ICANN81 took place in Istanbul from November 9 to 14 this year, bringing together over 1,900 participants from 141 countries to discuss global internet governance issues and the challenges of digital transformation.
Among the participants were several experts in the field of Internet Governance from Armenia, including members of the “Internet Society” NGO: Kristina Hakobyan, Vahan Hovsepyan, Grigori Saghyan, and Siranush Vardanyan. These individuals are also actively involved in various international organizations within the field.
ICANN81 addressed key topics in the domain management sector, including the importance of developing mechanisms to support the introduction of new gTLDs (General Top-Level Domains) and strategies to prevent DNS (Domain Name System) abuses. Discussions also emphasized the broader application of the multi-stakeholder model of Internet Governance proposed by WSIS+20 and the advancement of international laws on cybersecurity and data protection, particularly concerning cross-border data transfers. Additionally, the process of universal acceptance was highlighted as a critical factor in enhancing the accessibility, diversity, and security of the internet.
ICANN81 also introduced the corporation’s new CEO, Kurt Lindqvist. It was noted that although he has not been actively involved in ICANN’s work in recent years, he expressed enthusiasm about taking on the role. Lindqvist will officially begin his term in January 2025. Meanwhile, the ICANN82 conference is scheduled to take place in Seattle in March of next year, where discussions will continue on strategies to maintain a safe, inclusive, and resilient internet, focusing on its development and improvement.
