ICANN may replace WHOIS

Due to increasing concerns over the effective balance between accuracy, access and privacy of registration data for Generic Domain Names, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) may replace WHOIS, so as to be innovative.

This is coming as part of the recommendations by the ICANN’s Expert Working Group on gTLD Directory Services (EWG) in its latest report made available to DigitalSENSE Business News.

Washington, DC-based ICANN Director of Global Media Affairs, Mr. Brad White, confirmed this to DigitalSENSE Business News, Tuesday, saying that the group had recommended major changes to the way registrant data is provided to users.

As said by him, the “Next Generation gTLD Directory Services Model” is intended to streamline the way data is retrieved and validated, and will restrict its disclosure to what it considers permissible purposes.

The system could replace the WHOIS domain name registration system and break nearly a decade-long stalemate over how generic domain names are registered and what happens to the registration data.

“It not only reexamines how data is collected and maintained,”

The director quoted the Lead Facilitator for the Expert Working Group, Jean-Francois Baril, as saying that how the data is best safeguarded against illegitimate uses is of interest to the group and larger ICANN community.

Baril also noted that for the first time, the creation of an aggregated registration data service was recommended. Stressing that the proposed service to take over from WHOIS could be operated by an independent, international service provider, and would be responsible for validating and safeguarding registrant data from misuse.

“With greater accuracy comes the need for greater accountability across all stakeholders,” notes Baril.

Pointing out that a series of design principles were recommended, such as authenticated access credentials, before sensitive data elements could be accessed, and only for specific permissible purposes that are described in EWG’s Initial Report.

“The group also recommended heightened privacy protections for those registrants that are considered to be at-risk. EWG is hoping to strike an innovative, effective balance between accountability and the personal data privacy needs of at-risk Internet users,” Baril further said.

Maintaining that the group hopes that this proposal would further the discussion of the future of WHOIS.

Hence, EWG is inviting the community to learn more and share their responses during its upcoming webinar, scheduled for Monday, July 8 from 15:00 – 16:00 UTC.

Remmy Nweke/DigitalSENSE Business News 
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