What is ICANN and How Does It Manage the Internet? (2025)

Quick Answer

Table of Contents

What is ICANN?

ICANN stands for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Despite the technical-sounding name, its role is surprisingly simple: ICANN makes sure the internet works as one unified global network.

The Simple Explanation

Think of the internet as a massive postal system with billions of addresses. ICANN is like the organization that:

• Makes sure no two addresses are identical
• Maintains the master directory of all addresses
• Creates rules for how new addresses can be added
• Coordinates all the regional postal services worldwide

Without ICANN, you could have two websites trying to use "google.com," causing chaos. ICANN prevents this by coordinating how domain names and IP addresses are distributed and managed globally.

ICANN's Official Mission

ICANN's stated mission is:

"To help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet by coordinating and supporting unique identifiers (addresses and names) across the world."

This breaks down into three key goals:

1. Stability The internet should be reliable and predictable. Domain names should always resolve to the correct websites. IP addresses should work consistently worldwide.

2. Security The infrastructure underlying the internet should be protected against attacks, manipulation, and unauthorized changes that could break global connectivity.

3. Unity The internet should function as one interconnected network, not fragmented regional internets with incompatible addressing systems.

What Makes ICANN Unique

ICANN is unique in several ways:

Nonprofit Status ICANN is a nonprofit public benefit corporation, meaning it doesn't operate for profit and serves the public interest.

Multistakeholder Model Unlike most organizations governed by governments or corporations, ICANN uses a "bottom-up, consensus-driven, multistakeholder model" where:

• Governments have a voice but not control
• Private companies participate
• Civil society organizations contribute
• Technical experts advise
• Individual internet users can participate

Global Scope ICANN coordinates systems used by 5+ billion internet users across every country on Earth.

Technical Focus ICANN coordinates technical internet infrastructure—not content, not policy about what can or can't be published, just the addressing systems that make the internet function.

ICANN's History and Evolution

Understanding ICANN's history helps explain why it exists and how it operates today.

Before ICANN: The Early Internet (1970s-1990s)

1970s-1980s: Academic Roots The internet began as ARPANET, a U.S. Department of Defense research project. Initially connecting just a few universities and research institutions, addressing systems were managed informally by researchers.

Key figure: Jon Postel A computer scientist named Jon Postel manually managed much of the early internet's addressing through documents called RFCs (Requests for Comments) and what became known as the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

The Problem of Scale As the internet grew from hundreds to millions of users in the 1990s, informal management became unsustainable. The system needed formalization, but questions arose: Who should manage it? Should one government control it? Should it be privatized?

The Creation of ICANN (1998)

Growing Pains By the mid-1990s, domain name registration was a bottleneck. Network Solutions held a monopoly on .com, .net, and .org registrations. Demand was exploding. Conflicts over domain ownership were increasing. The need for structural reform was clear.

U.S. Government Initiative The Clinton administration's Department of Commerce issued a white paper in 1998 proposing a new private, nonprofit corporation to assume responsibilities previously performed by the U.S. government.

ICANN is Born On September 18, 1998, ICANN was officially incorporated as a California nonprofit public benefit corporation. Its creation aimed to:

• Privatize domain name management
• Introduce competition among registrars
• Establish policies through multistakeholder consensus
• Maintain stability during transition

Initial Structure Early ICANN operated under a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Commerce, which maintained oversight of key internet functions.

The Road to Independence (2016)

Growing International Concerns Many countries objected to U.S. government oversight of global internet infrastructure, arguing the internet was a global resource requiring global governance.

Edward Snowden Revelations 2013 disclosures about U.S. surveillance programs intensified international pressure for ICANN's independence from U.S. government control.

The IANA Stewardship Transition After years of planning and community consultation, on October 1, 2016, the U.S. government formally ended its oversight role. ICANN became truly independent, accountable to the global multistakeholder community rather than any single government.

Accountability Mechanisms To prevent abuse of power without government oversight, ICANN implemented:

• Enhanced accountability structures
• Community empowerment mechanisms
• Ability for the community to remove board members
• Transparent decision-making processes

ICANN Today (2025)

As of 2025, ICANN operates as a fully independent global organization:

Current Leadership

• President and CEO: Kurtis Lindqvist (as of 2025)
• Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, USA
• Global Offices: Istanbul, Singapore, Brussels, Washington D.C., and others
• Staff: Approximately 400 people worldwide

Financial Independence ICANN is primarily funded by:

• Domain registration fees (transactions fees on new domain registrations)
• Application fees for new TLDs
• Registrar and registry contributions
• Revenue from meetings and publications

ICANN's budget for fiscal year 2025 exceeds $150 million, supporting global operations and development initiatives.

ICANN's Core Functions

ICANN coordinates three critical internet systems that work together to make the internet function globally.

1. Domain Name System (DNS) Management

What it means: ICANN oversees the global DNS, ensuring that domain names reliably translate to IP addresses.

Key responsibilities:

Root Zone Management

• Maintains the authoritative root zone file—the master directory of all top-level domains
• Ensures all TLDs (.com, .org, .uk, etc.) are properly configured
• Coordinates with root server operators worldwide

TLD Policy and Oversight

• Establishes policies for how TLDs operate
• Approves new TLDs (like .app, .blog, .ai)
• Monitors TLD registries for compliance
• Can intervene if registries fail to meet obligations

Example impact: When you type "example.com," DNS resolution starts by querying the root zone that ICANN maintains, which directs the query to the .com TLD servers, which then direct to example.com's specific servers.

2. IP Address Allocation

What it means: ICANN coordinates the global distribution of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

How it works:

Global Pools ICANN maintains pools of available IP addresses (both IPv4 and IPv6) for distribution worldwide.

Regional Distribution ICANN allocates IP address blocks to five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs):

• ARIN (American Registry for Internet Numbers) - North America
• RIPE NCC (Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre) - Europe, Middle East, Central Asia
• APNIC (Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre) - Asia-Pacific
• LACNIC (Latin America and Caribbean Network Information Centre) - Latin America
• AFRINIC (African Network Information Centre) - Africa

RIRs then distribute to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and organizations within their regions.

IPv6 Transition With IPv4 addresses exhausted, ICANN is facilitating the transition to IPv6, which provides vastly more addresses (340 undecillion vs. 4 billion).

3. Protocol Parameter Assignment

What it means: ICANN manages technical parameters that make internet protocols work together.

Examples include:

• Port numbers (Port 80 for HTTP, Port 443 for HTTPS)
• Protocol version numbers
• Character encoding standards
• Cryptographic algorithm identifiers

Why it matters: These assignments ensure that software from different manufacturers can communicate. When your browser connects to a website, both use agreed-upon protocol parameters managed by ICANN.

The IANA Functions

ICANN performs these three core functions through the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which ICANN operates as a separate functional department.

How ICANN Manages Domains

Let's look specifically at ICANN's role in the domain name ecosystem—the part most users directly experience.

The Domain Name Hierarchy

ICANN sits at the top of the domain name management hierarchy:

ICANN (Policy & Coordination)
    ↓
Root Zone Management
    ↓
TLD Registries (.com, .org, .uk, etc.)
    ↓
Accredited Registrars (Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.)
    ↓
Domain Registrants (You)

TLD Registry Operators

What they do: Registries maintain the databases for specific TLDs.

ICANN's role:

• Evaluates and approves registry operators
• Requires registry agreements (contracts specifying obligations)
• Monitors registry performance
• Can reassign TLDs if registries fail

Examples:

• Verisign operates .com and .net
• Public Interest Registry operates .org
• Google Registry operates .app, .dev, .page
• Nominet operates .uk

Registrar Accreditation

What registrars do: Registrars sell domain names directly to customers.

ICANN's accreditation program:

Requirements for accreditation:

• Technical capability to interface with registry systems
• Financial stability
• Commitment to ICANN policies
• Customer dispute resolution procedures
• Compliance with data accuracy requirements

Benefits of accreditation:

• Authorization to sell domains in ICANN-managed TLDs
• Listed in ICANN's registrar directory
• Right to participate in ICANN policy development

Obligations:

• Annual accreditation fees
• Compliance with ICANN policies (WHOIS accuracy, transfer policies, etc.)
• Reporting requirements
• Regular audits

As of 2025, ICANN has accredited over 1,000 registrars worldwide, creating competition that has driven down prices and improved services for domain buyers.

Policy Development for Domains

ICANN develops domain-related policies through its multistakeholder process:

Example policies:

Transfer Policy Rules governing how domains move between registrars, including:

• Authorization code requirements
• 60-day transfer lock after registration
• Transfer approval procedures

WHOIS Policy Requirements for domain registration data accuracy and accessibility (significantly affected by GDPR in 2018).

Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) Procedure for resolving trademark disputes over domain names, allowing trademark holders to challenge cybersquatting.

Expired Domain Deletion Policy Timeline for domain deletion after expiration, including grace periods and redemption periods.

ICANN's Governance Structure

ICANN's unique governance structure balances multiple stakeholder groups without giving any single group complete control.

The Board of Directors

Composition: 16 voting members plus 5 non-voting liaisons

Responsibilities:

• Strategic planning
• Budget approval
• Policy approval (after community development)
• Oversight of ICANN operations

Selection: Board members are selected by different stakeholder groups and nominating committees, not appointed by any government.

Supporting Organizations (SOs)

Three SOs develop policies in their respective areas:

1. Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO)

• Focuses on generic TLDs (.com, .org, .net, new TLDs)
• Develops policies for domain registration
• Members include registries, registrars, intellectual property interests, and internet users

2. Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO)

• Focuses on country-code TLDs (.uk, .ca, .jp, etc.)
• Develops policies specific to ccTLD management
• Members are ccTLD operators

3. Address Supporting Organization (ASO)

• Focuses on IP address policies
• Coordinates with Regional Internet Registries
• Develops policies for IP address allocation

Advisory Committees (ACs)

Four ACs provide advice to ICANN:

1. Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC)

• Represents governments from around the world
• Provides advice on public policy matters
• Governments have a voice but not veto power

2. At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC)

• Represents individual internet users
• Provides the "user perspective" on policies
• Open to participation by any internet user

3. Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC)

• Advises on technical security matters
• Composed of security experts
• Addresses threats to internet stability

4. Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC)

• Advises on root server system operations
• Composed of root server operators
• Ensures root server system remains stable

The Multistakeholder Model

How it works:

1. Issue Identification Anyone can raise an issue affecting the domain name system.

2. Policy Development The relevant SO forms a working group with representatives from various stakeholder categories.

3. Public Comment Proposed policies are published for public comment—anyone worldwide can submit feedback.

4. Revision and Consensus Working groups revise proposals based on feedback, seeking broad consensus.

5. Board Approval If consensus is reached, the proposal goes to ICANN's Board for final approval.

6. Implementation Approved policies are implemented across the system.

What makes this unique:

• No single government controls outcomes
• No single company dominates
• Technical experts, businesses, civil society, and users all participate
• Decisions are made by rough consensus, not voting or government mandate

Criticism: Some argue the process is slow, complex, and dominated by those with resources to participate extensively. However, it remains the most inclusive internet governance model developed to date.

What ICANN Does vs Doesn't Do

There's significant confusion about ICANN's role. Let's clarify what's in and out of scope.

What ICANN DOES

✓ Coordinates DNS and IP addressing ICANN ensures unique identifiers so every website has a unique address.

✓ Manages the root zone ICANN maintains the master directory of all TLDs.

✓ Accredits domain registrars ICANN authorizes companies to sell domain names.

✓ Contracts with TLD registries ICANN establishes agreements with organizations operating TLDs.

✓ Develops policies for domain management ICANN creates rules for domain transfers, disputes, data accuracy, etc.

✓ Facilitates new TLD creation ICANN runs application rounds for new TLDs like .app, .blog, .xyz.

✓ Coordinates IP address allocation globally ICANN manages the global distribution system for IP addresses.

✓ Assigns protocol parameters ICANN manages technical parameters that make internet protocols interoperate.

What ICANN DOESN'T Do

✗ Control internet content ICANN has no authority over what websites publish or what content is online. Content regulation is handled by governments and platforms.

✗ Stop spam Email spam is not within ICANN's mandate. Anti-spam efforts are handled by ISPs, email providers, and other organizations.

✗ Regulate internet access ICANN doesn't control who can access the internet or at what speeds. Internet access is managed by ISPs and regulated by national governments.

✗ Police cybercrime While ICANN supports security initiatives, law enforcement and cybercrime prosecution are handled by national and international law enforcement agencies.

✗ Set internet privacy policies Privacy regulations (like GDPR) are enacted by governments. ICANN must comply with applicable laws but doesn't set privacy policy.

✗ Censor websites ICANN cannot take down websites or censor content. It manages addressing systems, not content.

✗ Control social media Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are entirely outside ICANN's scope.

✗ Manage internet standards Technical internet standards (HTTP, HTML, email protocols, etc.) are developed by other organizations like the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

The Key Distinction

ICANN manages the addressing layer of the internet—the fundamental infrastructure that makes websites findable.

ICANN does not manage the content layer—what websites say, do, or contain.

Think of it this way: ICANN ensures street addresses work correctly, but doesn't control what happens inside the buildings at those addresses.

ICANN and New Top-Level Domains

One of ICANN's most visible impacts has been expanding the number of available TLDs.

Before 2012: Limited Options

For most of the internet's history, users had limited TLD choices:

• Generic TLDs: .com, .net, .org, .edu, .gov, .mil, .int (7 total)
• Country-code TLDs: .uk, .ca, .jp, etc. (~250 total)

The problem: With only a few TLDs, desirable domain names in .com were becoming scarce, expensive, and dominated by early registrants and speculators.

The 2012 New gTLD Program

ICANN's solution: Open application rounds allowing anyone to apply for new TLDs.

The 2012 round:

• Application window: January-May 2012
• Application fee: $185,000 per TLD
• Applications received: 1,930 for 1,409 unique strings
• Applications from: Corporations, governments, communities, entrepreneurs

Results: Over 1,200 new TLDs launched between 2013-2020, including:

Brand TLDs:

• .google (Google)
• .amazon (Amazon)
• .apple (Apple)
• .bmw (BMW)

Generic TLDs:

• .app (applications)
• .blog (blogs)
• .shop (e-commerce)
• .online (general use)
• .ai (artificial intelligence/Anguilla)

Community TLDs:

• .nyc (New York City)
• .london (London)
• .paris (Paris)

Impact:

• Dramatically increased domain name availability
• Created brandable alternatives to .com
• Generated new revenue streams for ICANN
• Increased complexity in brand protection
• Mixed adoption (some TLDs very successful, others struggled)

Future TLD Rounds

As of 2025, ICANN is planning additional new gTLD application rounds:

Key improvements planned:

• Lower application costs
• Streamlined evaluation process
• Better support for non-English TLDs
• Enhanced protections against abuse

Expected timeline: Applications likely to open in 2026-2027, with new TLDs launching in subsequent years.

IANA Functions

ICANN performs the IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) functions—the actual technical work of maintaining internet unique identifier systems.

What IANA Does

1. Root Zone Management

• Maintains the authoritative root zone file
• Processes change requests for TLD records
• Coordinates with root server operators
• Performs cryptographic signing (DNSSEC)

2. DNS Resource Management

• Assigns special-use domain names
• Manages reverse DNS zones
• Coordinates internationalized domain names (IDN) tables

3. IP Address Allocation

• Allocates IP address blocks to Regional Internet Registries
• Manages special-purpose address assignments
• Coordinates IPv4 to IPv6 transition

4. Protocol Parameter Registries

• Maintains registries of protocol parameters
• Assigns port numbers
• Registers media types (MIME types)
• Manages protocol version numbers

IANA's Importance

IANA functions are the "plumbing" that makes the internet work:

Example: When a new country TLD needs to be added (like when South Sudan became independent and received .ss), IANA processes that addition to the root zone, ensuring .ss domains become resolvable worldwide.

Another example: When a new internet protocol is developed, IANA assigns it a unique protocol number, ensuring it doesn't conflict with existing protocols.

ICANN's Global Presence

While headquartered in Los Angeles, ICANN operates as a truly global organization.

Global Offices

ICANN operates engagement centers in:

• Los Angeles (Headquarters)
• Brussels (Europe engagement)
• Istanbul (Middle East engagement)
• Singapore (Asia-Pacific engagement)
• Washington, D.C. (Government engagement)
• Montevideo (Latin America engagement)

ICANN Meetings

ICANN holds three public meetings annually, rotating locations globally:

Format:

• Week-long events
• Open to public participation (physical and remote)
• Working group sessions
• Board meetings
• Community forums
• Policy discussions

Recent meeting locations (2024-2025):

• Istanbul, Turkey
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Cancún, Mexico
• Kigali, Rwanda (scheduled)

Participation: Meetings typically attract 2,000+ participants from around the world, including:

• Registry and registrar representatives
• Government officials
• Technical experts
• Civil society organizations
• Individual internet users

Regional Engagement

ICANN conducts regional engagement activities:

• Local workshops and training
• Capacity building in developing regions
• Multilingual resources and support
• Partnerships with regional organizations
• Support for local internet governance forums

How ICANN Affects You

ICANN's work may seem abstract, but it directly impacts your daily internet use.

When You Register a Domain

ICANN's role:

• Accredits the registrar you purchase from
• Established the policies governing your registration
• Requires your registrar to maintain accurate contact information
• Provides dispute resolution mechanisms if conflicts arise

Example: When you register example.com through Namecheap, you're actually:

1. Purchasing from an ICANN-accredited registrar (Namecheap)
2. Following ICANN policies on registration
3. Providing information required by ICANN rules
4. Protected by ICANN's transfer policy

When You Browse Websites

ICANN's role:

• Maintains the root zone your DNS queries ultimately reference
• Ensures TLD delegations function correctly
• Coordinates security measures like DNSSEC

Example: When you visit facebook.com, DNS resolution begins with the root zone ICANN maintains, which points to .com nameservers, which point to Facebook's servers.

When You Report Abuse

ICANN's role:

• Requires registrars to maintain abuse reporting contacts
• Mandates compliance with UDRP for trademark disputes
• Enforces WHOIS accuracy policies

Example: If someone registers yourcompanyname.com to profit from your trademark, ICANN's UDRP policy provides a mechanism to challenge that registration.

Domain Name Prices

ICANN's role:

• Competition from 1,000+ accredited registrars keeps prices low
• New TLDs provide alternatives to expensive .com names

Impact: .com domains cost $5-15/year today due to competition ICANN fostered. Before ICANN, Network Solutions charged $100/year for registration.

Internet Stability

ICANN's role:

• Ensures the root zone functions reliably
• Coordinates global response to DNS security threats
• Maintains stable governance preventing fragmentation

Impact: You can reliably access websites from anywhere in the world because ICANN maintains a unified global DNS system.

ICANN in 2025

Here's what ICANN is focusing on as of 2025:

Key Initiatives

1. Universal Acceptance Ensuring all software accepts all valid TLDs, especially:

• New TLDs (.app, .shop, etc.)
• Internationalized domain names (non-Latin scripts)
• Email addresses using new TLDs

Challenge: Many older systems only accept traditional TLDs, rejecting valid addresses with new extensions.

2. DNS Security and Stability Addressing emerging threats:

• DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT) deployment
• DNSSEC adoption and key management
• Response to DNS-based attacks
• Securing the root zone

3. Multilingual Internet Expanding internet access for non-English speakers:

• Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) in scripts like Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic
• Multilingual resources and documentation
• Universal Acceptance of non-Latin domain names

4. Digital Identity Exploring the future of identity on the internet:

• Relationship between domain names and digital identity
• Authentication and verification systems
• Balancing privacy and accountability

5. Internet Governance Evolution Participating in global discussions about internet governance:

• Internet Governance Forum (IGF) participation
• Multistakeholder model advocacy
• Addressing geopolitical tensions affecting internet governance
• Resisting internet fragmentation along national lines

2025 Challenges

Geopolitical Tensions Some nations seek greater governmental control over internet governance, challenging ICANN's multistakeholder model.

Cybersecurity Threats DNS infrastructure faces increasingly sophisticated attacks requiring constant vigilance and innovation.

Privacy vs. Accuracy Balancing WHOIS data accuracy (important for security) with user privacy rights (required by laws like GDPR).

New TLD Round Planning Preparing for the next application round while incorporating lessons from 2012.

Common Misconceptions

Let's debunk some widespread myths about ICANN.

Myth 1: "ICANN Controls the Internet"

Reality: ICANN coordinates technical addressing systems—a critical but limited role. It doesn't control content, access, privacy policies, cybersecurity, or most aspects of internet functionality.

Myth 2: "ICANN Is Controlled by the U.S. Government"

Reality: Since October 1, 2016, ICANN has been fully independent from any government. While headquartered in California, ICANN operates under global multistakeholder governance.

Myth 3: "ICANN Can Take Down Websites"

Reality: ICANN cannot remove content or take down websites. It manages addressing systems, not content. Law enforcement and hosting providers handle illegal content removal.

Myth 4: "ICANN Profits from Domain Registrations"

Reality: ICANN is a nonprofit. While it collects fees to fund operations (approximately $0.18 per domain transaction), surplus funds support internet infrastructure development and community programs worldwide.

Myth 5: "You Need ICANN Permission to Start a Website"

Reality: Anyone can register a domain through an accredited registrar without ICANN approval. ICANN doesn't approve individual domain registrations—it just coordinates the system that makes registration possible.

Myth 6: "ICANN Can Change Your Domain Name"

Reality: ICANN doesn't manage individual domains. Your registrar manages your domain. ICANN only intervenes in registry/registrar failures or policy violations—not individual customer relationships.

Myth 7: "ICANN Created the Internet"

Reality: The internet evolved from research projects decades before ICANN existed. ICANN was created to formalize management of systems (DNS, IP addressing) that had previously been informally managed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns ICANN?

No one owns ICANN. It's a nonprofit public benefit corporation without shareholders or owners. ICANN is governed by its multistakeholder community through its Board of Directors, Supporting Organizations, and Advisory Committees.

Legally, ICANN is incorporated in California, USA, but operates independently of the U.S. government and serves the global internet community.

How does ICANN make money?

ICANN is funded primarily through:

1. Domain transaction fees ($0.18 per new domain registration and renewal in ICANN-managed TLDs) 2. TLD application fees (e.g., $185,000 per TLD application in the 2012 round) 3. Registry and registrar fees (annual contributions from TLD operators and accredited registrars) 4. Meeting registrations and sponsorships

ICANN's FY2025 budget is approximately $150+ million. As a nonprofit, any surplus funds are reinvested in internet infrastructure development and community programs.

Can ICANN shut down a website?

No. ICANN doesn't control website content or hosting. It coordinates addressing systems.

However, ICANN policies can indirectly affect domains:

• Registrars can suspend domains for policy violations (e.g., fraudulent WHOIS data)
• Courts can order domain transfers or suspensions
• UDRP panels can order trademark-infringing domains transferred

But ICANN itself doesn't shut down websites—it creates the policies that registries and registrars must follow.

How do I contact ICANN about my domain?

For domain issues, contact your registrar first (the company where you registered your domain). Your registrar manages your domain relationship.

Contact ICANN only for:

• Policy questions
• Registrar compliance complaints (if your registrar isn't following ICANN policies)
• General internet governance issues

ICANN contact:

• Website: icann.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +1-310-301-5800

What is ICANN's relationship with governments?

ICANN has a unique relationship with governments:

Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC):

• Over 170 governments participate
• Provides advice on public policy issues
• Governments have a voice but not control

ICANN must consider government advice but isn't controlled by any single government or governmental body.

Key principle: The multistakeholder model gives governments a seat at the table alongside businesses, technical experts, civil society, and users—rather than giving governments sole authority.

Can I participate in ICANN?

Yes! ICANN's multistakeholder model is open to participation from anyone:

How to get involved:

1. Join At-Large community (for individual users)

• Regional At-Large Organizations represent internet users
• Participate in policy discussions
• Vote on At-Large positions

2. Attend ICANN meetings (three annually, open to public)

• Physical attendance or remote participation
• Join working group sessions
• Observe Board meetings

3. Participate in public comment periods

• ICANN publishes proposals for public comment
• Submit feedback on proposed policies
• Comments are reviewed and considered

4. Join constituency groups

• If you represent a registrar, registry, ISP, or other stakeholder category
• Participate in relevant Supporting Organizations

Visit icann.org/participate to learn more.

What languages does ICANN support?

ICANN operates in multiple languages:

Official working languages:

• English (primary)
• French
• Spanish
• Arabic
• Chinese
• Russian

Website and documents: Key materials translated into all official languages plus additional languages as resources allow.

Meetings: Interpretation provided in multiple languages at ICANN meetings.

Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs): ICANN supports domain names in over 150 scripts/languages worldwide.

How does ICANN ensure accountability?

ICANN has multiple accountability mechanisms:

1. Multistakeholder governance Diverse stakeholder groups prevent any single interest from dominating.

2. Transparency

• All Board meetings documented
• Policy processes open and documented
• Financial statements published
• Community input on all major decisions

3. Independent Review Process Allows challenging ICANN Board decisions through independent review panels.

4. Ombudsman Independent office investigates complaints about ICANN unfairness.

5. Community empowerment The community can:

• Reject Board decisions
• Recall Board members
• Reject budget or operating plan
• Trigger independent reviews

These mechanisms were strengthened significantly during the 2016 transition from U.S. government oversight.

What happens if ICANN fails?

Contingency planning exists:

Safeguards in place:

• Root zone management has technical continuity procedures
• IANA functions have backup operators identified
• Financial reserves maintained for operational continuity
• Community empowerment allows intervention if ICANN fails to perform duties

In a catastrophic failure scenario:

• IANA functions could be transitioned to another operator
• TLD registries would continue operating independently
• The internet would continue functioning (DNS is distributed)

Reality: ICANN failure is unlikely given:

• Strong financial position
• Distributed operations
• Multiple accountability mechanisms
• Broad stakeholder support

Key Takeaways

Next Steps

Now that you understand ICANN and its role, here's what to learn next:

To Understand the Domain Ecosystem:

1. Learn about registrars: What is a Domain Registrar and How to Choose One →
2. Understand registry vs registrar: Registry vs Registrar: Understanding the Domain Ecosystem (Coming Soon)
3. Explore TLD expansion: The 2012 New gTLD Application Round (Coming Soon)

To Register and Manage Domains:

1. Register your first domain: Domain Registration: Complete Step-by-Step Guide →
2. Understand domain structure: What is a Domain Name? Complete Beginner's Guide →
3. Learn about domain extensions: Understanding Domain Extensions: .com, .net, .org and Beyond →

To Learn About Internet Governance:

1. Explore DNS fundamentals: What is DNS? Domain Name System Explained for Beginners →
2. Understand WHOIS changes: WHOIS Privacy After GDPR: What Changed? →
3. Learn about trademark protection: Trademark Protection in New gTLDs (Coming Soon)

To Get Involved:

1. Visit ICANN's website: icann.org
2. Participate in public comments: ICANN Public Comment Periods
3. Join At-Large community: At-Large Community
4. Attend an ICANN meeting: ICANN Meetings

Sources

This article was researched using current information from authoritative sources:

• ICANN Heads to IGF 2025 as Internet Governance Faces a Defining Moment
• Understanding ICANN's Role in Internet Governance - Number Analytics
• What is ICANN and What Do They Do? - Network Solutions
• What Does ICANN Do? - ICANN Official
• ICANN - Wikipedia
• ICANN | International Domain Name Regulator - Britannica
• The Role of ICANN in Internet Governance - NRS
• What Is ICANN - IPXO

Beginners interested in internet governance