The first training session of NetMission Academy 2025 was held successfully on January 9, 2025, with great moderation and facilitation by Bea Guevarra and Sameer Gahlot. In this session, participants from all around the Asia Pacific joined our honorable speakers: Yien Chyn Tan (ICANN, Stakeholder Engagement Senior Manager, APAC), Dhruv Dhody (IETF), Naida Tjahja (YouthDIG), and Anja Gengo (IGF Secretariat) to learn more about the Internet governance ecosystem, and the functions of different initiatives and organizations.
The session began with speakers outlining the structure, functions, and issues addressed by key organizations in the Internet governance ecosystem, including Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), and National, Regional, and Youth Initiatives (NRIs). This was followed by a Q&A session, where participants asked various questions, and the speakers provided additional insights. These discussions offered participants a clearer understanding of the roles and contributions of ICANN, IETF, youth initiatives, and IGF in Internet governance.
Here are some of the key highlights from the session:
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
The first speaker of the session, Dhruv Dhody, shared valuable insights into the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), highlighting its mission, structure, and opportunities for engagement in shaping Internet standards and protocols. The IETF’s mission focuses on designing, using, and managing the Internet, guided by its motto, “rough consensus and running code.” Its work is centered around developing protocol standards, with Request for Comments (RFCs) as key outputs. Dhruv emphasized the importance of voluntary participation, noting that even small contributions can have a significant impact. He highlighted how workshops and hackathons play a crucial role in fostering consensus and collaboration within the community.
Although the IETF primarily operates as a technical body, it significantly influences Internet governance through collaboration with policy communities. Its work is openly accessible, reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity and transparency. Current areas of focus include enhancing security and privacy, automating processes to reduce manual intervention, and addressing challenges related to the Internet of Things (IoT). The IETF operates through specialized working groups that tackle networking protocols (e.g., IPv4, IPv6, BGP), transport protocols (e.g. HTTP, SMTP), and operational management.
Dhruv also elaborated on the role of the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), which provides strategic guidance on long-term goals like sustainability and cloud operations. The IAB collaborates with the Internet Society (ISOC), which supports the IETF’s mission. For those looking to participate, Dhruv outlined options such as joining mailing lists, remote participation, and engaging in open-source hackathons.
In the Q&A, Dhruv addressed challenges faced by the IETF, such as ensuring quality standards amid rapid Internet evolution, fostering inclusivity, and adapting to emerging technologies like blockchain. He explained that while the IETF has not yet developed formal blockchain standards due to a lack of specific proposals, it remains open to exploring its technical implications and environmental impact.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
The second speaker, Yien Chyn Tan, began by emphasizing the importance of the single global interoperable Internet, which relies on three main types of unique identifiers: IP addresses, domain names, and protocol identifiers. IP addresses, which are binary numbers assigned to each device connected to the Internet, are managed by Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). Since these IP addresses are difficult for humans to remember, domain names, such as “.com,” are used. ICANN oversees the technical coordination of the domain name system. Protocol identifiers, which act as the common language between devices, are developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
Tan then explained ICANN’s role in policy development, which follows a multi-stakeholder community approach. The ICANN ecosystem consists of three main components: communities, three Supporting Organizations (SOs), and four Advisory Committees (ACs). Within ICANN, different groups from various communities collaborate to shape Internet policies. The SOs are tasked with developing policy recommendations, while the ACs guide the policy-making process. The three SOs focus on IP address policies, country code top-level domain name (ccTLD) policies, and generic top-level domain name (gTLD) policies. Meanwhile, the four ACs address a range of issues, including the interests of Internet users, public policy, security, and the integrity of the root server system.
During the Q&A session, participants asked about various emerging topics related to ICANN’s multistakeholder approach, such as diversity in Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), universal acceptance, the role of the Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG), ICANN’s universal standards, and coordination among ICANN bodies.
Tan concluded by discussing ICANN’s open and multi-stakeholder model for Internet policymaking. Stakeholders engage through working groups like the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO), the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC), and the Asia Pacific Regional At-Large Organization (APRALO). Different ICANN bodies collaborate on shared issues. For example, when integrating IDNs into the Domain Name System (DNS), both the GNSO and the Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) address different aspects of the issue. ICANN also works with the community to establish technical standards that ensure linguistic diversity in DNS, using Root Zone Label Generation Rules (RZ-LGR) to incorporate relevant scripts. The UASG plays a key role in promoting Universal Acceptance (UA) awareness and works closely with ICANN to advance these initiatives.
Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
Anja Gengo, from the Secretariat for the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF), shared her insights as a panel expert. She began by highlighting the significance of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), a key UN process dedicated to global digital governance. The WSIS, which has shaped much of today’s digital landscape, unfolded in two phases. The first phase, held in Geneva in 2003, resulted in a Declaration of Principles and a Plan of Action, as well as a call for a multistakeholder working group to define the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in Internet governance. The second phase, held in Tunis in 2005, produced the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, empowering the UN Secretary-General to convene the inaugural IGF meeting.
The IGF brings together governments, the private sector, and civil society to develop and apply shared principles, norms, rules, and programs in their respective roles. Its structure includes the IGF Leadership Panel, which provides strategic direction, the Multistakeholder Advisory Group, which shapes the agenda, and the Secretariat, which handles administrative and logistical support. The IGF works closely with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and is grounded in core principles like openness, multistakeholder participation, and transparency. It also maintains a robust network of 175 national, regional, and youth IGFs, ensuring that diverse voices are included in the conversation. The recent IGF held in Riyadh underscored the global community’s commitment to fostering sustainable and inclusive digital governance. Looking ahead, a 20-year review of the WSIS is planned for 2025, with the IGF that year taking place in Norway, where it is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of Internet governance.
Gengo also discussed the process behind IGF’s agenda-setting, which is built on a bottom-up approach that incorporates feedback from all stakeholders. She pointed out that the agenda must address a broad range of needs, given the varying concerns across different regions and groups. This requires a holistic approach that evaluates the significance of each input, rather than simply responding to the quantity of feedback, to recognize the priorities of diverse stakeholder groups. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a global shift in focus among many stakeholders, which, in turn, influenced the IGF agenda.
Additionally, Gengo touched on how the IGF adapts to geopolitical developments, such as incidents involving undersea cables. She referenced recent events in the Nordic and Baltic Seas, noting that similar situations have occurred in the past. Finally, she explained how the IGF collaborates with stakeholders to strengthen core Internet infrastructure, work on global initiatives, and explore alternative methods for data transmission and safety.
National, Regional, and Youth Initiatives (NRIs)
Nadia Tjahja, the coordinator of YouthDIG, Europe’s regional youth IGF, shared valuable insights about engaging in the Internet governance ecosystem and highlighted various programs and opportunities for involvement. She spoke about the Internet Society’s Youth Ambassador Program, which offers a platform for young people to connect globally and learn about the history of the Internet. She also discussed ICANN’s Fellowship program and NextGen@ICANN program, which are available to young leaders who are interested in ICANN’s work, as well as the Global Internet Governance Academic Network (GIGANET), a program aimed at academics researching Internet governance processes. Tjahja introduced the Youth Coalition on Internet Governance (YCIG), a great starting point for newcomers, providing resources, peer connections, and support to navigate the complex ecosystem. She also mentioned RightsCon, which features a Youth Leadership Forum and will be held online and in Taipei this year, and the Asia-Europe Foundation, which organizes educational events and congresses on topics like AI governance.
Tjahja emphasized that participation in Internet governance largely depends on individual motivation and personal interests. While the ecosystem can initially seem overwhelming, programs like YCIG offer guidance to help participants develop the skills necessary for meaningful contributions. She encouraged starting with small, manageable efforts that fit within one’s schedule as a practical way to engage with the space. Additionally, she urged participants to share their local insights and lived experiences, explaining that such contributions are invaluable to global Internet governance discussions. These perspectives don’t need to be technical; real-world challenges can enrich policy conversations, which often focus on the voices of those in attendance.
Tjahja reassured participants that expertise develops over time and that the Internet governance space is flexible and welcoming to new voices. She encouraged everyone to overcome any doubts and continue contributing, as consistent involvement will lead to personal growth and the ability to tackle new challenges. Ultimately, the Internet governance ecosystem thrives on openness and diversity, making it accessible to anyone passionate about shaping the Internet’s future.
Contributed by Oh Ji Won, Muhammad Sadeem Hannan, Ariba Aleem, Ammarah Wakeel, Rafi Uddin, Suriya Krishna Balakrishnan Nair Suja Kumari, Suraj Bhattarai, Fatima Munir, Namratha Murugeshan
Edited by Jenna Manhau Fung