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At-Large Priority Activities - 2021

Issue

‘Thick’ Whois Policy Development Process

Upcoming Important Dates

Public comment forum deadline (7 December 2013), invitation to the GAC by the ICANN Board to provide input on these recommendations

Summary

ICANN specifies Whois service requirements through its agreements with gTLD Registries and Registrars. Registries have historically satisfied their Whois obligations under two different models, characterized as “thin” and “thick” Whois registries. In a thin registration model the Registry only collects and publishes the minimal information associated with the domain name from the Registrar (such as DNS technical information). All of the registrant’s contact information is maintained by the Registrar, which publishes it via their own Whois services. In a thick registration model the Registry collects both sets of data (domain name and registrant) from the Registrar and in turn publishes that data via Whois. The Council initiated a Policy Development Process (PDP) to consider a possible requirement of "thick" Whois for all gTLDs. This issue is one that also affects access to Whois data, which is a law- enforcement-related issue. The GAC has indicated its interest in both Whois and law enforcement-related issues in previous GAC Communiqués. The PDP WG published its Initial Report for public comment prior to the ICANN Meeting in Durban, which recommended requiring thick Whois for all gTLD registries. Following review of the comments received, the WG finalized its report and submitted it to the GNSO Council on 21 October 2013. The GNSO Council unanimously adopted the recommendation to require Thick Whois for all gTLD registries at its meeting on 31 October.

ALAC Engagement Opportunity Status

A Public Comment forum on the policy recommendations prior to Board consideration has been opened. Comments may be submitted until 7 December 2013, followed by a reply period, if applicable. Furthermore, the GAC has been invited to provide input to the ICANN Board if it believes that there are public policy issues raised by this recommendation.

Additional Information

ALAC Related Documents

  

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