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ICANN org Provides Feedback on the Proposed NIS2 Directive

19 March 2021

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced today that on 18 March 2021, the ICANN org submitted feedback to the public consultation on the proposal to revise the existing European Union Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems (NIS Directive).

The proposed Directive on measures for high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS2 Directive) would apply to all Domain Name System (DNS) service providers. As currently drafted, this would include recursive resolvers and operators of authoritative servers for the root zone, top-level domains (TLDs), and all other domain names below the TLDs. Under the NIS2 proposal, DNS services are deemed essential services. Operators of DNS services offering services in Europe would have to implement cybersecurity measures and report any incidents that have a significant impact on the provision of their services. The small and micro business exemptions would not apply to TLD name registries or DNS service providers.

ICANN org responded to the online consultation, which closed 18 March 2021. The comment submitted touches on two issues:

  • The applicability of NIS2 requirements for "essential" entities to DNS service providers
  • The proposed requirements concerning domain name registration data in Article 23

ICANN org notes that comments to the NIS2 public consultation were also submitted by members of the ICANN community.

All contributions to the public comment are available on the consultation's website.

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.