ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization that plays a crucial role in the infrastructure of the internet. Established in 1998, ICANN is responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of the internet. This primarily includes overseeing:
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Allocation of IP addresses
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Management of the Domain Name System (DNS)
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Accreditation of domain registrars
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Top-Level Domains (TLDs) oversight, such as .com, .org, .net, and newer generic TLDs like .app or .tech
ICANN ensures that every domain name maps correctly to the appropriate IP address, making sure that users can access websites reliably and securely. It doesn't control content on the internet or manage internet access, but its work is critical in ensuring a stable, secure, and unified global internet.
ICANN operates through a bottom-up, consensus-driven model, involving governments, businesses, civil society, and technical experts from around the world, making it a unique organization in global internet governance.
