Dear Colleagues,

I hope this message finds you well. As part of my ongoing commitment
to keeping you informed about the work of the Governmental Advisory
Committee, I am pleased to share an overview of the recently published
GAC Communiqué from the ICANN81 Annual General Meeting. This
Communiqué review captures key discussions and decisions that hold
significance for the ICANN community, particularly for end users and
stakeholders represented by the At-Large community. Below is a summary
of its key contents that might be of significance to our community,
allowing for further engagement:

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Key Engagement Outcomes

Policy Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement :The GAC engaged with
the ICANN Board on critical topics, including the next round of new
gTLDs, domain name registration data disclosure, and the Global
Digital Compact. Notable dialogues with the ALAC addressed challenges
like WSIS+20 and DNS abuse. Interactions with the GNSO focused on
improving data accuracy, enhancing privacy measures, and addressing
linguistic diversity through Latin script diacritics. The GAC also
discussed equitable resource distribution and DNS abuse mitigation
with other supporting organizations.

________________________________

Strategic Initiatives and Capacity Building

Diversity in New gTLD Applications: The GAC emphasized the importance
of the Applicant Support Program in promoting global diversity during
the new gTLD application process. Tailored outreach efforts and
multilingual accessibility were recommended to improve participation
from underserved regions.

Long-Term Strategic Planning:The GAC’s 2024–2028 Strategic Plan
highlights inclusivity, transparency, and efficiency in ICANN’s
multistakeholder processes. Capacity-building sessions targeted
regions with lower participation, underscoring the GAC’s dedication to
equitable representation. See the full Strategic Plan here:
https://gac.icann.org/work-plans/public/gac-strategic-plan-2024-2028.pdf?time=1726617600020

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Addressing Financial Barriers in New gTLD Applications

Application Fees and Financial Support: he proposed evaluation fee for
new gTLD applications stands at USD $227,000, with ASP participants
eligible for an 85% reduction. However, the GAC expressed concerns
that even the reduced fee of USD $34,050 may remain prohibitive for
applicants from underserved regions.
Recommendations to Enhance Accessibility: To mitigate financial
barriers, the GAC proposed:
- Increasing awareness of the ASP among financial institutions in
targeted regions.
- Partnering with development financing agencies to provide financial
assistance.
- Facilitating connections between applicants and financial supporters.

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Policy and Program Enhancements

Resolution of Contention Sets:The GAC welcomed the ICANN Board’s
decision to prohibit private resolutions of contention sets, including
private auctions. Alternative mechanisms, such as allowing applicants
to propose alternative strings, received GAC support. Further
collaboration is expected to refine these methods.

Promoting Linguistic Diversity:The initiation of a PDP on Latin script
diacritics was endorsed by the GAC to foster a multilingual and
inclusive Internet. This community-supported initiative aims to
enhance linguistic representation in the domain name system.

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Advancing Registration Data Disclosure

Urgent Requests for Data Access:The GAC emphasized the importance of
promptly addressing urgent requests for domain name registration data.
Discussions with the ICANN Board supported a dual-track approach:
establishing response times for authenticated requests and
collaborating with the Public Safety Working Group to create scalable
authentication processes.

Progress on Authentication MechanismsEfforts to develop law
enforcement identity authentication mechanisms have progressed through
collaboration with ICANN technical staff and the PSWG. Stakeholder
input via study groups or expert panels is encouraged to address
broader challenges in authenticating access requests.

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Internet Coordination Policy 2 (ICP-2) Review

Proposed Updates and Regional Representation: The GAC reviewed updates
to Internet Coordination Policy 2 (ICP-2) and encouraged African GAC
members to submit collective feedback and collaborate with regional
organizations. Additionally, the GAC stressed the importance of
filling vacant African seats on the Address Supporting Organization
(ASO) Address Council to ensure balanced representation.

Strengthening Multistakeholder Governance: The ICP-2 revision aims to
reinforce the multistakeholder model and uphold the role of Regional
Internet Registries in maintaining a unified global Internet.

________________________________

The full GAC Communiqué can be accessed here:
https://gac.icann.org/advice/communiques/ICANN81%20Istanbul%20Communique.pdf.
It is a valuable resource for understanding the GAC’s work and its
alignment with the interests of end users and the broader At-Large
community. I encourage you to review the document to explore these
topics in greater depth.

As always, I remain available to address any questions or provide
further clarifications about the GAC’s activities. Please do not
hesitate to reach out if there are specific issues or areas where you
would like more detailed insights or follow-up.

Thank you for your continued engagement and support. I look forward to
our ongoing collaboration to advance the interests of end users across
the ICANN community. Wishing everyone celebrating a joyful and
peaceful holiday season. May this time bring happiness, warmth, and
cherished moments to you and your loved ones.

--

Kind regards,
Joanna Kulesza
-------------------
Joanna Kulesza, PhD
Professor of International Law
Lodz Cyber Hub / University of Lodz Law School / Poland
www.cyber.uni.lodz.pl (EURALO ALS 341)
ALAC / EURALO / ALAC Liaison to the GAC
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