Subscribe to RSSICANN Head Calls For Global Cyber Security Collaboration; New gTLDs Still On Track
Global collaboration against cyber security threats is one of the key themes of the ICANN meeting currently being held in Cartagena, Colombia according to the ICANN CEO and President Rod Beckstrom.
Beckstrom has called for the increased global sharing of information about security risks and escalating threats to the Internet’s Domain Name System (DNS).
“Good security measures cannot be developed in a vacuum,” said Rod Beckstrom. “We need to document threats to the DNS.”
Beckstrom made the comments during the opening session of ICANN’s 39th public meeting in Cartagena, Colombia, where he called on the Internet community and governments to collaborate in the battle against online security threats.
“Many in the community are willing to discuss risks, threats and security incidents in private,” said Beckstrom in encouraging participant to now make those conversations public, because they are “essential for a full understanding of the situation and to establish a baseline of previous attacks and their impact.”
The ICANN leader also said that governments should also become more collaborative. “As governments urge us to remain committed to security efforts, we in turn request that they help us by responding and working with the ICANN community on this vital mission.”
In discussing what promises to be the hot-button issue of the meeting, the possible expansion of generic top-level domains, such as .COM, .NET and .ORG. Beckstrom summed up why the ICANN Board of Directors will consider vastly expanding the current list of 21 such domains.
“Opening up the name space to new generic top-level domains is intended to promote competition, innovation and consumer choice in a safe and stable manner, with sufficient and appropriate safeguards to mitigate costs and risks.”
The issue of new gTLDs became even more heated this week when ICANN received a letter from the U.S. Department of Commerce saying it was basically opposed to the launch of new generic top-level domains. The Board is expected to take up the issue of gTLD expansion at its closing meeting on Friday.
The intervention by the US Department of Commerce was not unexpected with ICANN still to decide how to respond to the letter.
“Because it deals with both Affirmation of Commitments and AGB concerns, it appears that the two threads may be unpicked and dealt with separately,” noted Domain Incite.
However the plans to open applications for new gTLDs on 30 May are still on track.
For on-the-ground coverage, check out Kieren McCarthy’s post here. McCarthy wrote on Beckstrom’s speech to open the conference, concluding that “In short, for the first time since taking over as CEO, and following a series of misjudged speeches, Beckstrom’s Cartagena opening speech demonstrates that he has started to find his feet in a complex and unforgiving environment.”
“And not a moment too soon.”
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