LOS ANGELES - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced in a press release that it is participating in the 18th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The event will be held October 8–12, 2023 in Kyoto, Japan, under the overarching theme "The Internet We Want – Empowering All People" and is open to both on-site and virtual attendees.
ICANN is leading five sessions developed in collaboration with other organizations. The sessions will address a variety of topics, such as digital inclusion, the critical role of the multistakeholder model in technical Internet governance, and the importance of keeping the Internet safe, secure, and interoperable.
A "Day 0" event on October 8, co-organized with the IGF secretariat, is a key component of the parliamentarian track at the forum. The session will delve into the operation of the Domain Name System (DNS) as a foundational component of the Internet, highlighting the essential role of the DNS.
On October 9, ICANN Board Chair Tripti Sinha will participate in the Opening Session with other high-level dignitaries. ICANN Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Sally Costerton, and ICANN Board members, Becky Burr and Edmon Chung, along with ICANN community and staff members, will participate in other ICANN-led sessions throughout the week.
ICANN will host two 90-minute workshops: one presenting the latest developments in DNS privacy on October 10; another, focusing on the topic of Internet fragmentation and how it can be avoided, on October11.
ICANN's Open Forum on October 12 will highlight the achievements of the multistakeholder model in shaping the Internet ecosystem over the last 25 years. The discussion will explore the success of this highly democratic approach in fostering an accessible digital environment and delivering on the United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goals. The Town Hall, organized by ICANN together with the U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, will examine how a multilingual Internet can be a catalyst for Internet access and digital inclusion.