Page History

The Registration Directory Service Review, formerly known as "WHOIS" (RDS-WHOIS2) is mandated by ICANN Bylaws Section 4.6(e) to assess the effectiveness of the then current gTLD registry directory service and whether its implementation meets the legitimate needs of law enforcement, promoting consumer trust and safeguarding registrant data.

The Board took action on 22 September 2022 to defer the Third Registration Directory Service (RDS) Review. See the Board Resolution here.

Click here to learn more about RDS-WHOIS. Click here to get involved in ICANN reviews. 

 

Review

Community

Board 

ICANN 

Review

Conduct Review

Board Action

Implementation Progress

Implementation

RDS-WHOIS2

WHOIS1 (conducted under the Affirmation of Commitments)*

Concluded in

2012

2019 Final Report

Board Resolution

23 June 2012

25 February 2020 Board Resolution21 December 2023

See implementation page for more information

RDS - WHOIS2  Concluded in 2019

WHOIS1 (conducted under

ICANN mandated bylaws)

the Affirmation of Commitments)* Status title Archived

Concluded in 2012

Final Report

Board Resolution

25 February 2020

8 November 2012

See implementation page for more information

RDS-WHOIS3

Call for Volunteers (Not Active)

*The first WHOIS - Policy Review (WHOIS1) was initiated under the Affirmation of Commitments (AoC) in December 2015. Further to a recommendation made by the Cross-Community Working Group on Enhancing ICANN Accountability (Work Stream 1), AoC reviews Reviews were incorporated into ICANN Bylaws in May 2016 as a result of the IANA Stewardship Transition