- ASO Advisory Council plans to replace ICP-2 with new RIR governance framework
- Updated rules to clarify criteria for recognising new internet registries—but oversight remains a concern
What happened: Revised RIR documents will be published in September 2025
At the recent ICANN 83 meeting held on 8 June 2025, the ASO Advisory Council presented its formal response to the ICANN Board regarding the longstanding document ICP-2, which governs the criteria for recognising new Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). The ASO AC highlighted that ICP-2 is now outdated and lacks alignment with the current Internet Number Community’s operating realities.
The council confirmed that a revised “RIR Governance” document — meant to replace ICP-2 — is under development and scheduled for publication in September 2025. This new document will aim to clarify the process by which any new RIR may be established, offering more transparency, accountability, and community alignment. It will also better reflect the modern policy development environment in which RIRs function today.
The ASO AC’s presentation also acknowledged that the existing ICP-2 framework does not adequately reflect the evolved relationship between RIRs and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), particularly around community oversight and the operational maturity of RIRs.
Also read: Old rules, new world: ICP-2 criteria for new RIR
Also read: ICANN’s role in AFRINIC elections faces scrutiny, claims of interference
Why it’s important
While the proposed overhaul is framed as a modernisation of outdated rules, it also raises critical questions: Who ensures accountability in this new process? Will a document created and managed by the RIR community itself be sufficiently neutral and transparent?
The ASO AC insists that the revised document reflects community consensus and operational experience. But critics may question whether self-regulation without formal ICANN oversight could lead to conflicts of interest or reduced global trust—particularly if new RIRs emerge under looser scrutiny.
As the technical backbone of the internet continues to globalise, establishing credible and impartial rules for internet number governance is not just an administrative task—it’s a matter of global internet stability.
