#Czech Republic #Prague #ICANN #Internet Governance

ICANN83 Policy Forum in Prague: Shaping the Future of the Internet

The ICANN83 Policy Forum is set to take place in Prague, Czech Republic, from June 9 to June 12, 2025. This event represents a pivotal moment for the global internet community, coinciding with the 20-year review of the outcomes from the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20). During this gathering, attendees will evaluate the progress of digital development goals and reassess the governance of the internet, particularly the continuing relevance of the multi-stakeholder model.

The forum, hosted at the Prague Congress Centre, aims to bring together participants from diverse sectors including governments, civil society, the private sector, and the technical community. Key discussions will revolve around important policy matters affecting the Domain Name System (DNS) and the unique identification systems of the internet. Central topics include technical coordination, the evolving DNS landscape, and critical issues such as universal acceptance, DNS abuse, and the next round of the new gTLD program, alongside the global implications of ongoing digital policy decisions.

Kurtis Lindqvist, President and CEO of ICANN, stated, "In a time when the future of the internet is being discussed on a global scale, ICANN83 serves as a platform where practical solutions and policy strategies converge. This meeting provides the community with an opportunity to make real progress on decisions that shape how the internet operates and its global accessibility."

This year’s forum emphasizes broad participation from both seasoned stakeholders and new participants. The format is tailored to encourage work sessions, dialogue between the various communities, and open collaboration, whether attendees join in person or remotely.

ICANN83 is organized with support from CZ.NIC, the registry for the country code top-level domain .cz and a longtime contributor to the development of internet policy and infrastructure in the region. Ondřej Filip, CEO of CZ.NIC, commented, "We are excited to welcome the ICANN community back to Prague and support the ongoing efforts that keep the internet stable, secure, and interconnected worldwide. We value the chance to contribute to the discussions that will shape the next chapter of the internet."

The public ICANN sessions are free and accessible to anyone interested in the coordination of the internet’s unique identifiers. Registration for in-person attendance is open until June 8, 2025, and remote participation options are also available.

To learn more and view the session schedule, visit the ICANN83 website.

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to ensure a stable, secure, and unified global internet. To reach someone on the internet, you need an address—a name or a number—entered into your computer or device. This address must be unique, allowing computers to locate each other effectively. ICANN plays a crucial role in coordinating and supporting these unique identifiers globally. Established in 1998 as a nonprofit organization, ICANN features a community comprised of participants from around the world.