Date: 28 October to 3 November 2017
Location: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The 60th Public Meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), held in Abu Dhabi from 28 October to 3 November 2017, marked a significant milestone in global Internet governance. As ICANN’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), the event brought together policymakers, technical experts, civil society representatives, academia, businesses, and Internet stakeholders from more than 140 countries to deliberate on the future of the global Internet ecosystem.
Representing ISOC Kolkata, Anupam Agrawal participated in ICANN 60, contributing to discussions that shape the technical coordination and policy development of the Internet’s unique identifier systems. His participation reflected the growing engagement of Indian Internet professionals in international multistakeholder forums dedicated to ensuring a secure, stable, and interoperable Internet.
Throughout the conference, Anupam actively attended technical and policy sessions covering critical areas such as Domain Name System (DNS) security, Internet governance, root server operations, Security, Stability and Resiliency (SSR) review mechanisms, and emerging policy challenges. During the RSSAC Caucus Meeting, he raised important questions regarding the long-term sustainability and governance of Root Server System services. He also participated in the Security, Stability and Resiliency (SSR2) Review Team engagement session, where he contributed to discussions concerning review methodologies and the implementation of security recommendations within ICANN.
ICANN 60 provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, international collaboration, and capacity building among stakeholders committed to strengthening the global Internet infrastructure. The meeting also highlighted the importance of transparent, consensus-driven policymaking in addressing emerging challenges related to Internet security, resilience, and trust.
Participation in forums such as ICANN reinforces the importance of India’s involvement in global Internet governance processes. Through active engagement in technical and policy discussions, professionals like Anupam Agrawal help bridge regional perspectives with international decision-making, fostering greater collaboration across the Internet community.
The experience and insights gained from ICANN 60 continue to support initiatives focused on Internet research, policy development, technical capacity building, and multistakeholder collaboration. Such engagements strengthen the broader mission of building an open, secure, resilient, and inclusive Internet that serves communities across the world.