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 Action

Implementation 

RDS-WHOIS2 

Concluded in 2019 Final Report

(tick)Board Resolution 25 February 2020

(tick)Board Resolution 21 December 2023

(star)See implementation page for more information

WHOIS1 (conducted under the Affirmation of Commitments)*

ARCHIVED

Concluded in 2012 Final Report

(tick)Board Resolution 23 June 2012

(tick)See implementation page for more information

*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 were incorporated into ICANN Bylaws in May 2016 as a result of the IANA Stewardship Transition

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