ICANN Community Participating in Upcoming Internet Governance Forum Meeting

ICANN officials and community members will participate in the Internet Governance Forum meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico, the organization said Tuesday. The IGF meeting, to run Dec. 6-9, is one of several future internet governance meetings seen as potential flash points on internet governance issues (see 1610030042). The Guadalajara meeting will include discussions about “the significant enhancements needed in information and communications technologies (e.g., new devices, systems, online information) for countries to meet the targets for the Sustainable Development Goals that the U.N. agreed to last year,” said ICANN Vice President-Stakeholder Engagement for Latin America and the Caribbean Rodrigo de la Parra and Vice President-Intergovernmental Organizations Engagement Nigel Hickson in a blog post. “These discussions will guide actions by national governments, regional and global agencies, and stakeholder groups. The IGF will also discuss pertinent Internet public policy issues such as cybersecurity and data privacy.” ICANN views the IGF meeting as a “venue introducing participants to [the organization’s] role in the Internet landscape,” the officials said. “We'll be able to reach members of the global community who don't attend our meetings. We're particularly looking to attract new stakeholders from civil society, academia and business.” ICANN members will host panels on the new generic top-level domain application process and on how the organization will operate after the now-completed Internet Assigned Numbers Authority transition, ICANN officials said.