Accountability

ICANN has a proven commitment to accountability and transparency in all of its practices. Indeed, ICANN considers these principles to be fundamental safeguards in ensuring that its international, bottom-up and multi-stakeholder operating model remains effective.

The mechanisms through which ICANN archives accountability and transparency are built into every level of its organization and mandate - beginning with its Bylaws and Affirmation of Commitments.

ICANN Accountability Mechanisms

Accountability Mechanisms

• Reconsideration
• Ombudsman
• Independent Review Process
• Document Information Disclosure Policy ^[1]
• Other Mechanisms ^[1]

Organizational Reviews

• At-Large
• ASO
• ccNSO
• GNSO
• Nominating Committee
• RSSAC
• SSAC
• Board of Directors ^[2]
• Technical Liaison Group ^[2]

AoC Reviews

• Accountability and Transparency-(ATRT)
• Security, Stability and Resiliency of the DNS-(SSR)
• WHOIS Policy
• Competition, Consumer Trust, and Consumer Choice

• [1] Includes extensive other ways that ICANN is accountable.
• [2] Organizational review is not mandated by ICANN Bylaws and other mechanisms are used to review commitments.

Status of Reviews - For information about the current status as well as completed reviews, please visit Organizational Reviews and AoC Reviews sections.

Cross Community Working Group on Enhancing ICANN Accountability - In the wake of NTIA's announced intent to transition its stewardship of the IANA function to the global multistakeholder community, ICANN has worked to ensure that it remains accountable in the absence of this historical contractual relationship.  Resulting proposed transitions, including the assignment of additional responsibilities, have inspired the community to raise the broader topic of the impact this change could have on ICANN's accountability.  More information is available here.

Examples of ICANN’s Accountability and Transparency Practices

ICANN's commitment to fulfilling – and exceeding – these obligations is demonstrated in numerous ways throughout our organization. Here are some notable examples:

Type of Activity	Description	Related Links
Quarterly Stakeholder Calls	Provide updates on the latest policy and implementation developments, ICANN’s operational achievements and financial standings.	Most recent report from Stakeholder Calls
Open Participation in ICANN Activities	ICANN's Supporting Organizations (SOs) and Advisory Committees (ACs) publicly post detailed information about their activities and deliberations, along with clear instructions on how one can participate.	Participation Opportunities
Public Comment	Open public comment provides information on the issues ICANN stakeholders currently have posted for public comment, with opportunity for all stakeholders to provide input and feedback. Operational consultation offers another vital element of ICANN's accountability and transparency in the opportunity for operational consultation and feedback on various ICANN topics.	Open Public Comments Operational Consultations
Language Services	While ICANN’s working language is English, multilingualism is essential for a global multistakeholder organization. In order to facilitate access to ICANN and broad participation in its work, it is the policy of ICANN to provide language services (including translation and interpretation) in the six United Nations languages where appropriate, while taking into account budget constraints.	ICANN's Policy and Procedures on Language Services
Implementation of Review Recommendations	Once recommendations resulting from AoC and Organizational Reviews are accepted by the Board, the implementation of these recommendations is publicly tracked with periodic status reports posted.​	Links and information about Board-approved Review recommendations and implementation progress are available on detailed review pages.
Organizational Effectiveness Committee of the ICANN Board	Oversight of the Bylaws-mandated organizational Reviews	Organizational Effectiveness Committee
Project Portfolio Management System	Provides visibility into ICANN's workload, progress and status of projects underway.	Project Portfolio Management System ICANN's work is guided by the Strategic Plan and Five-Year Operating Plan which were developed by the community with staff, and organized in a hierarchy of Objectives, Goals, Portfolios, and Projects.
KPI Dashboard	Dashboard efforts continue to evolve. The ICANN KPI Dashboard shows how the organization is progressing on its five objectives and sixteen goals per our strategic and operating plans.	ICANN KPI Dashboard
ICANN's Anonymous Hotline Policy and Procedures	In response to a recommendation from the second Accountability and Transparency Review, NAVEX Global conducted a review of ICANN’s Anonymous Hotline Policy and Procedures. The external expert compared ICANN’s policy and procedures to various global frameworks for best practices, in order to identify any gaps and, if found, to make recommendations for possible improvements that help maintain the Anonymous Hotline Policy as a best practice reporting mechanism. ICANN is in the process of updating the Anonymous Hotline Policy and related procedures, as applicable and appropriate, to meet the recommendations and modifications proposed by the reviewer.	Practices & Recommendations: External Stakeholder Use of an Organizational Ethics & Compliance Hotline ICANN Hotline Policy Review Report

ICANN Publication Practices

ICANN and its constituent bodies operate to the maximum extent feasible in an open and transparent manner and consistent with procedures designed to ensure fairness. In furtherance of this transparency value, ICANN's general publication practices are intended to ensure that information contained in documents concerning ICANN's operational activities, and within ICANN's possession, custody, or control, is made available to the public unless there is a compelling reason for redaction or non-disclosure. There are exceptions to this general practice and, if redaction is required or there are grounds for non-disclosure, the smallest amount of material necessary will be redacted or withheld. A summary of the standards and the basis for which materials may be redacted or withheld from publication is available here.

Implementation of AoC Review Recommendations

Implementation of all AoC review recommendations accepted by the Board is publicly tracked and periodic status reports posted.

Implementation of Board-Approved Recommendations

Click on the name of the Review in the chart to access the latest status update on the progress of implementation of recommendations

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