Changes

The public [[WHOIS]] database was created in the early 1980s, before [[ARPANET]] had become the internet we know today. It was originally intended to be used as a directory service for resolving technical issues with ARPANET.<ref>David Lindsay, International Domain Name Law: ICANN and the UDRP, Hart Publishing, 2007</ref> While the primary use of WHOIS has shifted to become commercial in nature, the protocols have remained relatively unchanged.<ref>[http://whois.icann.org/en/history-whois WHOIS History]</ref>

The public [[WHOIS]] database was created in the early 1980s, before [[ARPANET]] had become the internet we know today. It was originally intended to be used as a directory service for resolving technical issues with ARPANET.<ref>David Lindsay, International Domain Name Law: ICANN and the UDRP, Hart Publishing, 2007</ref> While the primary use of WHOIS has shifted to become commercial in nature, the protocols have remained relatively unchanged.<ref>[http://whois.icann.org/en/history-whois WHOIS History]</ref>

When the internet gained popularity, WHOIS became a service used by law enforcement, companies seeking to protect intellectual property and individuals trying to contact registrants with interest in purchasing their domains. While these uses may seem reasonable, the database also attracts data miners, that use the listed information for unethical, or even illegal purposes.<ref>[http://www.actnowdomains.com/the-privacy-conundrum-in-domain-registration.htm The Privacy Conundrum in Domain Registration]</ref>  

When the internet gained popularity, WHOIS became a service used by law enforcement, companies seeking to protect intellectual property and individuals trying to contact registrants with interest in purchasing their domains. While these uses may seem reasonable, the database also attracts data miners, that use the listed information for unethical, or even criminal and illegal purposes.<ref>[http://www.actnowdomains.com/the-privacy-conundrum-in-domain-registration.htm The Privacy Conundrum in Domain Registration]</ref>  

While these uses range between ethical and unethical, they reflect the changed internet landscape that led to a demand for privacy/proxy services. Registering a domain by proxy prevents registrants' information from being easily accessible to the public.

While these uses range between ethical and unethical purposes, they reflect the changed internet landscape that led to a demand for privacy/proxy services. Registering a domain by proxy prevents registrants' information from being easily accessible to the public.

==ICANN Policy==

==ICANN Policy==

===Current Policy===

===Current Policy===

The 2013 [[RAA]] became the first to address the issue of Domain Privacy, when the ICANN Board approved it on 27 June 2013. Th Board was committed to having the new RAA in place prior to the delegation of gTLDs in the [[New gTLD Program]], leaving several issues unresolved, including those relating to Proxy and Private Registrations.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2013-06-27-en#2.b Board Resolution 27 June 2013]</ref>

The 2013 [[RAA]] became the first to address the issue of Domain Privacy, when the ICANN Board approved it on 27 June 2013. The Board was committed to having the new RAA in place prior to the delegation of gTLDs in the [[New gTLD Program]], leaving several issues unresolved, including those relating to Proxy and Private Registrations.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2013-06-27-en#2.b Board Resolution 27 June 2013]</ref>

The Board adopted interim protections to be put in place until a formal policy could be implemented. These protections, due to expire at the end of 2016, placed the following requirements on providers of privacy/proxy services:  

The Board adopted interim protections to be put in place until a formal policy could be implemented. These protections, due to expire at the end of 2016, placed the following requirements on providers of privacy/proxy services:  

The only issue that failed to reach some level of consensus was whether domains actively used for commercial/financial transactions should be allowed to use P/P services. This has been the most contentious and controversial issue surrounding the Domain Privacy and the RAA more generally.  

The only issue that failed to reach some level of consensus was whether domains actively used for commercial/financial transactions should be allowed to use P/P services. This has been the most contentious and controversial issue surrounding the Domain Privacy and the RAA more generally.  

'''Timeline'''

'''Timeline'''