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ICANN's Role at the Web Summit: A Focus on Digital Identity and Fragmentation

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is gearing up for a pivotal role at this year’s Web Summit held in Lisbon, Portugal. This non-profit organization, known for managing the domain name system (DNS) of the internet, will be facilitating discussions that are set to highlight the future of digital identity against rising fragmentation threats. As digital landscapes evolve, the importance of maintaining a cohesive internet reflects both innovation opportunities and the necessity for vigilant governance.

Sessions to Look Forward To

Attendees at the Web Summit are encouraged to participate in two significant sessions featuring ICANN:

1. The Geopolitics of the Internet: Unity or Fragmentation?
Scheduled for November 11 from 15:20 to 15:45 (WET) at Stage 13, this session will be led by Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN's President and CEO, alongside Sally Wentworth from the Internet Society and Steve Clemons from The National Interest. This panel will delve into how global collaboration can fend off geopolitical pressures, a vital conversation that concerns whether the internet remains a shared resource or devolves into competing systems.

2. Revolutionizing Your Online Presence with a New Domain
Another crucial session occurs on the same day from 11:30 to 12:15 (WET) in Masterclass 5. Theresa Swinehart, ICANN's Senior Vice President for Global Domains and Strategy, along with other industry experts will discuss how tailored domain names can significantly enhance brand visibility and consumer trust. This session is a must for Chief Marketing Officers and brand managers, especially with the upcoming round of gTLD applications in April 2026.

A Critical Juncture for Digital Governance

The discussions led by ICANN underscore an essential truth about our digital landscape—it's a critical moment where the future of the internet and its governance hangs in the balance. During these sessions, participants will grasp the urgency of advocating for a unified internet model, emphasizing that we must not take this digital resource for granted or allow it to fragment.

The Launch of New gTLDs

As ICANN prepares to unveil the program for the new Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) series, set to launch in April 2026, the organization opens the door for businesses and communities to apply for their custom gTLDs. Domains like .brand or .city are not just identifiers but are powerful tools that enhance brand visibility and foster consumer trust amidst growing competition.

Kurtis Lindqvist aptly points out that this new gTLD series marks a significant step in the evolution of the internet, empowering organizations to define their unique digital identities while fostering competition and consumer choice. However, maintaining the multi-stakeholder governance model that enables such innovation is equally crucial.

Global Collaboration for a Unified Internet

At the Web Summit, ICANN looks forward to engaging with global leaders concerning opportunities ahead and collective challenges that need addressing to preserve a singular, open, and interoperable internet for future generations. The conversations held will set the stage for defining how stakeholders can collaborate to ensure a balanced approach towards internet governance.

For additional details on the upcoming gTLD program, visit ICANN's new gTLD program page.

Conclusion

As we approach the Web Summit, the discussions led by ICANN promise not only to challenge the status quo but also to inspire actionable insights on how we can establish a robust framework for the future of our digital identities, allowing for innovation while safeguarding the integrity of the global internet.