Dear All: I hope you are doing fine. Regarding the ICANN 83 meeting in Prague, I would like to divide this report into 2 parts. One with some *highlights of some of the sessions*, and the second part with more details on the *Council meeting*. *PART 1: HIGHLIGHT SESSIONS during ICANN83* *ccTLD News Session * This session was held on Wednesday, June 11th. 2025 | 10:45-12:15 *Charles Noir (CIRA)* shared insights into *“CommuniFi”*, an initiative providing free community WiFi in Ottawa, Canada. Funded through CIRA’s *Net Good Grants*—which reinvests .CA revenue to bridge the country’s digital divide—the project was developed in collaboration with non-profits and government agencies. It focuses on connecting underserved and low-income communities with reliable internet access. The network also incorporates CIRA’s DNS Firewall service, ensuring user privacy by anonymizing data and offering protection against phishing, malware, and botnet threats. *Heidy Hernández (.gt)* presented the .GT registry’s recent efforts to promote digital education and its resulting benefits to both the local community and the registry’s performance. She showcased initiatives such as the launch of *Internet Week 2023*, where 25% of attendees used promotional codes to register .gt domains, and a successful *Cyber Monday* campaign featuring special renewal offers. Additional efforts include the creation of a free monthly newsletter with practical tech tips and partnerships with national telecom providers to deliver certified training programs—initiatives that have significantly enhanced digital skills in underserved areas. Other speakers included: - *Boyoung Kim (.kr)* – *“Expansion of 3rd-Level .kr Domain”* - *Antonia Chu (.cn)* – *“Tools from .CN to Fight DNS Abuse”* - *Alan Cameron (auDA)* – *“Building the Future: A Board Chair’s Retrospective”* Here you can find all the details, recordings and presentations for ccTLD News Session: https://icann83.sched.com/event/246YC *DASC (DNS Abuse Standing Committee): <https://ccnso.icann.org/en/workinggroups/dasc.htm> Online Scams and Financial Crime* Wednesday, June 11th. 2025 | 13:45-15:00 During this session, discussion focused on the connection between online scams, financial crime, and domain abuse. The session highlighted how ccTLD operators are addressing these issues and lay the groundwork for further explorations at ICANN84 among ccTLD operators, law enforcement, industry experts, and other stakeholders. The session was chaired by Nick Wenban-Smith (.uk), focused on the growing threat of online scams, financial crime, and their intersection with domain name-related abuse, particularly through the lens of country code top-level domains (ccTLDs). Panelists explored various regional approaches, challenges, and solutions aimed at curbing abuse, while emphasizing a shared global commitment to reducing malicious activity. - *Gabriel Andrews (FBI)* presented updated data on cybercrime trends. In 2024, the FBI received over 850,000 complaints, with reported financial losses totaling $16.6 billion. The largest losses stemmed from cryptocurrency fraud ($6.5 billion) and business email compromise ($2.7 billion), while spoofing and phishing were the most reported types of abuse (nearly 200,000 complaints). Andrews emphasized the importance of accurate and up-to-date WHOIS data to facilitate court orders and legal procedures, while also noting the difficulties of cross-border investigations. - *Keith Drazek (IIF)* introduced the *Internet Infrastructure Forum*, a new initiative designed to connect infrastructure operators to address shared coordination challenges, exchange experiences, disseminate best practices, and establish stronger communication channels within the ecosystem. - *Mon Perez (.sg)* outlined efforts by the Singaporean registry to combat online scams and financial crime. The .sg ccTLD implemented a domain name verification process through Singapore’s National Digital Identity system. This free security feature helps registrants safeguard against domain hijacking. Additionally, an internal monitoring system detects malicious .sg websites and alerts relevant stakeholders to take appropriate action. - *Bruce Tonkin (.au)* shared the multifaceted strategy adopted by the Australian Government and the .au ccTLD, including the implementation of a Scam Prevention Framework and collaboration with the National Anti-Scam Centre. auDA's proactive approach involves early identification of scam-related domains, strong partnerships with law enforcement, and regular reporting on domains associated with online scams. Here you can find all the details, recordings and presentations for the Online Scams and Financial Crime: https://icann83.sched.com/event/246YD If you were not able to attend, I really recommend you to take some time and listen to it. You will find it more than interesting with a lot of very useful information for our end-users community. *Joint session: ccNSO and GNSO RySG* Wednesday June 11th. 2025 | 15:30-17:00 This joint session between the *ccNSO* and the *gTLD Registries Stakeholder Group (RySG)*, moderated by *Chris Disspain* with contributions from *Alejandra Reynoso*, *Beth Bacon*, *David McAuley*, and several community members, focused on identifying and deepening collaboration across shared areas of interest. Topics included *DNS abuse mitigation*, *ICANN’s strategic and budget planning*, *Internet governance*, and *regulatory challenges*. Both groups emphasized the benefits of continued cooperation, while acknowledging structural differences—ccTLDs operate under national frameworks, while gTLDs function through contracts with ICANN. Tools like Mentimeter were used to gauge community sentiment in real-time, highlighting mutual interest in topics such as *Root Server System Governance, registrant-focused innovation*, and *engagement with governments and registrars*. The session concluded with agreement on forming a small joint working group to explore concrete collaborative actions, recognizing that alignment and shared advocacy between all registries—ccTLDs and gTLDs—could significantly strengthen their collective voice within and beyond the ICANN ecosystem. Here you can find the recordings and presentations used for this session: https://icann83.sched.com/event/246YG/ccnso-joint-session-with-ccnso-and-gns... *IGLC (Internet Governance Liaison Committee): <https://ccnso.icann.org/en/workinggroups/iglc.htm> * *20 Years of WSIS implementation and the Road ahead* Tuesday June 10th. 2025 | 10:45-12:15 This session was chaired by *Marta Moreira Dias (.pt)*, reflecting on the WSIS legacy and the evolving contribution of ccTLDs to digital governance. The session opened with a keynote by *Chris Buckridge (ICANN Board)*, who provided historical context to WSIS, highlighting its foresight in framing the concept of the "information society" and establishing the multistakeholder model. He discussed how WSIS laid the foundation for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and emphasized the growing importance of digital regulation, trust, and inclusive participation in a changing geopolitical and technological landscape. *Suzete Centeio (.cv)* shared the case of Cabo Verde, focusing on initiatives led by the .cv registry to foster digital inclusion, organize national and Lusophone IGFs, promote multilingual content in Portuguese and Creole, and participate in capacity-building projects like LusNIC and the Coalition for Digital Africa. *Pierre Bonis (.fr)* presented *“AFNIC – Internet Made in France”*, describing how the French registry has implemented WSIS action lines through a robust multistakeholder governance structure, its role in facilitating national IGF dialogues, and its long-standing financial and educational investment in digital literacy, online safety, and inclusion programs via the AFNIC Foundation. *Jo-Fan Yu (.tw)* discussed how TWNIC has moved beyond its traditional technical role to become a facilitator of national and regional Internet governance, highlighting efforts such as hosting APrIGF 2024, organizing the Taiwan IGF, supporting youth and civil society engagement, and developing a public-private trusted notifier framework to address DNS abuse. Throughout the session, Mentimeter was used to gather live input from the audience, and participants engaged in scenario-based reflections on the challenges and responsibilities of ccTLDs in politically sensitive multistakeholder discussions. The session concluded with consensus on the need to reposition ccTLDs as neutral but active governance actors and trust anchors in a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem. Here you can find the recordings and presentations used for this session: https://icann83.sched.com/event/246Y6/ccnso-20-years-of-wsis-implementation-... *PART 2: ccNSO Council meeting #218* Date: Thursday June 12th. 2025 | 10:45-12:15 Agenda and Background Materials <https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ccNSOCWS/pages/103123987/1...> Working Groups and Committees Written Updates <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m0ekPSOwxtrLdOikwnABs62FGSoF96b-MPfys6To...> This time I will only include a brief summary of the Council meeting with main highlights for you to read. *Administrative Matters* The minutes of Council Meeting 217 were approved, and the Council reviewed a number of completed action items, many of which involved coordination with ICANN leadership and other SO/ACs, such as outreach to the GNSO and RySG regarding CSC-related matters and budget discussions with ICANN’s CFO and CEO. A letter from ICANN Legal regarding bylaw changes required for the implementation of the 2nd CSC Effectiveness Review was also noted. *Updates* Written updates were submitted covering the activities of the Empowered Community Administration (ECA), the IANA Function Review Team (IFRT), the Customer Standing Committee (CSC), and various working groups and liaisons. A brief update was provided on the redesign of the ccNSO website, with a launch projected for December 2025. The Council also received an overview of the draft ccNSO portfolio for FY26–27, which includes ongoing and new initiatives across four priority areas: policy development, organizational development, ICANN participation, and foundational operations. *Elections and Appointments* The Council adopted an updated *Council Selection Guideline* and approved the timeline for the 2026 Council elections. *Joke Braeken* (ccNSO Secretariat) was appointed as the Selection Process Manager for both the Council elections and the nomination process for *Board Seat 11*, which must conclude by April 2026. The Council also confirmed the timeline and process for the next round of *Council 360 Reviews*, appointing *Bart Boswinkel* as the Feedback Process Manager. Reviews will cover five Councillors whose terms conclude in 2026. *New Study Groups (Conclusions of PGA – Policy Gap Analisys Working Group <https://ccnso.icann.org/en/workinggroups/pga-wg.htm>)* Two study groups were formally established: - A *Study Group on Disaster Recovery* to explore the potential role of IANA in supporting ccTLD disaster recovery scenarios. - A *Study Group on IANA Public Records*, tasked with examining data accuracy, transparency, and compliance related to IANA’s ccTLD records. The Council adopted the Terms of Reference for both groups, with calls for volunteers to follow once broader workload prioritization is finalized. *Closure of ccPDP3 Review Mechanism WG and Policy Implementation Support* Following the Board’s adoption of the ccNSO’s policy on review mechanisms for delegation, transfer, revocation, and retirement of ccTLDs, the Council agreed to formally close the *ccPDP3 Review Mechanism Working Group*. At the same time, the Council launched a call for volunteers to join the *ccNSO Policy Implementation Assistance Group (ccPAIG RM)* to support implementation and clarification of the policy. *Other Appointments* The Council confirmed: - *Eberhard Lisse (.na)* as Chair of the Tech Working Group. - *Sami Mohamed Ali (.bh)* as the ccNSO appointee to ICANN’s Universal Acceptance Expert Group. *CSC Membership and Coordination* The Council approved the timeline and selection process for appointing a new ccNSO member to the CSC, with *Claudia Ruiz* appointed as Selection Process Manager. Coordination with the RySG and GNSO was confirmed, and the existing CSC Selection Committee will carry out the process. One of the remaining candidates not selected as a member will be offered the role of alternate. The Council also reaffirmed the deferral of the *3rd CSC Effectiveness Review* until June 2026 due to pending implementation of recommendations from the previous review and the required fundamental bylaw changes. *Closing Items* The Council took note of relevant developments from other ICANN83 sessions and confirmed the schedule for upcoming Council meetings through the end of 2025. Thank you for taking the time to read this report. And sorry for being this time delayed on sending it. If you would like any more information or details on any topic, please let me know and I will be happy to provide it. Best Regards, Laura Margolis *Laura Margolis* ALAC Liaison to ccNSO margolisl@gmail.com +59899690992 skype: lauri.margolis ccNSO Liaison Workspace <https://community.icann.org/display/atlarge/ALAC+Liaison+to+the+ccNSO+Report...>