIS+20 Review

On 29 July 2025, the UN organized a WSIS+20 Informal Stakeholder Consultation at which a number of government and stakeholder representations made three-minute statements. This was in response to the Elements Paper circulated by the WSIS+20 Review's Co-facilitators, an important initial step en route to the zero draft of the text that will be the basis of negotiations and consultations over the next months in advance of the formal WSIS Review in the UN General Assembly in December. more

Why Digital Sovereignty Cannot Escape Its Own Contradictions? Reflections for Moving Forward

The debate surrounding digital sovereignty has gained momentum in recent years, particularly within BRICS nations, where governments seek to assert greater control over their digital ecosystems. Proponents of digital sovereignty often frame it as a necessary countermeasure against foreign technological dominance, positioning it as either a "positive" force- fostering local innovation and self-reliance- or a "negative" one- fueling authoritarian control and economic isolation. more

Cyber Resilience Resources Restructuring

Information and Communications (ICT) infrastructures rely on many globally shared critical resilience information resources for diverse essential functions such as identifiers, routing, and cyber security. However, this ICT ecosystem has rapidly become significantly less stable and collaborative with dramatically diminished respect for legal norms and values because of the new USA national Administration. The instability includes the vicarious, wholesale removal of essential public safety and scientific databases, as well as global collaboration with multiple global UN public safety bodies. One result is the scaling of Digital Sovereignty initiatives. more

Response to usTLD Registry Management and Maintenance RFI

On January 17th in the closing days of the Biden Administration, NTIA issued the following Response for Information in connection with the .us ccTLD. While responses to the RFI will be held in confidence by NTIA per the RFI, some organizations such as M3AAWG made their response public. In the spirit of openness and transparency, Rick Lane and I are sharing our response on this important topic. more

Beyond WHOIS: Towards a New Framework of Internet Domain Registration Data Disclosure

The collection and disclosure of DNS registration data have evolved chaotically, influenced by GDPR and other privacy laws. The system, while improving privacy, has enabled bad actors and raised costs for registrars and registries. Join experts at this event as they explore Project Jake's framework for balancing privacy with legitimate data needs, emphasizing policy clarity, efficiency, and adaptability. more

NATO’s Orbital Lifeline: A Backup Plan for the Internet

NATO’s HEIST project tackles the vulnerability of undersea internet cables by testing satellite backups and advanced monitoring. The initiative aims to safeguard global communications against accidental damage and potential sabotage. more

A Collision Between Tech Policy and Foreign Policy: the UN Cybercrime Convention

Sometime by year-end, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) will vote on the proposed UN Convention Against Cybercrime. The treaty is opposed by most civil liberties organizations and Internet businesses, although the US position appears uncertain, mostly for reasons of foreign policy. more

Led by Ted Cruz, the GOP Doesn’t Want Affordable Internet

In the coming months, we're set to witness the largest investment in America's digital infrastructure in history: $42.5 billion that should be a true lifeline for millions of Americans struggling with slow, unreliable, or nonexistent internet connections. But as with any massive government spending program, the devil is in the details - and Republican lawmakers, led by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, are doing their best to ensure those details work against their own constituents. more