- Lindqvist’s ICP-2 related paper gives ICANN unilateral authority to derecognise regional registries.
- Critics warn this centralises power in ICANN and sidelines democratic, community-led governance.
A new controversy in internet governance
A storm is building in global internet governance. At the centre is Kurtis Lindqvist, CEO of ICANN, whose release of a new document tied to the long-standing ICP-2 policy has triggered accusations of authoritarian overreach. While the original ICP-2 framework—established in 2001—set rules for the creation and recognition of new Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), Lindqvist’s paper adds an explosive new element: it grants ICANN the power to derecognise an existing RIR.
This provision has alarmed many within the technical and policy community. To critics, the change risks dismantling the balance of power in the internet’s multistakeholder model, where authority is distributed among regions and guided by bottom-up decision-making. By handing ICANN the ability to unilaterally derecognise a registry, Lindqvist is accused of setting the stage for centralised control at the expense of regional autonomy.
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ICP-2 and AFRINIC’s fragile position
The controversy has erupted during a period of crisis for AFRINIC, the African Network Information Centre, which has faced years of governance turmoil. AFRINIC has struggled with vacant leadership positions, disputed elections, and ongoing legal challenges in Mauritius, where it is based.
Cloud Innovation(CI), a stakeholder group, has called for ICP-2 to be applied—not to create a new registry, but to allow another existing RIR such as RIPE NCC, APNIC, or ARIN to temporarily take over AFRINIC’s duties if it cannot function. This is seen as a practical solution to keep Africa’s internet number allocation system stable.
Lindqvist’s new document, however, goes much further. Instead of simply applying ICP-2, it introduces ICANN’s authority to derecognise an RIR altogether. For many, this crosses a line from supportive oversight into potential domination.
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Critics speak out against Lindqvist
The reaction from parts of the internet community has been fierce. Opponents accuse Lindqvist of opening a door for ICANN to impose its will on regional communities. This is not about supporting Africa. It is about ICANN controlling the system. Lindqvist is taking advantage of AFRINIC’s crisis to expand central authority.
What this document does is simple—it rewrites the rules. Regional communities no longer decide their own future if ICANN can derecognise them. This is a direct attack on democracy in internet governance.
Such criticisms highlight the fear that ICANN, guided by individuals like Lindqvist, is moving away from its role as coordinator toward one of enforcer. For regions that rely on their RIRs to develop policies through open participation, the shift is seen as undermining their sovereignty.
Democracy versus control
The core question is stark: will internet governance remain democratic, community-led, and accountable, or will it become dominated by ICANN’s unchecked power? AFRINIC’s plight is being held up as a test case. Despite its dysfunction, many insist that its problems must be solved by its own members through lawful and participatory processes. ICANN’s seizure of derecognition powers eliminates that option and replaces local accountability with centralised fiat.
Lindqvist himself has become the embodiment of this fight. His decision to advance such a document is seen not as reform, but as a calculated strike against democracy. The timing could hardly be worse. AFRINIC remains paralysed, and in Mauritius the executive branch is already accused of undermining judicial independence. Handing ICANN the authority Lindqvist seeks risks not only destabilising Africa’s internet governance, but also legitimising political interference at the expense of the rule of law.
Also read: ICANN’s quiet power grab: ICP-2 compliance document raises alarms amid AFRINIC crisis
When ICANN dictates: regional democracy faces extinction
What happens in Africa will not stay in Africa. If ICANN assumes the power to derecognise AFRINIC, it sets a precedent for all five RIRs. Communities in Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and Latin America could find their independence weakened. Even well-established registries like RIPE NCC or ARIN may face pressure to align with ICANN’s directives or risk derecognition.
This raises fundamental questions about the internet’s governance model. For decades, it has rested on a balance between global coordination and regional autonomy. Lindqvist’s document threatens that balance by introducing a mechanism for central control.
Once accept that ICANN can derecognise AFRINIC, you accept that it can do the same to any RIR. That is how democracy is replaced by dictatorship.
