ICANN59 Primer/Next-GenRDS

Next-Generation gTLD Registration Directory Services

Background:

WHOIS launched in 1982 as a directory of contact information for ARPANET users and is currently used for registration data on all gTLDs. As the Internet became a global and commercial resource, WHOIS began serving new purposes not envisioned in its origin, including use by law enforcement agencies, intellectual property interests, businesses, individual users, and even some malicious purposes. Despite these developments, the WHOIS protocol has remained largely unchanged and has been a long-standing source of debate, with nearly 15 years of work without any comprehensive reform.

In 2012, the WHOIS Policy Review Team’s released its final report that outlined a set of recommendations to ensure that WHOIS policy is effective, meets the legitimate needs of law enforcement and promotes consumer trust. Shortly after the final report, the SSAC issued a response that stressed the importance of “understanding the purpose of domain name registration data” before any meaningful, comprehensive solution can be reached.

On 8 November 2012, the ICANN Board passed a resolution for a board-initiated PDP and the Expert Working Group on gTLD Registration Directory Services (EWG) was launched to consider the purpose of registration data and how to safeguard it, and propose a new model that addresses the issues of accuracy, privacy, and access. The EWG released its final report in 2014, leading to the development of a Process Framework for the PDP, which was adopted in May 2015 by the ICANN Board, reaffirming its request for a Board-initiated PDP. In November 2015, the GNSO Council approved the charter for the Next-Generation gTLD Registration Directory Services to Replace Whois Policy Development Process Working Group (RDS PDP WG).

Current Status

The RDS PDP is a 3-phase process:

• Phase 1: Policy - Requirements
• Phase 2: Policy - Functional Design
• Phase 3: Implementation and and Coexistence Guide

The PDP is currently in Phase 1, in which the WG should at a minimum reach consensus on a foundation for providing recommendations to two questions:

1)What are the fundamental requirements for gTLD registration data and directory services?

The WG has deliberated on 4 of 5 fundamental questions, relating to the fundamental requirements of registration data, including issues relating to users, access, privacy and data elements.

5 Fundamental Charter Questions:

1. Users and Purposes: Who should have access to gTLD registration data and why?
2. Gated Access: What steps should be taken to control data access for each user/purpose?
3. Registration Data Accuracy: What steps should be taken to improve data accuracy?
4. Privacy: What steps are needed to protect privacy and data?
5. Registration Data Elements: What data should be collected, stored, disclosed?

The WG has reached agreement on more than 20 key concepts derived from the fundamental charter questions, relating to the issues of users/purposes, data elements, and privacy, specifically for a “minimum public data set,” or “thin data.” After deliberating on a “minimum public data set,” they will shift the focus to “thick data” and ultimately use the fundamental requirements for gTLD registration data they identify to answer the second question of Phase 1.

2) Is a new policy framework and next-generation RDS needed to address these requirements?

The agreements on the fundamental requirements will be used to determine if a new RDS is needed or if WHOIS meets the requirements. If a next-gen RDS is needed, the WG will recommend “cross-cutting requirements” that it must address. If not, the WG will determine what changes, if any, need to be made to the current WHOIS policy framework. Depending on the outcome of these deliberations, the PDP will transition into Phase 2 to design policies to satisfy the requirements from Phase 1.

What’s in store for ICANN59?

Cross Community Discussion on Next-Generation gTLD Registration Directory Services (RDS) Policy Requirements

• Monday, June 26 - 15:15-18:30
• Ballroom 1 (GAC)

During this session, there will be a brief overview and progress report on the questions currently being addressed by the WG, but the ultimate purpose is to have a community dialogue about the current WG agreements on key concepts relating to users/purposes, data elements, privacy and access.