Event Recap: The Coalition on Digital Impact Attends ICANN84 in Dublin

In an increasingly online world, connecting face-to-face is even more important. CODI’s efforts to bridge technological and cultural gaps on the Internet require global collaboration with leading industry experts and stakeholders, which is why several CODI members attended the ICANN84 Annual General Meeting in late October. 

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Throughout the year, ICANN’s policy and community forums and annual meetings bring together policymakers, academics, civil society organizations, NGOs, companies and industry leaders from around the world. At these events, attendees discuss policy efforts, advocacy and engagement, resources that promote Internet governance and more. 

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At this year’s conference, CODI hosted a session led by Chairman Ram Mohan, Co-founder Christian Dawson, and Executive Director Trang Nguyen on CODI’s efforts to advance digital equity, multilingualism and Universal Acceptance online. Attendees included CODI members, researchers, and representatives from nonprofits with knowledge and expertise in AI, linguistic diversity and Internet governance.

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The session opened with welcome remarks from Ram, who reiterated CODI’s mission to make the Internet accessible in every language, emphasizing that “language is foundational to culture, trust, commerce, and opportunity.” Trang and Christian then provided updates on CODI’s approach to building a more multilingual Internet and progress across CODI’s core focus areas: 1) Technological Tools & Standards, 2) Preservation & Representation, 3) Access & Impact. As part of CODI’s efforts, it launched its first research initiative earlier this year to define the Minimum Viable Dataset (MVD) for cultural and linguistic empowerment through its recently created working group of experts and advocates from around the world.

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Christian highlighted the idea of “language as infrastructure,” emphasizing the fundamental importance of language and the need for a more multilingual Internet. He warned that we face a very real threat of language extinction if we are not very intentional about inclusive design, especially as AI systems are developed. 

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The session concluded with a lively Q&A session, where attendees expressed enthusiasm for future involvement and engagement. Beyond the meeting, CODI engaged with members and partners to discuss future efforts and initiatives that contribute to CODI’s mission to empower communities to access and navigate the Internet in their native languages, ensuring meaningful online participation for every linguistic group. 

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These conversations are crucial as CODI enters into the next phases of its initiatives and research, as they will help guide future engagement and collaboration with other experts. Reach out to us if you’re interested in learning more about what lies ahead and exploring areas for potential partnership!