The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has extended the deadline for proposals to supply expert evaluator panels for string similarity and variant string assessments in the 2026 round of the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) programme. Responses are now due by 18 February 2026.
At the 2025 Forum of Cities and Regions for International Partnerships, the European Commission announced three new Global Gateway partnerships in Mexico and Ecuador and a pilot initiative on decentralised cooperation, underscoring the growing role of local and regional authorities in shaping EU development investments.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has announced the students selected for the NextGen@ICANN programme at the ICANN85 Community Forum, which will take place in March 2026 in Mumbai, India. The initiative supports university students from the Asia-Pacific region in engaging with internet governance discussions.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has opened a Public Comment proceeding on proposed updates to Specification 14 of the 2026 Base Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Registry Agreement, seeking feedback on new provisions related to variant TLDs and fee structures following recent Board resolutions.
Vietnam has approved its first comprehensive law on artificial intelligence, setting out a national framework that combines risk-based safeguards with incentives for innovation. The legislation establishes centralised oversight, sandbox testing, and new funding mechanisms, and will take effect in March 2026.
At the EU–Nigeria Digital Open Day in Brussels, the European Union announced an additional €45 million to support Nigeria’s expanding digital economy, including preparatory work for a 90,000-km fibre-optic backbone and nationwide digital-skills development.
The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has published a policy explaining how cyber-enabled conduct can fall within existing international crimes under the Rome Statute. The document does not expand the Court’s jurisdiction, but sets out how digital activities may be relevant to investigations, prosecutions, and evidence.
Governments participating in an international AI cooperation network have agreed to strengthen their joint work on measuring and evaluating advanced artificial intelligence systems. The group has also confirmed a change in mandate and name, reflecting the growing importance of robust, science-based approaches to AI assessment.
ICANN has launched a request for proposal to select a provider that will conduct safeguard assessments for applied-for strings in the 2026 round of the New Generic Top-Level Domain Program. The selected provider will evaluate whether applications require risk-based public interest commitments before moving to contracting.
The European Commission has launched a formal antitrust probe into Google to assess whether the company leveraged its dominant position to access publisher and YouTube content on unfair terms for developing its artificial intelligence services, including AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE) is a project co-funded by the European Union.
