Explore the Trends Reshaping Brand Protection in the 2026 Domain Protection Report

The Brand Safety Alliance is proud to launch the second annual Domain Protection Report. 

Over the past year, the conversations around brand protection have become sharper, more urgent and increasingly operational. Brand owners are navigating expanding online attack surfaces, AI-driven abuse, tighter internal resources and growing pressure to do more with less. 

At the same time, the domain landscape itself continues to evolve. GlobalBlock recently marked its second anniversary and has expanded to cover 780 domain extensions, with major additions including .cn and .de in the largest expansion to date. As the industry also looks ahead to the next round of new gTLDs, many organizations are reassessing what proactive protection needs to look like in practice. 

This year’s report explores those shifts through industry perspectives, customer experiences, data insights and practical examples from across the domain ecosystem. 

Inside the report, you’ll find: 

• An interview with Uber’s Senior Legal Director, Rafa Gutiérrez, on phishing, fraud and managing a leaner, more strategic domain portfolio. 

• A partner spotlight from China’s .cn registry (CNNIC) on security, trust and brand protection within the .cn namespace. 

• Insights into how AI is reshaping online abuse and what this means for brands defending themselves at scale. 

• New data from GlobalBlock’s first two years. 

• Real-world examples of how organizations are simplifying protection strategies and rethinking domain recovery through tools like Priority AutoCatch. 

• Guidance for organizations preparing for the next round of new gTLDs and the evolving challenges that come with it. 

The common thread throughout this year’s report is that brand protection is no longer just about reacting to threats after they appear. Increasingly, organizations are looking for ways to reduce exposure before abuse occurs, simplify operational overhead and build more sustainable approaches to digital risk management. 

That shift is only possible through collaboration across brands, registries, registrars and the wider internet community. We’re grateful to the partners, contributors and customers who shared their expertise and experiences throughout this report. 

We hope the 2026 Domain Protection Report provides useful insights and practical perspectives for your organization as the online landscape continues to evolve. 

Download the full report here.