Welcome to Issue #7 of NetMission Digest. As we move further into 2026, the digital landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift. While the previous years were defined by generative AI, Microsoft leadership labelled 2026 the year of AI agents – systems that, unlike chatbots that respond to prompts, can independently plan, make decisions, and execute […]
NetMission.Asia (APAC Youth) Submission to ICANN Public Comment: Advancing Universal Acceptance Through Youth-Led Multistakeholder Engagement
NetMission.Asia (APAC Youth) provided collective input on the Draft Guidelines for Advancing Universal Acceptance (UA) Adoption, emphasizing that UA must move beyond a voluntary best practice toward a measurable, enforceable, and accountable global standard. The submission reflects youth perspectives across the Asia-Pacific region, where linguistic diversity and uneven digital readiness continue to expose significant gaps […]
Connectivity in Crisis: What the Recent Events in Balochistan, Pakistan Reveal About Digital Rights and Internet Governance
When Silence Speaks Louder Than Words In the early hours of 29–30 January 2026, as violence spread across Balochistan, another crisis unfolded alongside it: a near-total communication blackout. With internet and mobile services suspended, residents in cities such as Quetta, Mastung, Nushki, Pasni, Turbat, Panjgur, and Gwadar were left without access to timely information. People […]
NetMission Academy 2026 Session 7 Summary
How does the Domain Name System shape our everyday Internet experience? Session 7 explored the technical foundations of the Domain Name System (DNS), ICANN’s governance role, and the growing policy challenges around DNS abuse. The session connected core infrastructure concepts with real-world governance debates, highlighting how decisions around generic top-level domains (gTLDs) and abuse mitigation […]
NetMission Academy 2026 Session 6 Summary
How do we build digital spaces where everyone can participate safely and equitably? Session 6 of the NetMission Academy journey, themed “Diversity and Inclusivity in the Digital Age,” examined digital inclusion and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) across the Asia-Pacific region. The session featured panel insights from Ms. Ihita Gangavarapu, Coordinator of the India Youth Internet […]