Public Comment

Public Comment is a vital part of our multistakeholder model. It provides a mechanism for stakeholders to have their opinions and recommendations formally and publicly documented. It is an opportunity for the ICANN community to effect change and improve policies and operations.

Name: Ruben Diaz Silva
Date: 16 Dec 2023
Affiliation: Cámara de Profesionales de IT de América Latina
Original Public Comment: Draft ICANN FY25 Plans
Other Comments

I invite you to conduct a small experiment: ask ten people each day for a week if they know what ICANN is and whether they know what ICANN does, including whether they're aware of the participation model it maintains. The response in South America is that 80% have no idea what ICANN is, and the few telecommunications engineers who knew something had no idea about its governance mechanism.

I propose to include a twelfth strategic initiative in the Plan: 12. Intensively disseminate within academic circles, social organizations, the sphere of international organizations, activists of all kinds, business chambers, professional associations, the delicate mission of ICANN, and the ever-evolving governance system.

One way to operationalize this strategy is for ICANN, by making some space in its agenda, to convene necessary discussions in the world of technology where governance systems for critical infrastructure/strategic technology are required. Specifically, a discussion should be initiated so that other stakeholder groups can apply ICANN's participatory architecture in the scope and ethics of Artificial Intelligence, Consolidation of a universal electronic payment protocol/global electronic payment system, CRISPR Ethics, Universalization of access to SPACE resources, etc

Even though these are not subjects within the scope of ICANN's work, they are areas where the participatory architecture, and the flawless governance mechanism of ICANN, can serve as an important reference for establishing similar governance mechanisms in other fields

Supporting other areas of human technology in the consolidation of institutional architectures that ensure open and transparent governance is not ICANN's mission (although it might be part of its duties in the future), discussing this governance architecture as a potential solution for numerous new and radical technologies (as the Internet once was, and still is) will provide us with extensive exposure.


Summary of Submission

I suggest adding a twelfth initiative; to intensively disseminate ICANN's mission and evolving governance among various groups.

I suggest operationalizing this strategy by initiating discussions within the technology realm where governance systems are needed. This involves applying ICANN's participatory architecture in various areas like Artificial Intelligence ethics, global electronic payment systems, CRISPR Ethics, and universal access to SPACE resources.

Although these topics are not directly within ICANN's scope, I emphasize that its participatory architecture and governance mechanism could serve as a model for establishing similar systems elsewhere.

Lastly, they note that while supporting other technology areas' institutional architectures for transparent governance isn't ICANN's current mission, discussing this governance model as a solution for emerging technologies could greatly increase awareness and exposure.