ICANN Seeks Feedback on Whois Access Model

ICANN is seeking input on a draft framework for continued access to full Whois data (see 1805180055), President Göran Marby blogged. He noted European data protection authorities told ICANN it must develop, in accordance with the general data protection regulation, a system that allows legitimate uses by stakeholders such as law enforcement of the full personal data of domain name registrants but that doesn't grant unlimited access. The framework asks questions to shape discussion of how the model might work, such as how and which users with a legitimate purpose can access the non-public data, he said Monday. ICANN wants to start by talking with governments in the European economic area that are also members of the Governmental Advisory Committee, he said. Questions for discussion with officials include how law enforcement, individual Whois users and other private third parties might be authenticated to access the nonpublic registration data. ICANN also intends to discuss the framework with the European Data Protection Board, Marby said. He urged stakeholders to comment at gdpr@icann.org, and said the topic is on the agenda at the ICANN June 25-28 meeting in Panama.