ICTP 371: Shaping the future of the internet, a conversation with ICANN's CEO, Kurtis Lindqvist

·37 min·3 clips

ICANN's new CEO, Kurtis Lindqvist, discusses internet governance and the multi-stakeholder model's challenges and successes.

The episode begins with host Michelle Marius introducing Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN's President and CEO, who is speaking at the Caribbean Telecommunications Union's ICT Week in Jamaica. Lindqvist shares his background, starting from discovering the internet in the mid-1990s, founding an ISP, working at KPN Quest and Netnode, and later leading the London Internet Exchange before joining ICANN nine months ago. The discussion pivots to the multi-stakeholder model, with Lindqvist defending it by explaining how centralized alternatives failed in the 1990s, leading to the internet's success under open standards. He references the World Summit on the Information Society in 2005 and its Tunis Agenda, noting progress over 20 years. The host asks about digital inclusion from a developing country perspective, prompting Lindqvist to highlight ICANN's work on universal acceptance and internationalized domain names. He elaborates on universal acceptance, using personal examples of non-Latin scripts in email addresses. The conversation shifts to the new round of generic top-level domains set for 2026, with Lindqvist explaining its importance and potential applications, including geographic names like .rum for the Caribbean. He discusses lessons from the 2012 round, such as improved dispute resolution and auction rules. Lindqvist reflects on his tenure so far, praising ICANN staff dedication, and outlines his vision, including strategic objectives like defending the multi-stakeholder model and improving policy timeliness. The episode concludes with a discussion on internet fragmentation, where Lindqvist warns that regulations could hinder economic growth, especially in developing regions, and shares his goal of delivering community-driven policies efficiently.

As heard by us

A grounded discussion of internet governance, language access, and Caribbean perspectives online.

ICANN's president and CEO joins ICT Pulse for a clear, grounded conversation about internet governance, technical identifiers, and who gets fully represented online.

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Want to know how your language and script can more fully belong online?

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