Objections may be filed by one of the three Independent Objectors (IOs), who do not act on behalf of any particular persons or entities, but solely in the best interests of the public who use the global Internet.
IOs may file objections against highly objectionable applications to which no objection has been filed absent extraordinary circumstances.
| What are Independent Objectors (IOs) | Parties selected by ICANN to file objections to applications on the grounds of Limited Public Interest and Community, acting solely in the best interests of the public. |
| IO Objection Requirements | The IOs:
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| IO Objection Timeline | The objection filing window for objections lodged by IOs will begin at the same time as all other parties but will be open for seven additional days beyond the end of the objection filing window for the general public defined in Section 4.5.8.1 Objections Filing Window; IOs will only file objections during the initial objection filing window. |
| IO Appeals | Should their objection not prevail, IOs may appeal the Panel Determination. IOs may also be involved in mediation and settlement with affected applicants, where appropriate. |
| Resources | Applicant Guidebook: Other resources:
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About the Independent Objectors
As announced on 23 October, 2026, ICANN has selected three IOs for the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round. The IOs were selected following a competitive Expression of Interest process launched in March 2026 in accordance with ICANN's procurement best practices.
| Dr. Daniel Müller 2026 Round IO Chair | Dr. Daniel Müller will serve as the Independent Objector Chair. His strong familiarity with Internet governance, the Domain Name System ecosystem, and ICANN's role within it, was developed through his work as counsel with the IO during the 2012 Round and will bring valuable perspective to the role. Dr. Müller is an international lawyer with more than two decades of experience working on complex global issues before major international courts and tribunals. He has advised, assisted, and represented states, international organizations, and private entities in matters involving international law, human rights, and questions of broad public interest. He has a practical understanding of the IOs' mandate and of the importance of safeguarding the public interest in the DNS. Throughout his career, Dr. Müller has been recognized for his independence, impartiality, and careful judgment in high-stakes matters. He looks forward to contributing these qualities to the 2026 Round as part of the IO team. |
| Judge Abdelmohsen Sheha | Judge Abdelmohsen Sheha is an international judge and arbitrator. He serves as Senior Judge of the Egyptian State Council in Cairo and as a judge of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) in New York, having been elected by the United Nations General Assembly. He currently serves as Second Vice-President of UNAT. Judge Sheha has extensive judicial and consultative experience in public, comparative, and international law. He holds a Ph.D. from the Université de Strasbourg, where his prize-winning dissertation examined the regulation of electronic communications under European, French, and Egyptian law. He has published extensively on telecommunications, including interconnection, net neutrality, 5G, radio spectrum, and digital regulation. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the International Chamber of Commerce Institute of World Business Law, and a listed arbitrator with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre and the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration. |
| Eran Sthoeger | Eran Sthoeger is an international lawyer and advocate with extensive experience in dispute resolution, public international law, and multilateral institutions. He has more than 15 years of experience advising governments, international organizations, and private actors on complex legal and policy matters. He has acted as counsel in numerous proceedings before leading international courts and tribunals, including the International Court of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. His work has involved issues of global public concern and community interests, including environmental protection, climate change, maritime governance, human rights, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Mr. Sthoeger's career reflects a commitment to principled legal analysis, procedural fairness, and the protection of broader community interests. He brings to the IO role extensive experience evaluating competing legal claims and assessing matters that raise significant public interest considerations. Combined with his academic work and publications on international dispute resolution and institutional decision-making, this background provides a strong foundation for serving as an IO in the 2026 Round. |
Objection Rationales
IOs will need to provide rationales outlining why each objection or appeal was filed. Rationales will be published on this webpage once available.