ICANN82 in Seattle: What to know, what to do – Domain Name Wire

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Jothan Frakes Leave a Comment March 3, 2025
Here’s what you should know ahead of ICANN82. [Editor’s note: ICANN’s annual Community Forum begins this Saturday in Seattle. Although I reside in the Seattle area, I live on an island and don’t know as much about the city as you’d expect for someone who has lived here for six years. So I asked long-time Seattleite Jothan Frakes to contribute a story about what to do in Seattle. Jothan is also a long-time member of the ICANN community, and he shares what to expect at this meeting.]
Late this week, Seattle will be the center of the world for Internet names and IP addresses, as ICANN82 will bring together global internet stakeholders to Seattle—a city that has long played a role in shaping the internet and domain name industry. As someone who has called Seattle home since 1995, I couldn’t be more thrilled to see this critical ICANN meeting hosted in my own backyard, one I share with people like Andrew Allemann and Michael Cyger, who I typically see on the same plane as me when ICANN meetings take place in one of the dozens of international cities it typically occurs at.
Seattle has a deep history in technology, internet security, and domain names, and I’ve been fortunate to be part of that journey. In 1997, before ICANN even existed, I helped run my first ccTLD registry technical back end from downtown Seattle. The domain name community has since been hard at work building out the infrastructure of the internet, and it’s remarkable to see how far we’ve come. ICANN82 also comes at a moment of transition, with a new ICANN CEO stepping in and major developments shaping the future of domain names, security, and internet governance.
The first ICANN meeting of the year is always well attended, but when it takes place in the U.S., attendance tends to be even larger. Expect this to be one of the most highly attended meetings of 2025—especially with so many pivotal discussions on the table.
This meeting also comes at a moment of transition for ICANN itself, with a new CEO stepping in to lead the organization. Leadership changes at ICANN often come with new priorities and directions, making this an important time for stakeholders to engage and participate in shaping the future of DNS governance.
Seattle is home to some of the biggest technology companies in the world, including Amazon, Microsoft, Google Cloud, and many DNS infrastructure providers. This makes it a fitting location to discuss:
As a member of the ICANN Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) and the registrar stakeholder group, I work alongside some of the most amazing security professionals on the challenges surrounding DNS abuse. One of the major focus areas at ICANN82 will be the advancements borne of self-regulation in the domain name industry. Many registries and registrars have introduced new self-initiated commitments to directly mitigate well-evidenced phishing and other abuses. Additionally, the ongoing discussion around registrant data—made more complex by GDPR and big tech’s theoretical focus on consumer privacy—continues to challenge the security community’s ability to fight abuse effectively.
If this is your first ICANN meeting, it can feel overwhelming—with dozens of sessions, technical discussions, and acronyms to navigate. Here’s how to get the most out of it:
Seattle isn’t just a tech hub—it’s a stunning city with incredible food, culture, shopping and history. If you’re visiting from out of town, don’t miss:
And for those arriving a few days early, you can wave your full nerd flag at Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), happening March 6-9, 2025—right across the street from the ICANN venue! Don’t be surprised if you see some soggy cosplayers playing Dungeons & Dragons at the Hyatt!
As the Registrar Stakeholder Group (RrSG) representative to the 2025 ICANN Nominating Committee, I want to encourage more new voices in ICANN leadership.
The ICANN Nominating Committee (NomCom) is actively seeking candidates for key leadership roles. This is a unique opportunity to:
If you’re interested, learn more and apply here → go.icann.org/4gkcUnn.
Whether you’re a seasoned ICANN participant or a first-time attendee, ICANN82 is a must-attend event. It’s an opportunity to engage in critical conversations, build connections, and help shape the future of the domain industry.
Having participated in ICANN for decades, I know just how important this organization is in keeping the internet stable, secure, and innovative. It’s an absolute delight to welcome the ICANN community to my hometown—Seattle.
If you miss ICANN82, don’t worry! The next two ICANN meetings will take place in Prague, Czech Republic, and Muscat, Oman later in 2025.
See you soon at ICANN 82! And don’t forget to pack a light raincoat—it’s Seattle, after all!
Categories: Policy & Law Tags: icann, icann meetings, seattle
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