At-Large Challenges in Terms of WHOIS and Compliance Workspace

 

FINAL VERSION TO BE SUBMITTED IF RATIFIED

The final version to be submitted, if the draft is ratified, will be placed here by upon completion of the vote. 

FINAL DRAFT VERSION TO BE VOTED UPON BY THE ALAC

WHOIS is important in that it allows users to authenticate who is behind a website or a domain name. As reliance and dependence on the internet increases, there are increased vulnerabilities such as illicit activities that demand for the authentication and verification of persons behind websites and domain names. False WHOIS is considered to be widespread and a serious problem.

Globally, WHOIS has become a matter of increasing priority for national governments through their cyber security strategy, cyber crime policies, revenue authorities and various other law enforcement mechanisms in the world.

The Registration Accreditation Agreement (RAA) makes it mandatory to supply truthful and accurate data in domain name WHOIS. ICANN’s core function is in accrediting Registrars and ensuring that the obligations under the RAA are met. Noting that currently, there is no regulation to enforce compliance by national governments, it remains in ICANN’s interest to ensure that it is competent to encourage self regulation in this regard.

The termination of the Bulk WHOIS Inaccuracy reporting program and the rejection of several Documentary Disclosure Information Policy requests relating to certain cases that were reported to ICANN are serious threats to global public interest and there is a lack of accountability and transparency in this regard.

It is not sufficient to merely have provisions woven into the Registration Accreditation Agreement (RAA) as there has to be effective functional steps towards moving to strengthening compliance processes.

FIRST DRAFT SUBMITTED

WHOIS is important in that it allows users to authenticate who is behind a website or a domain name. As reliance and dependence on the internet increases, there are increased vulnerabilities such as illicit activities that demand for the authentication and verification of persons behind websites and domain names. False WHOIS is considered to be widespread and a serious problem.

Globally, WHOIS has become a matter of increasing priority for national governments through their cyber security strategy, cyber crime policies, revenue authorities and various other law enforcement mechanisms in the world.

The Registration Accreditation Agreement (RAA) makes it mandatory to supply truthful and accurate data in domain name WHOIS. ICANN’s core function is in accrediting Registrars and ensuring that the obligations under the RAA are met. Noting that currently, there is no regulation to enforce compliance by national governments, it remains in ICANN’s interest to ensure that it is competent to encourage self regulation in this regard.

The termination of the Bulk WHOIS Inaccuracy reporting program and the rejection of several Documentary Disclosure Information Policy requests relating to certain cases that were reported to ICANN are serious threats to global public interest and there is a lack of accountability and transparency in this regard.

It is not sufficient to merely have provisions woven into the Registration Accreditation Agreement (RAA) as there has to be effective functional steps towards moving to strengthening compliance processes.