ICANN83 Policy Forum Scheduled in Prague: Key Discussions on Internet Governance

ICANN83 Policy Forum Scheduled in Prague

The highly anticipated ICANN83 Policy Forum is set to take place from June 9 to June 12, 2025, in the historic city of Prague, Czech Republic. This gathering of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) comes at a pivotal time as the global internet community approaches the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society outcomes, known as WSIS+20. This review aims to evaluate advancements in digital development goals while reexamining the governance frameworks that dictate how the Internet operates, particularly the relevance of the multistakeholder model.

ICANN83 aims to gather representatives from various sectors, including governments, civil society, the private sector, and the technical community. The forum will be held at the Prague Congress Center, where participants will delve into important policy matters concerning the Domain Name System (DNS) and global identifier systems. Key topics for discussion will include technical coordination, the evolving landscape of the DNS, Universal Acceptance, DNS Abuse, plans for the next round of the New gTLD (generic Top-Level Domain) Program, and significant digital policy decisions that are emerging globally.

Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN's President and CEO, emphasized the significance of this meeting, stating, "At a time when the Internet's future is being debated on global stages, ICANN83 is where practical solutions and policy come together. This meeting grants the community a chance to make meaningful progress on decisions that influence the functioning of the Internet and how it is accessed worldwide."

This year's forum is designed to accommodate broad participation, welcoming both seasoned stakeholders and newcomers. The format will support working sessions, cross-community dialogue, and opportunities for open engagement, whether attendees are participating in person or remotely.

The event is being organized with the support of CZ.NIC, the registry operator for the .cz country code top-level domain, which has actively contributed to Internet policy and infrastructure development in the region. Ondřej Filip, CEO of CZ.NIC, expressed enthusiasm for the forum, stating, "We're thrilled to welcome the ICANN community back to Prague and to assist in the ongoing efforts that ensure the Internet remains stable, secure, and globally interconnected. We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the dialogues that will shape the next chapter of the Internet."

ICANN Public Meetings are open for free participation to anyone interested in the Internet's unique identifiers. Registration for attending the forum in person will remain open until June 8, 2025, with options for remote participation also available. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the official ICANN83 website for more information and to view the meeting schedule.

About ICANN

ICANN, founded in 1998, is a nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to ensuring a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. The organization plays a pivotal role in coordinating and supporting unique identifiers worldwide, which are essential for computers to locate and interact with each other online. ICANN’s mission is vital in maintaining the functionality and accessibility of the Internet as we know it.