On October 30, the final day of the ICANN84 conference, two key closing sessions took place: a Q&A with ICANN leadership and the Public Forum. Experts from the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ took part in discussions on strategic and operational aspects of global internet governance, the evolution of the multistakeholder model, and internet identifier technologies.
During the Q&A session, senior ICANN executives presented data on the practical implementation of community recommendations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening public oversight of process effectiveness and transparency. The discussion also addressed ICANN’s role as the guarantor of a unified internet, emphasizing that the organization’s mission consists of supporting a sustainable identification system rather than to independently determine the direction of internet development. Other topics included governance structure, compliance, global participation, DNS abuse, and policy development processes. Special attention was given to the Universal Acceptance initiative, which is now moving from the awareness-building stage towards its practical implementation.
Addressing the future of the Universal Acceptance initiative, Coordination Center Director Andrey Vorobyev recalled that at the previous ICANN meeting in Prague, the corporation and the community had reviewed efforts to promote universal acceptance for IDNs over the past decade.
“It is clear that the issue has not yet been fully resolved. Can we be confident that ICANN will continue to address it consistently, in collaboration with IDN registries and the technical community?” Vorobyev asked.
ICANN Senior Vice President of Global Domains and Strategy Theresa Swinehart pointed out that Universal Acceptance is a key component of the corporation’s strategic plan. A dedicated working group, including ICANN staff, representatives of the technical community, and local Universal Acceptance initiatives, is actively engaged on this issue. ICANN Chief Technology Officer John Crain added that a Global Universal Acceptance Day is planned for 2026 to further raise worldwide awareness of the initiative.
The Public Forum addressed a broad range of topics, including the sensitivity of the public comment model and the work of the Nominating Committee, the integration of Web2 and Web3 technologies, and the emergence of alternative domain name spaces. Participants also discussed the balance between privacy and the need to collect registration data, the support of ccTLDs in conflict-affected and developing regions, and the risk of internet fragmentation. ICANN reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a unified internet, while noting that its mandate does not extend to all levels of infrastructure and regulation.
The speakers highlighted several key objectives, which included enhancing the transparency of public participation processes, promoting inclusivity for participants from various regions, improving access mechanisms, and developing a sustainable funding and participation model for initiatives such as Universal Acceptance and the stable operation of regional internet registries.
Emphasizing the importance of these discussions, ICANN84 confirmed that without effective coordination, transparency, and the recognition of multistakeholder mechanisms, trust in the internet governance system could be seriously undermined.
The ICANN84 annual Board meeting concluded with a review of 2025 performance, discussions on key organizational matters, and recognition of active community members.
During the session, several new appointments were confirmed. Tripti Sinha was re-elected Chair of the ICANN Board, and Sajid Rahman was appointed Vice Chair. Three new members also joined the Board. Kim Davies was re-elected President of PTI, while Lisa Foer and John Crain were appointed to the PTI Board of Directors.
Tripti Sinha has been a member of the ICANN Board of Directors since 2018 and is currently serving her fourth term as Chair. She brings over 30 years of experience in internet infrastructure, fostering collaboration among research groups, and leading global research coordination efforts. Sajid Rahman joined the ICANN Board of Directors in 2022 and currently serves as Chair of the Board Finance Committee. He is a prominent entrepreneur and technology leader with extensive experience in digital services, emerging markets, and organizational governance.
The ICANN Board Chair and Vice Chair are elected to one-year terms, while voting Board members serve three-year terms. The Board comprises 20 members – 16 voting and four non-voting – representing diverse geographic regions and professional backgrounds. This structure reflects ICANN’s commitment to global representation and technical expertise in internet governance.
This marked the conclusion of the ICANN Public Forum. The next meeting is scheduled for March 7–12 in Mumbai, India.
