[At-Large] [ALAC] Issue Report on Thick Whois

[Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro]

On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 10:04 AM, Holly Raiche <h.raiche at internode.on.net>wrote:

> Hi Alan and Christian
>
> The first requirement for ANY whois database is accuracy and completeness.
>  The most recent survey showed that only 8% of entries were complete and
> correct and less than 50% of the entries actually enabled the researcher to
> find a living person.  So before anything else, ICANN should do something
> about the vast majority of incomplete/inaccurate entries.
>
> These are interesting statistics Holly. Is there some sort operational
audit mechanism that helps to pick these things up or is it largely self
regulatory. From the survey, I am assuming that something exists. I agree
that it is critical to ensure that the entries are complete and accurate.

Next, what the Whois review team is looking at is to recognise the
> existence of privacy servers, have some criteria around them and then
> accredit them and ensure that, when necessary law enforcement agencies can
> have legitimate access (there are many issues within that sentence, but
> that's the direction they were going).  No need for proxy servers because -
> at law - the registrar is the agent - and arguably therefore responsible
> for meeting all of the RAA requirements.
>
> :)

> Finally - the advantage of thick whois is that the local laws/protections
> etc apply.  Before that, however, another of the Whois review team findings
> was that, in way too many cases, it is very hard if not impossible for the
> uninitiated to even find it.  So one suggestion was that ICANN just provide
> a portal that can at least get a person to the database.  The next issue
> then is whether the data is held centrally or locally (thick or thin) - and
> there are arguments for both.
>
> My suggestion - press the Whois review team for their recommendations and
> respond accordingly.
>
> Holly
>
>
>