- Kurt Lindqvist moved ICP‑2 forward outside the usual multistakeholder discussions, introducing a document that gives him significant influence to assess—and potentially recommend changes to—the status of regional internet registries.
- Clause 3 effectively places Lindqvist in a position to personally shape judgments on RIR legitimacy, prompting debate over concentrated authority amid AFRINIC’s ongoing crisis.
A recently finalised document led by Kurt Lindqvist, CEO of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), has drawn attention from internet governance experts, policy analysts, and regional internet registry (RIR) stakeholders. Titled “Implementation and Assessment Procedures for ICP‑2 Compliance,” the document was released on 24 December 2024 without the usual round of community consultation or public comment — a noticeable departure from the multi‑stakeholder practices typically expected in such processes.
The timing and limited transparency of the document’s release have prompted sharp questions. The procedures were finalised the same month Kurt Lindqvist stepped into the CEO role in December 2024. The document outlines new measures that give Lindqvist a pivotal role in assessing how the world’s five RIRs — AFRINIC, ARIN, APNIC, LACNIC and RIPE NCC — align with the ICP‑2 framework, including recommendations if they fall short of those criteria.
This will sound familiar to anyone following the current ICP‑2 update work, which aims to modernise the framework to reflect the ongoing requirements of Regional Internet Registries. Some observers are now asking whether Kurt Lindqvist has moved ahead too quickly by advancing his own version of the ICP‑2 document before the broader update process concludes.
At the centre of the controversy is Clause 3, which sets out the “Assessment of an RIR for Compliance with Community‑Developed Criteria of ICP‑2.” Under this clause, Kurt Lindqvist would have the ability to initiate a compliance review of any RIR.
If an RIR is found to be non‑compliant, the implications could be significant: Lindqvist could recommend “emergency intervention” and suggest an alternative RIR to handle IP address management for that region. In practice, a non‑compliant RIR could lose its authority to allocate IP addresses or maintain its registry database.
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No consultation, no consensus
For an organisation long associated with a bottom‑up, consensus‑driven governance model, the way this document was introduced is striking. Normally, any policy or procedure affecting global internet infrastructure would involve extensive consultation with technical bodies, governments, civil society and private‑sector participants.
None of the RIRs — including AFRINIC, currently facing legal and operational turmoil — were formally consulted before the text was finalised. There is no record of the proposal being reviewed by Supporting Organisations or Advisory Committees. The final document was quietly uploaded online on 24 December 2024 — Christmas Eve — when much of the internet governance community was on holiday.
AFRINIC’s collapse: A convenient pretext?
The timing of the document is particularly notable given the ongoing crisis at AFRINIC, Africa’s regional internet registry. For the past two years, AFRINIC has been hampered by leadership gaps, legal disputes over address allocations, and allegations of mismanagement. There are growing fears the registry may become non‑functional, sparking discussions about possible reform or replacement.
Some insiders suggest Kurt Lindqvist advanced the ICP‑2 implementation document quickly because of AFRINIC’s instability. With the registry on shaky ground, Lindqvist may have viewed this as an opportunity to establish clearer authority in assessing RIR legitimacy.
Clause 3 has drawn the most attention because it sets out how Lindqvist could review whether an RIR remains compliant with ICP‑2 criteria at any point. While registries would have a chance to respond to draft findings after a review, the document also outlines a pathway for Lindqvist to move to a “final determination” if he believes the registry cannot comply, even after feedback.
The clause further allows Lindqvist to define what constitutes non‑compliance and whether the community has had a “reasonable opportunity” to correct any issues — a shift that concentrates significant interpretive power in the CEO’s hands.
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Also Read: Why AFRINIC’s fallout has global implications for internet governance
A dangerous precedent
Critics say the new document shifts significant interpretive power into the hands of Kurt Lindqvist, effectively positioning him as the ultimate arbiter of whether a Regional Internet Registry (RIR) meets the ICP‑2 standards. The traditional model of internet governance has relied on a balance of authority among autonomous entities, supported by checks and balances from the broader multi‑stakeholder community.
By placing Lindqvist at the centre of these determinations, some observers worry that the approach could unsettle that balance. Adding to the debate is Lindqvist’s own low‑profile handling of the situation — since taking office in December 2024, he has not publicly commented on the document or explained the reasoning behind its swift adoption. Many believe the timing of his appointment and the ratification of the ICP‑2 compliance procedures is unlikely to be coincidental.
What happens next?
The internet governance community is beginning to take notice. Multiple sources told BTW Media they were surprised to learn about the document — many said they hadn’t even been aware it existed, let alone been asked for input.
At a minimum, stakeholders argue, a community‑led review should be launched to ensure proper process was followed in developing and releasing the new procedures. Some warn that without wider consultation and transparency, the internet’s bottom‑up, community‑driven model could be weakened.
Until that review happens, the future of decentralised internet governance remains uncertain. One quietly posted document — and the way Kurt Lindqvist advanced it — may have shifted the balance of influence across the global internet in ways few expected.
