Session
Organizer 1: Adam Peake, ICANN
Organizer 2: Baher Esmat, 🔒
Organizer 3: Rebecca McGilley, 🔒ICANN
Speaker 1: Kristy Buckley , Technical Community, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 2: Jennifer Chung, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Ram Mohan, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Justine Chew, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 5: Lucky Masilela, Technical Community, African Group
Baher Esmat, Technical Community, African Group
Adam Peake, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Rebecca McGilley, Technical Community, Intergovernmental Organization
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: A 90 minute roundtable format is ideal for this workshop to encourage dynamic exchanges among diverse stakeholders and to allow for collaborative problem-solving. Participants can collectively tackle DNS-related challenges and examine case studies and examples in depth. The format also allows flexibility to adapt to emerging themes and participant engagement, while facilitating relationship building and collaboration beyond the session.
A roundtable also provides flexibility, enabling us to tailor the discussion to emerging themes and participant engagement. This ensures that the session remains relevant and responsive to the attendee's interests and needs. Additionally, the format provides ample opportunities for networking and relationship building, fostering connections and collaborations that extend beyond the session, thus enhancing the impact of our collective efforts in the DNS ecosystem. In addition to the named speakers, we will include other expert voices around the table to ensure greater diversity of views and experiences.
1. How can programs, strategies, and initiatives foster innovation while enhancing inclusivity and accessibility of the Internet and its Domain Name System (DNS)?
2. What policies and frameworks would help evolve the Internet to better reflect our geographic cultural, and linguistic diversity–promoting equity in the digital space?
3. What role(s) can various stakeholder groups and multistakeholder communities play in promoting innovation within the Domain Name System (DNS), particularly in supporting participation from developing countries and underrepresented communities?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants attending this session will gain insight on innovation and balancing risks in the Domain Name System (DNS) by exploring how gTLDs are addressing real-world challenges faced by diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, civil society, academia, and the private sector. Through engaging discussions based upon real-world case studies, attendees will discover innovative approaches within the DNS landscape.
Discussants will explore how generic top-level domains (gTLDs) and initiatives related to the next wave of gTLDs can be leveraged to foster digital inclusion, cultural diversity, and linguistic representation on the Internet. Participants will be encouraged to discuss how the DNS, gTLDs, and supporting programs can further innovation while sharing their own views on how to balance potential risks.
Description:
The global Internet we have come to rely on for all digital, social and economic activity is only possible because its technical foundations are stable and interoperable. Domain names and systems of unique identifiers are at the heart of these technical foundations; they are robust, reliable, global, and based on strong multistakeholder governance. These systems are also continuing to evolve.
This session will discuss how ICANN's multistakeholder community and partners are expanding the number of top-level domains (TLDs) to create more diverse and inclusive ways for people and organizations to manage their online presence, identity, geographies, and brands. The main focus is on developing countries and underserved regions and communities. This session will bring together innovators, businesses, governments, and others–to discuss how to shape the Internet in ways that reflect global diversity.
The workshop will explore key questions of: How is the Domain Name System (DNS) relevant to real-world challenges that policymakers, civil society, academia, and the private sector are trying to solve? What can we learn from innovative examples in the DNS to help others leverage the power of the Internet to help solve the challenges they face? In doing so, how do we collectively evolve the Internet to better reflect our cultural, regional, and linguistic diversity and in service of the next billion Internet users? In exploring these questions with participants, the panel will present programs and case studies on advancing digital inclusion and harnessing innovation. These include:
* gTLD case studies, examples of DNS innovation and diversification
* gTLD Program Next Round’s Applicant Support Program & .KIDS case study
* Internationalized Domain Names & Universal Acceptance Programs
* A call to action for new and innovative ways to use the domain name system to address opportunities and challenges
Enhanced awareness among participants on the significance of the DNS in addressing real-world challenges and fostering digital inclusion, cultural diversity, and linguistic representation.
Identification of best practices, innovative approaches, and case studies within the DNS ecosystem, providing attendees with actionable insights and strategies to leverage the power of the Internet for social and economic development.
Increased knowledge about practical tools, programs, and initiatives, such as gTLD case studies, the Next Round’s Applicant Support Program, and Internationalized Domain Names, are empowering stakeholders to effectively navigate and contribute to the evolving landscape of Internet governance and policy-making.
Discussion of new and innovative ways to use the domain name system to address opportunities and problems across the global south
Increased participant engagement on policy challenges and opportunities within the DNS ecosystem, resulting in the emergence of new ideas, perspectives, and collaborative solutions to issues such as cybersecurity and digital rights.
Hybrid Format: The ICANN community and staff organising the session are very experienced in managing online, onsite and hybrid discussions, this is how the community goes about its work at ICANN. The moderators are expert in the issues to be discussed, familiar with the concerns and positions of different stakeholders, know the speakers' backgrounds, and understand the dynamics of hybrid discussions.
The speakers (as named) and additional invited participants will be onsite and online. Experience tells us preparation is important, from managing the show-flow of the session so those online and onsite can participate easily and equally, to sharing information before the event so potential participants from the audience can actively contribute.