EuroDNS Joins the Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholderism
The internet's growth into global infrastructure has made inclusive governance more important than ever. At EuroDNS, we support a multistakeholder model where all voices have a role in shaping its future.
Who gets a say on the future of the internet?
In just a few decades, the internet has grown from a quirky tool for researchers into essential global infrastructure. And that growth isn’t slowing down. But who decides how it evolves? Who gets a voice in shaping the internet’s future—and who doesn’t? At EuroDNS, we believe that internet governance should be inclusive and transparent. The future of the internet is the responsibility of all its stakeholders—from everyday users to global corporations to governments. Everyone deserves a seat at the table. This model is called multistakeholderism.
We strongly advocate for multistakeholderism and actively support it through our involvement with ICANN. This approach, which sounds like a high-scoring Scrabble word, is more than just a catchy term. It’s a governance framework that gives all relevant parties—governments, businesses, civil society, and the technical community—a voice in shaping the policies that impact them.
Think of it as the Athenian democratic ideal—without the togas or exclusion. Decisions aren’t imposed from above; they’re developed collaboratively by those who must implement and live by them.
We're joining forces to give everyone a voice
ICANN was founded on multistakeholder principles at a time when governments were slow to recognise the strategic importance of the internet and the domain name system. That doesn’t mean governments are excluded—far from it. Through the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), they play an essential advisory role. But, as the name suggests, that role is advisory, not controlling. Over the years, some governments have attempted to shift internet governance to intergovernmental bodies. These moves highlight the constant tension between openness and control—and why defending the multistakeholder model is more important than ever.
ICANN’s processes aren’t perfect—they can be slow and frustrating—but they’re also transparent, participatory, and insulated from the political whims of any single government. In today’s highly politicised digital landscape, that’s no small thing.
That’s why EuroDNS is proud to announce our membership in the Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholderism (TCCM). We’ve joined this alliance to help preserve and strengthen the open, inclusive model of internet governance that has enabled the internet to flourish.
The road ahead
For now, the TCCM has focused on delivering submissions to the United Nations, emphasising the importance of multistakeholderism in internet governance. We’re proud to support their mission. A free and fair internet begins with balanced, inclusive governance.