Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the global nonprofit organisation responsible for coordinating the key technical resources of the internet. Established in 1998, ICANN became the coordinator of the internet’s central technical infrastructure – including domain names, IP addresses, and other unique identifiers – to ensure one stable and interoperable internet​. ICANN operates on a multistakeholder model, bringing together governments, industry, technical experts, academia, and civil society to develop policies and standards that shape the internet’s operation and evolution. 

ICANN’s mission and scope

ICANN’s core mission is to manage the internet’s address book by overseeing the assignment of unique identifiers like domain names (e.g. .com, .org) and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. ICANN develops policy through a consensus-based multistakeholder process. ICANN’s commitments and core values prescribe that these processes ‘employ open, transparent and bottom-up, multistakeholder policy development processes that are led by the private sector (including business stakeholders, civil society, the technical community, academia, and end users), while duly taking into account the public policy advice of governments and public authorities’ (ICANN, 2025a).

Unlike traditional standards bodies that develop technical protocols (such as the IETF for internet protocols or W3C for web standards), ICANN focuses on administrative and policy standards for managing these unique identifiers globally. ICANN’s policies function as de facto digital standards for domain name registration, IP address allocation, and DNS operations – all critical to keeping the internet unified and interoperable. By managing these critical internet resources in a neutral and predictable way, ICANN contributes a key pillar to internet governance​.

Notably, ICANN does not control internet content or the broader telecom infrastructure; its scope is limited to the coordination of identifiers and ensuring that one global internet namespace exists rather than fragmented networks.​

Multistakeholder policy development and working groups

The ICANN community – composed of volunteers from around the world – drives this process via Supporting Organizations (SOs) and Advisory Committees (ACs)​. Each SO is responsible for a specific area of policy; for example, the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) develops policies for generic top-level domains (gTLDs like .com, .org), the Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) develops policies for country-code TLDs (like .uk, .br), and the Address Supporting Organization (ASO) handles IP address policy in coordination with Regional Internet Registries. Policy development typically occurs in working groups open to any interested participants. Volunteer working groups gather to debate issues, draft policy recommendations, and reach consensus on proposals​. Decisions are made transparently and collaboratively, to reflect input from all stakeholders. Once a working group produces a policy, it is reviewed by the relevant SO council, and then forwarded to ICANN’s board for approval. This open and transparent policy development mechanism ensures that the digital standards set by ICANN are well-informed by expert advice and those affected​. Importantly, ICANN’s advisory committees – such as the Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) and the Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC) – provide guidance on security and technical stability, while the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) and the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) inject government and end user perspectives into policy discussions. Through these structures, ICANN’s community collectively formulates the rules and norms (e.g. domain name allocation rules, DNS security requirements) that function as global standards in their domain (Figure 1).

Figure 1. The ICANN board structure

Three Supporting Organisations (SOs)	Four advisory committees (ACs)
Address Supporting Organisation (ASO)Generic Names Supporting Organisation (GNSO) Country Code Names Supporting Organisation (ccNSO)	At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC) Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC)

Source: ICANN, n.d.b

Key ICANN working groups, initiatives, and policy standards

Over the years, ICANN and its community have developed numerous policies and initiatives that serve as digital standards for managing internet resources. Some of the most significant include:

• Expansion of the Domain Name Space (New gTLD Program): ICANN’s New gTLD Program, launched in 2012, created a framework for adding hundreds of new top-level domains beyond the legacy ones (like .com or .org). The community-driven policy behind this program aimed to ‘enhance competition, innovation, and consumer choice’ in the domain name marketplace by allowing an unlimited number of new gTLDs to enter the root zone​ . As a result of this policy standard, over 1,200 new gTLDs (such as .app, .global, .東京) have been delegated, expanding the internet’s addressing capacity and enabling new uses (from branded domains to community and multilingual domains).
  
• Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) and Universal Acceptance: ICANN has been instrumental in standardising Internationalized Domain Names, which allow web addresses in non-Latin scripts (Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, etc.). In 2009, ICANN launched the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process, enabling countries and territories to obtain country-code top-level domains in their local scripts​. By early 2010, the first IDN ccTLDs – for example, Egypt’s “.مصر” and Russia’s “.РФ” – were approved and added to the root zone​. This policy initiative effectively set a standard for incorporating Unicode-based domain names into the DNS, making the internet more accessible to non-English speakers. ICANN continues to support Universal Acceptance initiatives to ensure all software and email systems universally recognise these new domains and IDN email addresses as valid.
  
• DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC): In coordination with the technical community, ICANN has pushed for the deployment of DNSSEC at the root and TLD levels to enhance internet security. DNSSEC is a cryptographic standard (defined by the IETF) that prevents DNS spoofing by digitally signing DNS records. ICANN’s role has been to operationalise this standard: in 2010, it facilitated the first-ever signing of the DNS root zone with DNSSEC, conducting key generation ceremonies and establishing trust anchors. ICANN continues to coordinate periodic root key signing key (KSK) rollovers in collaboration with DNS operators and vendors to maintain DNSSEC’s integrity​. By implementing DNSSEC at the highest level of the DNS, ICANN set a global security baseline – effectively a security standard – that TLD operators and resolver operators have followed, significantly improving the resiliency of the domain name infrastructure.
  
• Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP): One of the earliest policy standards ICANN introduced (in 1999) is the UDRP, a global procedure to address disputes over domain name registrations. The UDRP provides a uniform administrative dispute-resolution mechanism for trademark holders to challenge abusive domain registrations (cybersquatting) without needing to go to court in every jurisdiction. This policy was established by ICANN in coordination with the World Intellectual Property Organization and applies across all generic top-level domains​. It has since become a widely used standard – a neutral, binding arbitration process – for resolving domain disputes in a cost-effective manner. 

• IP Address Allocation Policies and IPv6 Adoption: Through the ASO and in partnership with the five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), ICANN helped define global policies for IP address allocation. While day-to-day management of IP addresses is handled by RIRs, global policy standards (such as the allocation of large IPv6 address blocks to each RIR) are coordinated through ICANN’s processes. The Address Supporting Organization’s role is to review and develop recommendations on IP address policy and to advise the ICANN Board on these issues.​
  
  
• Other Policy Initiatives: ICANN’s community continuously works on numerous other policy initiatives that function as standards for industry and users. These include policies on WHOIS (now referred to as Registration Data Directory Services) – defining what domain registrant data is collected and how it’s accessed – and efforts to mitigate DNS abuse (e.g. setting contractual obligations for DNS operators to handle security threats). Advisory committees like the SSAC publish recommendations (e.g. on DDoS mitigation and name collision issues) that influence best practices. ICANN’s Public Responsibility and Technology initiatives also engage in capacity building and research to support the implementation of standards (for instance, ICANN’s Office of the CTO runs the Domain Abuse Activity Reporting project, defining metrics for DNS abuse). While not standards in the traditional sense, these policies and guidelines shape the behaviour of domain registries, registrars, and network operators worldwide, thereby standardising important aspects of digital infrastructure governance.
  

CSO engagement mechanisms in ICANN 

A variety of channels exist for CSOs to actively engage in ICANN processes. Figure 2 shows these mechanisms and modalities of CSO engagement in ICANN. These include participation through established structures representing non-commercial entities, such as the NCSG, the NCUC, and the NPOC. CSOs can also engage with ICANN through the At-Large community, representing individual internet users. These opportunities allow CSOs to contribute to policy development, advocate for user rights, and ensure the internet remains an open and accessible resource for all.

Figure 2: Mechanisms and modalities of CSO engagement in ICANN

Data source: ICANN, n.d.c.

Requirements for CSOs to participate in ICANN processes

Engaging with ICANN is open to willing to contribute their time, though navigating its complexities can be a steep initial climb. However, the learning process is rapid, and the benefits are substantial (Cath et al, 2017). For CSOs seeking to effectively engage with ICANN, a few key requirements may need to be met. These include establishing legal non-profit status with transparent governance and dedicated resources for ICANN participation. ICANN accreditation and membership in relevant stakeholder groups may be necessary depending on the specific process. CSOs should demonstrate relevant expertise, maintain independence from commercial and governmental influence, and align with ICANN’s mission. Table 2 summarises these requirements.

Table 2: Requirements for CSOs to participate in ICANN processes

Requirement Category	Specific Requirement	Description
Administrative	Legal Status	CSOs should be formally registered as non-profit organisations or have a similar legal status.
	Transparency	Maintain clear governance structures, financial transparency, and publicly available information.
	Internal Capacity	Have dedicated staff or volunteers with expertise and time commitment for ICANN engagement.
Registration	ICANN Accreditation	Obtain accreditation from ICANN for certain processes, particularly policy development or advisory committees.
	Membership in Stakeholder Groups	Join relevant stakeholder groups like NCSG or ALAC to enhance influence and access.
Accreditation	Demonstrated Expertise	Showcase expertise in areas relevant to ICANN’s work, like internet governance or human rights.
	Independence	Maintain independence from commercial or governmental influence and be transparent about funding.
	Commitment to ICANN’s Mission	Align with ICANN’s mission and demonstrate willingness to engage constructively.
Logistical	Communication and Technology	Have reliable communication channels and access to online resources.
	Travel and Accommodation	Budget for travel, accommodation, and related expenses for in-person meetings.
	Language Skills	Proficiency in English is crucial for effective participation.

Data source: ICANN, 2023