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The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

ICANN

ICANN, a nonprofit public-benefit entity, created in 1998, is the organization coordinating domain names and numbers across the world, ensuring the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems and especially the Domain Name System (DNS); and playing an important role in maintaining the Internet’s stability and security.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Fabrizia Benini (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

3 Dec 2025 · WSIS+20, IGF e Universal Acceptance

Meeting with Marina Kaljurand (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Oct 2025 · Internet governance at the international level

Meeting with Henna Virkkunen (Executive Vice-President) and

24 Jun 2025 · Internet Governance

Response to International Digital Strategy

21 May 2025

Founded in 1998, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a global nonprofit, public-benefit organization, dedicated to the coordination and technical management of the Internets unique identifiers. ICANNs responsibilities include overseeing domain names, allocating IP addresses, setting protocol parameters, and managing the root server system. By maintaining the stability and interoperability of these unique identifier systems, ICANN plays a crucial role in supporting the Internet's secure growth and ensuring over a billion websites remain reachable by 5.8 billion users worldwide. ICANNs efforts ensure the Internet remains unified, secure, interoperable and functioning smoothly across borders. ICANNs work helps prevent fragmentation, mitigates technical failures and security threats, and supports a neutral, multistakeholder governance model. Considering that the Internet is the backbone of the global economy, governance, and cross-border digital services, ICANN welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions Call for Evidence on a Joint Communication on an International Digital Strategy. This contribution to the European Commissions Call for Evidence (Ref. Ares(2025)3716570 - 07/05/2025) on a Joint Communication on an International Digital Strategy is submitted by ICANN in accordance with its charter for engagement with governments and standards-setting bodies. ICANN appreciates the opportunity to provide feedback to the European Commission regarding the strategic objectives of this initiative, namely the concrete actions on international cooperation, including Internet governance, and better coordination of the EUs positions in multilateral forums. First, ICANN welcomes the European Commissions and the EUs strong support of a global, interoperable, reliable, and secure Internet through its acceptance and participation in the multistakeholder model of Internet governance, as well as efforts on the global stage leveraging digital partnerships to increase procedural transparency, broaden stakeholder participation, and enable globally representative engagement in international processes that underpin the Internet governance framework. Second, ICANN welcomes the European Commissions objective to implement concrete actions on international cooperation, including actions on Internet governance, and cautions against possible negative implications resulting in Internet fragmentation at the technical level, rooted in either technical or legislative divergence. Third, noting the EUs strategic objective to better coordinate its unified positions in relevant forums and in the multilateral arena, especially in light of the upcoming review of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20 Review process), ICANN recommends the extension of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) mandate, recognition of the technical community as a distinct stakeholder and support of the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. ICANN welcomes the European Commissions and the EUs strong support for a global, interoperable, reliable, secure, stable and resilient Internet, including its endorsement of the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. By affirming and actively championing this model, the EU can reinforce its leadership role on the global stage and deepen meaningful partnerships to advance the future of Internet governance. ICANN recommends that the mandates and governance structures of multistakeholder organizations and institutions that uphold the global Internet be supported to avoid risks of fragmentation. As discussions regarding the future of Internet governance and the WSIS+20 process at the U.N. progress, ICANN supports the reaffirmation of the multistakeholder model of Internet governance, recommends recognition of the distinct role of the technical community, and supports extending the mandate of the IGF.
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Meeting with Henna Virkkunen (Executive Vice-President) and

3 Apr 2025 · Internet Governance

Meeting with Roberto Viola (Director-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

2 Apr 2025 · Digital issues

Meeting with Thibaut Kleiner (Director Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

30 Mar 2025 · Internet Governance

Meeting with Xavier Coget (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen)

18 Feb 2025 · Global Multistakeholder High Level Conference on Governance of Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds + Internet governance

Response to Rules specifying the obligations laid down in Articles 21(5) and 23(11) of the NIS 2 Directive

25 Jul 2024

ICANN is submitting contributions to the European Commissions consultation on the Draft Implementing Regulation laying down the rules for the application of Directive 2022/20551 (NIS2 Directive) regarding technical and methodological requirements for cybersecurity risk management measures and further specifying the cases in which an incident is considered to be significant within the meaning of Directive 2022/2055. ICANN welcomes the opportunity to further specify the cases in which an incident is considered significant for Domain Name System (DNS) service providers and top-level domain (TLD) name registries, and the criteria used to determine the existence of a considerable reputational damage of an incident and those used to determine a recurring incident. ICANN suggests that the considerable development of best practices by the international multistakeholder community regarding the security of the DNS should be reflected and incorporated into the technical and methodological requirements for cybersecurity risk management measures for network security.
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Response to Evaluation of Standardisation Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012

29 Sept 2023

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that, on behalf of the Internet community, oversees the technical coordination of the top-most level of the Internets Domain Name System (DNS). ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. ICANN works closely with other technical partners in the Internet ecosystem to achieve its mission. This includes working with standards organizations to ensure the smooth operation and evolution of Internet standards and protocols. ICANN welcomes the opportunity to participate in the call for evidence and remains available for further discussion. The contribution is attached.
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Meeting with Marina Kaljurand (Member of the European Parliament)

25 May 2023 · Internet governance

Meeting with Roberto Viola (Director-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

27 Apr 2023 · Digital topics, NGI

Meeting with Brando Benifei (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

27 Feb 2023 · Discussion on the AI Act

Meeting with Ylva Johansson (Commissioner) and

17 Mar 2022 · Exchange of views on CSA file