ICANN Leader Calls for Global Collaboration in Battle Against Cyber Security Threats

Possible Expansion of Generic Top-Level Domains Likely to Dominate Many Discussions Cartagena, Colombia...

The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) 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."

Andalucia Web SolutionsRod Beckstrom CEO of ICANN at the 39th public meeting press conference in Cartagena de Indias. © Michelle Chaplow

Possible Expansion of Generic Top-Level Domains Likely to Dominate Many Discussions Cartagena, Colombia...

The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) 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."

He 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.

An audio and/or video recording of Rod Beckstrom's opening speech will be posted here: http://www.icann.org/en/press/.

To see the schedule for ICANN's meeting in Cartagena, go here: http://cartagena39.icann.org/full-schedule.

To learn more about new generic top-TLDs, go here: http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtld-program.htm.

To see Rod Beckstrom's comments on the U.S. Commerce Department's letter on new gTLDs, go here: http://blog.icann.org/2010/12/us-government-opposes-launch-of-new-gtld-program-in-cartagena/