News


30 years of RFC 1591: Time to reflect on the policy gaps for ccTLDs
Since the times of Rod Beckstrom, ICANN has stayed far away from mainstream religion. There is, however, one document that acquired a quasi-religious status: RFC 1591.
This month, this document turned 30 years old. Titled "Domain Name System Structure and Delegation”, it established the DNS as a global, distributed, and scalable system for managing domain names. By setting the foundational policies for top level domain name registration and delegation, it has significantly contributed to the stability and functionality of the internet. Most importantly for ccTLDs, it truly globalised the DNS by allowing policies for each ccTLD to be set locally and therefore be adapted to local needs and regulations.


ICANN79: Milestones achieved and expectations raised
After almost 6 years of the EPDP process to address EU GDPR compliance, the ICANN community unlocked a milestone, and the Registration Data Consensus Policy was (finally) published on 21 February. Is the work on data protection vs access to registration data over? Can a sparkling wine from a certain French region be opened (not mentioning a protected geographical indication to be on the safe side)? Not quite yet. New expectations are raised and future work for the community is on the horizon.



CENTR publishes comment on the EU FiDA proposal
Brussels, 14 March 2024 – CENTR, the association of European national top-level domain name registries (ccTLDs), publishes a set of recommendations to amend the EU Financial Data Access Regulation proposal, alerting policymakers to the irreversible impact of the proposed domain-level enforcement actions on European consumers and businesses.



EU Policy Update - February 2024
In a nutshell: The European Commission has published a white paper on digital infrastructure needs and a recommendation on secure submarine cable infrastructure. Members of the European Parliament adopted the Regulation on Geographical indication protection for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, and suggested further amendments to the Framework for Financial Data Access. The European Data Protection Board issued an opinion on the main establishment of a controller under the GDPR. The EU Member States, supported by ENISA and the NIS coordination group, published a report on the cybersecurity and resilience of communications infrastructure. The European Court of Human Rights ruled on encryption in private communications. The German government issued a strategy for international digital policy. The Digital Services Act is now applicable to all intermediaries.


CENTR publishes latest Global TLD Market Report
The latest CENTRstats TLD Market Report has been published. It covers the global status and registration trends in all top-level domains (legacy gTLDs, new gTLDs and ccTLDs), with a specific focus on the European ccTLD market, and includes analysis and predictions on the wider technological and societal forces that could influence domain name registrations throughout 2024 and beyond.


Why We Need Multistakeholder Internet Governance
The landscape of Internet governance has long been shaped by the ongoing discourse surrounding the "multistakeholder approach". Amid complex discussions of what even constitutes the multistakeholder approach, the concept has evolved into a dynamic force, influencing decisions about the Internet's use, operation, and policies. As we stand at a crossroads in the global debate, with widespread concern about the general commitment to multistakeholder Internet governance and its adequacy, it is crucial to provide a comprehensive exploration of the intricacies surrounding this approach, emphasising its historical significance, and addressing current concerns.


Access and Cybersecurity: striking the right balance for the future
With unprecedented regulatory attention being given to DNS abuse, collaboration between the domain industry and policymakers is crucial. This is why CENTR brought together key industry leaders to reflect on collaborative strategies to balance cybersecurity and growth, ensuring a secure and reliable online experience for users across Europe and beyond.


CENTR hosts event on access and cybersecurity in the European domain space
Brussels, 7 February 2024 – CENTR, the association of European country code top-level domain registries (ccTLDs), yesterday hosted an event on access and cybersecurity, where speakers discussed the role of the internet infrastructure actors such as ccTLDs registries in online security, stability, and resilience.


CENTR Publishes Repository of Registrars
CENTR has developed a dataset of Registrar organisational details and legal structures. To query the data, we have created a tool where you can lookup a registrar by name to view its details and links, if any, to other organisations.


EU Policy Update – Outlook to 2024
In a nutshell: Belgium took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the remainer of the current legislative term. The European Commission is looking into limiting cookie banners, has launched a package of measures to support AI innovation, and is gathering public feedback on application of the GDPR. The European Parliament moves on the Financial Data Access initiative. Geographical indications protection regulations enter the road to implementation. The co-legislators are expected to officially adopt the new EUID Regulation and the AI Act. EU is preparing for elections in June 2024.