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ICANN86 Newsletter
9 June 2026
| | | Recent Breakthroughs Accelerate Timeline for Quantum-Ready Internet | |
Technical breakthroughs in late 2025 and early 2026 have fundamentally shifted the timeline for global Internet security. Significant progress across three distinct quantum computing technologies has forced the Internet industry to compress its target for deploying quantum-ready defenses, moving the goalpost from the mid-2030s to before 2030.
While current Internet security remains robust and existing quantum computers do not pose an immediate danger, future "cryptographically relevant" quantum computers will eventually be capable of breaking standard digital locks. This creates an urgent threat because bad actors with a large quantum computer could forge the signatures that are core to Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC).
In response, a newly updated ICANN Office of the Chief Technology Officer publication (OCTO-031v3) urges the DNSSEC community to act earnestly and begin transitioning to Post-Quantum Cryptography immediately. ICANN is advising local operators and software developers to track these updates and build quantum-ready infrastructure to safeguard the future Internet.
| | ICANN86 NEWS AND RESOURCES | | |
Attend the ICANN Working Group Chairs
Recognition Reception
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Join us for the third edition of the annual ICANN Working Group Chairs Reception during the Community Networking Event today at 18:00 CEST (16:00 UTC) in Catering Hall. We will celebrate the contributions of 61 ICANN Working Group chairs and vice chairs to the multistakeholder model. The event will be livestreamed and can be followed remotely.
From managing complex project timelines to fostering trust and collaboration among a diverse group of people, the role of working group chairs and vice chairs is both challenging and crucial to the success of our multistakeholder model. To recognize the dedication and leadership of the ICANN working group chairs, ICANN Board hosted an inaugural reception at ICANN80 in Kigali.
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Join Us at the Engagement Booth | |
Stop by ICANN’s engagement booth to talk with our Global Stakeholder Engagement team and ICANN86 Fellows, ask questions, or share your thoughts on how to strengthen a single, globally interoperable Internet for all!
The booth is located at Booth #1 in the Exhibition Foyer (Entrance Foyer at FIBES 2).
| | GNSO: Latin Scripts Diacritics PDP | |
At ICANN86, the Latin Script Diacritics Policy Development Process (PDP) working group (WG) will hold a working session, GNSO: Latin Script Diacritics PDP, to continue its review and integration of Public Comment. Once the WG concludes its review, it plans to stabilize its policy recommendations and submit a Final Report to the GNSO Council for its consideration. The WG published its 54 preliminary recommendations and implementation guidance on 12 January 2026 in its Initial Report. This Initial Report received Public Comment, and since ICANN85 Mumbai, the PDP WG has met regularly to continue its deliberations updating its recommendations in light of the public comments received.
Please consider joining the Latin Diacritics PDP working session in Seville to see how Public Comment is utilized in moving from the Initial to the Final Report.
GNSO: Latin Scripts Diacritics PDP |
9 June, 14:45–16:00 CEST (12:45 UTC)
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ccNSO: Focus on DNS Resilience and Regulation | |
The ccNSO resilience program on 10 June 2026 will examine how regulatory developments and resilience challenges are shaping the future of the Domain Name System and country code top-level domains (ccTLDs).
The first session, Regulatory Trends on DNS Resilience Affecting ccTLDs (14:45–16:00 CEST, 12:45 UTC), will explore global policy developments, emerging DNS resilience requirements, key risks, and the role ccTLDs can play in responding to and influencing these changes. Expert insights by ISOC, ICANN, and NLnetLabs will be followed by a discussion.
The second session, ccTLD Perspectives on Resilience (16:30–17:30 CEST, 14:30 UTC), will focus on how ccTLD operators are adapting to evolving regulatory frameworks and resilience challenges. Listen to testimonials from the .lv and .ng ccTLDs. Participants will also learn how to get involved in ccNSO resilience-related groups.
The second session concludes with a fireside chat (17:30-18:00 CEST, 15:30 UTC) reflecting on Bart Boswinkel’s insights ahead of his retirement.
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Honoring the Life and Legacy of Alan Barrett | |
The ICANN Board of Directors invites the community to join a special gathering to honor the life and legacy of ICANN Board Member Alan Barrett, who passed away on 28 May 2026. The session will take place on Wednesday, 10 June, 13:30–14:30 CEST (11:30 UTC).
The gathering will provide an opportunity for attendees to share stories and memories of Alan and reflect on his lasting impact on the Internet ecosystem. Learn more about the session and participation options, including remote attendance, on the ICANN86 session page (In Memoriam: Alan Barrett).
Alan was widely respected for his contributions to the development of the Internet in Africa and around the world. His work included helping to establish the first Internet connection for South African universities and the .co.za zone, as well as playing a critical role in the formation of the African Network Information Centre.
| | This session took place on Monday, 8 June 2026. If you missed it or want to review, visit the session page to view the available session materials and recordings. | |
The Standing Committee on Continuous Improvement (SCCI) convened for a Work Session during ICANN86 to continue its work on the Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) Framework.
The SCCI met at ICANN86 to resume its work on the development of the CIP Framework, focusing on Phase 1 of the three-phase process. During this session, the SCCI reviewed feedback on the CIP Framework – Criteria and Indicators – from each stakeholder group and constituency in an attempt to finalize it. The feedback sparked active discussions and the committee agreed to conclude the CIP Framework by the next meeting in the beginning of July 2026. The SCCI further discussed the approach it would take to develop the CIP Assessment Plan and agreed to finalize it by the end of July.
The SCCI will reconvene its regular weekly meeting schedule following ICANN86 to finalize the CIP Assessment Plan as the next step of Phase 1.
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Strengthening Technical Engagement in the
APAC Region
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ICANN’s Technical Engagement Director Champika Wijayatunga collaborated with the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) on two events in May. Wijayatunga delivered a half-day theoretical presentation as part of CNNIC’s International Capacity Building Workshop on the Internet Tech Standards Development Program, followed by a one-day practical workshop. Both events reflect ICANN’s continuing efforts to enhance technical engagements in the Asia Pacific region.
Key topics covered during both engagements focused on Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) deployment and the Knowledge-Sharing and Instantiating Norms for DNS and Naming Security (KINDNS).
Around 40 DNS operations engineers from CNNIC-accredited registrars and network operators joined the workshop. Through a virtual lab, participants gained hands-on experience with DNSSEC deployment and KINDNS practices, while deepening their understanding of DNS operations and security best practices.
To strengthen regional outreach, the ICANN Technical Engagement team welcomed a new team member in March and has continued engaging the technical community at events across the region on Internet security and stability.
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Ashwin Sasongko Sastrosubroto
Indonesia
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Ashwin Sasongko Sastrosubroto has developed expertise in information and communications technology (ICT) through broad education and industry experience. Through his previous senior government appointments, he participated in a range of ICT-related forums, such as events through the International Telecommunication Union, the Internet Governance Forum, and ICANN Public Meetings.
Sastrosubroto’s involvement in ICANN activities began in 2010 when he attended the ICANN38 meeting in Brussels, Belgium, as a Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) member. Since then, he has attended various ICANN meetings as Indonesia’s GAC representative, whose outcomes have contributed to shaping national ICT policies.
Sastrosubroto’s current roles, as an executive member of the Indonesian National ICT Council and as a lecturer for postgraduate
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Serving as the International Relations Director at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Oman, Al Shaikh plays a key role in supporting the country’s involvement in global telecommunications and Internet policy discussions. She is currently the focal point for hosting ICANN87 in Muscat, working closely with ICANN’s meetings and leadership teams.
Al Shaikh is an active member of the ICANN community through the Asian, Australasian, and Pacific Islands Regional At-Large Organization and was an ICANN fellow at ICANN82 and now again at ICANN86. Her fellowship experience deepened her understanding of the multistakeholder model and strengthened her engagement with diverse stakeholders.
Al Shaikh is particularly interested in raising awareness of ICANN’s role and contributing to community engagement within the At-Large community. She is passionate about building relationships and supporting capacity-building initiatives leveraging her background in human resources and organization development.
| “Being part of the At-Large community motivates me to contribute to greater awareness, stronger participation, and capacity building while continuing to grow within the ICANN ecosystem.” | | | |
A lawyer and law graduate student at University College London, Amaan Ali specializes in technology law, data regulation, and Internet governance. His interest in how digital infrastructure is governed globally led him to ICANN, where, due to his background, he is particularly curious to learn how the multistakeholder model shapes accountability and decision-making on the Internet.
Ali has previously engaged with broader Internet governance discussions through academic research and policy exposure, including work related to regulatory consultations and digital policy frameworks. At ICANN86, he hopes to deepen his understanding of ICANN’s processes, engage with diverse stakeholders, and explore how legal frameworks can better support global Internet governance.
| “A more inclusive and accessible Internet governance system requires bridging the gap between technical expertise and legal understanding and bringing in more interdisciplinary voices into the conversation.” | | | ICANN COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT | | |
Marie Pattullo
Business Constituency Member, Commercial Stakeholder Group Executive Committee
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Q: I joined the Business Constituency (BC) because...?
A: “I work for AIM who was a founding member of the BC because our members – manufacturers of European consumer brands – know that average Internet users simply see, or type in, a brand name and trust where the Domain Name System takes them.”
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Review the Participation Guides
Visit the Participant Tools page for the information you need to attend ICANN86 virtually or in person.
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