ICANN87 meeting in Bali focuses on DNS abuse and the next gTLD round

ICANN glossary termICANN Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers The nonprofit that coordinates the global DNS and gTLD policy. Full definition of ICANN is holding its yearly gathering in Bali, Indonesia, under the name ICANN87. The meeting runs from October 17 to 22, 2026, and brings together registry operators glossary termregistry operator The organization that holds the contract or mandate for a TLD and sets its rules. Full definition of registry operator, registrars glossary termregistrar A company that registers domain names for customers with the registry. Full definition of registrar, governments, technical experts and civil society representatives. ICANN says the program includes more than 200 working sessions on Internet security, DNS glossary termDNS Domain Name System The internet's directory that links domain names to computer addresses. Full definition of DNS stability and domain name glossary termdomain name A readable internet name made of labels separated by dots. Full definition of domain name expansion. It is the first public session ICANN has held in Indonesia, and it is co-hosted by Perkumpulan Pengelola Nama Domain Internet Indonesia (PANDI).

DNS abuse glossary termDNS abuse Harmful use of domains, defined in ICANN contracts as five specific threats. Full definition of DNS abuse mitigation is one of the main topics. The Generic Names Supporting Organization glossary termGNSO Generic Names Supporting Organization The ICANN body that develops policy for generic top-level domains. Full definition of GNSO (GNSO) has scheduled several sessions on the issue, including discussion of how proposed policy measures relate to human rights. The GNSO calendar lists DNS abuse sessions on October 17 and 18, and a session on October 19 covering a second policy development process and a human rights impact assessment. These discussions are part of ongoing policy work and do not set new requirements. The central question is how duties for handling malicious activity involving domain names are defined and carried out across the industry.

The next round of new generic top-level domains is a separate task. The Governmental Advisory Committee glossary termGAC Governmental Advisory Committee ICANN's committee of governments that advises the Board on public policy. Full definition of GAC (GAC) is looking at preparations for reviewing applications under the 2026 New gTLD Program glossary termNew gTLD Program ICANN's program for applying to create and run new generic TLDs. Full definition of New gTLD Program. Its agenda covers operational procedures, applicant glossary termapplicant An organization that has applied to ICANN to run a new gTLD. Full definition of applicant support and application processing. The agenda gives government representatives a chance to discuss implementation and to point out matters that need further consideration. The GAC’s work matters most to applicants and prospective registry operators preparing for the expansion.

A community plenary at the meeting will look at how existing policy outcomes can be turned into day-to-day measures. The topics include DNS abuse, registration data glossary termregistration data The information kept about a domain and its owner. Full definition of registration data, internationalized domain names, Universal Acceptance glossary termUniversal Acceptance The goal that every valid domain name and email address works in all software. Full definition of Universal Acceptance and new gTLDs glossary termnew gTLD A generic top-level domain added to the internet through ICANN's New gTLD Program. Full definition of new gTLD. At the October 19 opening, ICANN President and CEO Kurtis Lindqvist called for clearer links between strategic priorities, budgeting and implementation.

For registries glossary termregistry The central database and system of a top-level domain, or loosely the organization that runs it. Full definition of registry and registrars, the discussions may eventually shape contract terms, compliance steps and operational requirements. For registrants glossary termregistrant The person or organization that holds a domain name registration. Full definition of registrant, abuse mitigation, registration data and recourse options remain relevant to how their domain names are managed and protected. The meeting agenda sets out the subjects under consideration but is not itself a policy decision. Any resulting changes will depend on ICANN’s policy development, approval and implementation processes.