-Report on Internet Fragmentation, the DNS, and ICANN Plenary Session- Highly attended Hybrid Plenary session (over 300 in person and over 240 online) provided an opportunity for ICANN Org and Community to have a dialogue and build upon a common understanding of the concept of “Internet fragmentation” and the challenge it can present to ICANN’s mission of global interoperability of the DNS. Moderators- Bruna Martins dos Santos Pari Esfandiari (ALAC) Intro- Ram Moham (SSAC) John Crain (ICANN Org) Discussants- Farzaneh Badii (NSG) James Bladel (RSG) Paul Wilson (ASO) Nigel Hickson - Virtual Moderator … Pari introduced issue- multilateralism v multistakeholderism; non-universal internet experience; alternate roots. John Crain started with a definition of concept- interoperability is the opposite of fragmentation. Fragmentation is not having a common DNS, a unique, single interoperable Internet. Ram: geopolitics and new tech can combine to shake the trust on the single interoperable DNS. DNS is a critical part of the infrastructure to secure that a user reaches the site she is looking for, regardless of whether it’s a URL search or a browser or an app. Users expect DNS “to just work”. Fragmentation -Internet islands without bridges to connect them- at DNS will create failures of the system and strand and isolate users. Also fragmentation shifts power from user to the “island builders”. This is about making sure that the protocols that ensure an trustable and predictable user experience remain in place. Paul Wilson: again used Ram’s metaphor of non connected “Internet Islands”. James Bladell: echoed previous comments, from industry perspective. We must defend multistakeholderism at all levels and outwardly. Also our MSM outcomes must be better, faster so that there’s no incentive for competing interest (anti multistakeholder forced) to work around us. Farzaneh: listed some of the same user-side problems caused by fragmentation; including an individual digital rights perspective (expression, privacy, etc). “When there’s no alternative to connect to the global Internet that’s fragmentation.” Discriminatory Internet access that judges who connects. Ram: impact on ICANN’s mission. ICANN receiving different pressures, from geopolitical to technological, to go against its main mission of DNS global interoperability, predictability of the user experience to get to where they want to go in Internet. Paul- made a point that IPv6 is not fragmentation. IPv6 is like transition of petrol cars to EVs- better tech using same infrastructure, enhancing the current paradigm, not backwalking the paradigm. Nigel: reported on chat Farzaneh- ICANN has a limited mission on keeping the global architecture. There are risks, but alternative offerings for Internet are no necessarily bad- John Crain- alternatives can cause confusion. Floor Queue Opened- Brazil Rep: fragmentation is there and its not good nor bad. Central state objectives (like Internet penetration, literacy, others) are important Jorge CANCIO, on a personal basis, not SWITZERLAND. Mentioned Global Digital Governance and need to engage there. ICANN’s role is making sure it keeps doing a good job in making the Internet work. There might be a need for an international agreement / treaty to protect multistakeholderism? Chris from RIPE- this is not a new discussion. I (Javier Rúa Jovet) made a comment also on Multistakeholderism vs Multilateralism Concluding Statements from Panelists BRUNA closes …. Javier Rúa-Jovet +1-787-396-6511 twitter: @javrua skype: javier.rua1 https://www.linkedin.com/in/javrua