On 27 March 2025, eco – Association of the Internet Industry and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) hosted the ICANN82 Readout webinar, delivering exclusive insights into the outcomes and takeaways from the ICANN82 Community Forum held earlier in Seattle. Moderated by Lars Steffen (eco) and hosted by Christopher Mondini (ICANN) and Thomas Rickert (eco), the Readout brought together leading voices from across the ICANN community to highlight key discussions and developments shaping the future of global internet governance.
Key highlights from the ICANN82 Readout include:
- Board and Policy Updates: Announcements regarding new ICANN Board members and strategic discussions on enhancing collaboration to strengthen the multistakeholder model.
- Pilot Holistic Review: A proposed bifurcated model aiming to improve ICANN’s review processes and community effectiveness.
- WSIS+20 Process: Focus on ICANN’s role in the upcoming global review of internet governance, with calls for coordinated advocacy across regions.
- New gTLD Applicant Support: Concerns raised over access, affordability, and fairness, especially for underserved regions.
- DNS Abuse and Registration Data: Community-wide coordination to combat abuse and refine data accuracy mechanisms in line with global privacy frameworks.
- Technical Advancements: SSAC updates on open-source use in DNS infrastructure, DNSSEC, and pragmatic approaches to DNS blocking.
- Capacity Building: Hands-on workshops and future-focused webinars to equip stakeholders with essential internet infrastructure skills.
