Deliberations on Global Internet Governance in Mumbai; ICANN Community Forum Concludes

 

Deliberations on Global Internet Governance in Mumbai; ICANN Community Forum Concludes By Pradeep Gupta, Mumbai Mumbai recently became a focal point for important discussions on global internet governance when the five-day Community Forum of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) concluded at the Jio World Centre. The event was held in Mumbai’s emerging business district, Bandra Kurla Complex. The international conference brought together internet policymakers, technical experts, industry representatives, members of civil society, and academics from around the world. Together, they contribute to building and managing the global system on which billions of internet users rely today. For a vast network that stretches across borders, platforms like this are essential—spaces where dialogue can take place between technical issues, public policy, and innovation. ICANN plays a distinctive role in the global digital ecosystem. The organization coordinates key elements of the internet’s underlying infrastructure—such as the Domain Name System and IP addressing—to ensure that the internet remains stable, secure, and smoothly functioning. For this reason, its community forums are not merely conferences; they are working spaces where diverse stakeholders come together to deliberate on decisions shaping the future of the internet. During the forum, several critical issues were discussed. These ranged from the technical architecture of the internet to emerging challenges of the digital age. Participants exchanged views on topics such as regulation of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, online safety, and equitable access to digital resources. The discussions highlighted that internet governance today is no longer confined to technical infrastructure alone; it also involves maintaining a balance between innovation, security, and digital rights. A notable feature of the forum was the active participation of young people. Through initiatives such as the ICANN NextGen Program, students and young professionals from universities and technical institutions—particularly from developing countries—were able to engage with this global platform. These young participants presented projects on several pressing issues related to the internet. Their work addressed challenges posed by artificial intelligence, strengthening children’s online safety, improving network stability, and developing more inclusive internet governance frameworks. The program offered them valuable insights into how global institutions, technology companies, and policymakers collaborate to manage the internet’s core infrastructure. During the forum, I had the opportunity to meet several NextGen participants and learn about their work. In particular, conversations with two engineering students from Pune—Manas and Aparna—were especially inspiring. For them, the experience was not just about attending a conference; it was also an opportunity to understand the complex global ecosystem of the internet from close quarters. They were especially curious about how industries and startups are developing new solutions within the internet ecosystem based on their unique technical capabilities. The experience also helped them understand how academic research gradually evolves into real-world technological innovation. The event also saw a strong presence of alumni from the India School on Internet Governance (inSIG). Over the past few years, inSIG has played an important role in building awareness and expertise in India on issues related to internet policy and governance. During the forum, several former participants were actively involved in various sessions and activities. In an informal meeting, a group of inSIG participants—including Amrita Chaudhary, Satish Babu, Anand Raje, Anupam Agrawal, Sunny, Adarsh Bu, and Pradeep Gupta—exchanged ideas and perspectives. On this occasion, they also had an informal interaction with Devesh Tyagi, Chief Executive Officer of the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI). The conversation focused on how India can further strengthen its role in the global digital landscape and present its creative and technological capabilities more effectively on international platforms. Hosting such a global event is itself a significant achievement for Mumbai. It reflects the rapid growth of India’s digital economy and the country’s increasingly influential role in shaping global technology policies. At a time when digital technologies are deeply transforming societies and economies, the need for collaborative internet governance has never been greater. The internet is a shared global resource, and maintaining its stability and openness requires continuous cooperation among governments, private companies, the technical community, and civil society. The discussions held in Mumbai also indicated that the future of the internet will not rest solely in the hands of established institutions. A new generation of young people is stepping forward with energy and imagination to help build a digital world that is more inclusive, secure, and resilient.