09:00 IST (UTC+5.5), 11 March 2026
03:30 UTC, 11 March 2026
Room 104 A/B
ID# 17727
Session DetailsThis session examines the human rights dimensions of the new gTLD round through the governance structures predicted in the new application guidelines. Lessons from the previous round show that the most difficult questions emerged in objection processes, contention resolution, community claims, and Board-level decisions in politically sensitive cases. The current Applicant Guidebook places strong emphasis on stability, competition, and participation, but offers limited space to reflect on how governance choices may affect privacy, freedom of expression, and fair participation as the namespace expands. This townhall invites participants to consider where risks to human rights may surface as new gTLDs are introduced, with particular attention to how disputes are handled, how authority is exercised in complex cases, and how governance practices within registries, and their interactions with registrars, may shape outcomes. The discussion aims to identify what should be monitored as the round proceeds and whether the governance practices surrounding new gTLDs, including internal registry policies and operational relationships, may have a lasting human rights impact.
Policy Outlook Report: go.icann.org/outlook85
Agenda wiki page:
https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/KIAqKg Session Leader: Andrea Glandon
Staff Facilitator: Andrea Glandon
Session RecordingsZoom ArchiveEnglish audio archive
