Event Recap: The Coalition on Digital Impact Launches in DC

On May 20, the Coalition on Digital Impact (CODI) was announced during a hybrid event, “Breaking Barriers: Universal Acceptance and Multilingualism as Gateways to Digital Access,” held at the ICANN Washington, DC Engagement Center. Thought leaders, technologists, policy experts, representatives of international advocacy groups, and Internet pioneers gathered for a powerful dialogue on digital participation, language accessibility, and the future of a multilingual Internet. 

‍

Meaningful Connection in a Multilingual World

CODI Co-Founder Christian Dawson opened the event by setting the tone for the day — emphasizing the urgent need for digital infrastructure that reflects the linguistic and cultural richness of the world’s Internet users: 

‍“Ensuring that all valid domain names and email addresses work across all systems isn’t just a technical victory—it’s a human one. It’s about building a digital world that respects the linguistic and cultural identity of every person who logs on.”

CODI Chairman and Founder, Ram Mohan, then sat down with Wikimedia Foundation’s Rebecca MacKinnon for an insightful conversation that explored how language shapes access to knowledge and civic participation — and how organizations can empower users in their native languages. The pair agreed that “the moment is now,” as there is a multilingualism movement fueled in large part by young people who are passionate about authentic representation online. 

‍
The Evolution and Future of A Multilingual Internet

Internet pioneer Steve Crocker then reflected on how far the Internet has come — from basic connectivity to enabling nuanced, multilingual conversations. His talk emphasized the human element in digital evolution: technology must connect people meaningfully, not just technically.

The first panel, “Universal Acceptance – The Cornerstone of Meaningful Connection,” underscored the foundational role of UA in building a truly democratic Internet. Christian Dawson moderated the lively conversation with Jennifer Chung (DotAsia), Steve Crocker, and former ICANN director George Sadowsky. From technical protocols to policy advocacy, speakers shared how ensuring domain names and email addresses work in all languages is not just a technical fix, but an economic and social imperative. 

George Sadowsky noted that, while the technical barriers to Universal Acceptance have been removed, there is still work to be done to realize the vision of a multilingual Internet. “If the Internet had been developed in Southwest Asia, or India, or anyplace where there was a multiplicity of languages, this probably wouldn't have happened,” he pointed out.  

‍

Vint Cerf, known as the “Father of the Internet,” then shared his reflections on the Internet’s journey from English-centric origins to a more linguistically diverse ecosystem. He emphasized the work still ahead in achieving true multilingual parity online — and raised the concept of an “Internet driver’s license” ― the idea that people should have a baseline understanding of the Internet and adequate training to use the tool. “That would help to bridge some aspects of the digital divide,” Cerf said. 

‍

Breaking Barriers: The Role of AI

Vint was then joined by Chaula Gupta (Digital Promise), AJ Bhadelia (Cohere), and Aliya Bhatia (Center for Democracy & Technology) for a forward-looking panel examining the double-edged sword of AI in linguistic diversity. The takeaways?

• While tools like translation engines offer immense potential, panelists warned of risks such as cultural flattening. 
• AI should augment, not erase, the Internet’s linguistic richness. 
• Users will not interact with AI systems that don’t reflect their linguistic and cultural understanding, which could leave them even further behind. 

In a closing keynote, ICANN’s Theresa Swinehart gave the audience a call to action: to ensure the Internet remains open, accessible, and multilingual. 

Missed the event or want to rewatch your favorite panel? The event recording is available here.

Stay tuned for more as the work of the Coalition on Digital Impact gets underway, and be sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date on our efforts and initiatives. Share your thoughts using #CODI, #UADay2025, and #Internet4All, and help shape a multilingual Internet for all.