Some of the most influential minds working to keep our internet a safe and fair place to exist and roam came together at the Jio World Convention Centre in March. Registries, registrars, legal experts and government representatives all focused on one thing: shaping policy together.
From how harmful online threats and scams are identified and shut down, to how the next wave of domains will reshape the digital landscape — these were just two of the topics heating up the agenda at the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) Community Forum.
With Safenames at the table, including our Senior Legal Adviser, James Taylor — as an ICANN-accredited registrar, our team brought real-world client challenges into the room, helping shape decisions that will quietly influence how organisations operate online in the months ahead.
The drive to tackle harmful online activity, like phishing and malware, is gaining real momentum. The industry is moving closer to better detection of large DNS abuse campaigns, giving less time for threats to take hold.
How this will help brands online:
Online threats will be identified and shut down quicker to help reduce the risk to customers, reputation and revenue.
Discussions focused on how to give legitimate parties, like legal teams and investigators, more consistent access to accurate domain ownership data, without compromising privacy.
How this will help brands online:
Faster requests for accurate data will support more timely investigations and stronger action against anyone misusing a brand online.
A new wave of domain extensions is on the horizon. Applications can take place between 30 April and 12 August 2026 for brand-specific domains through to sector and location-based extensions.
How this will help brands online:
There will be more opportunity for organisations to expand their domain portfolio and stand out online.
There is a clear drive toward maintaining consistent regulation across regions, helping close gaps that cybercriminals have historically exploited.
How this will help brands online:
A more joined-up global approach will make it easier to protect brands consistently across territories.
ICANN discussions are now influencing operational decisions faster, giving organisations clearer direction on governance and compliance.
How this will help brands online:
More time to prepare, adapt and stay ahead of emerging compliance risks.
A few words from James Taylor, Senior Legal Adviser at Safenames
“Participation in ICANN85 discussions provided us with a unique vantage point — not just on where the latest policies have landed, but how and why they’ve evolved.”
“In Mumbai, much of the focus was on how quickly things can move from discussion into action.”
“Our involvement with ICANN puts us in a strong position to support clients and interpret regulatory changes into practical action.”
Download his ICANN85 report →
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