Second report from Tunisia

[KathrynKL at AOL.COM]

Re: WHOIS Workshop http://www.icann.org/carthage/whois-workshop-agenda.htm

All:
Again with apologies for delays, I am sending my second report from Tunisia.  I would like to tell you about the WHOIS Workshop that took place on Wednesday because to me it was a wonderful surprise.

Based on watching the videos of the Montreal meeting (and about a day and a half of ICANN workshops), I had the sense that just about everyone in ICANN wanted to make the WHOIS [the data elements you provide when you register a domain name] completely open and accurate.  The privacy implications (among others) are huge.

I spoke last, so I first listened to the fervent speeches from the intellectual property and business constituency that the world comes to an end if they don't have Whois data open and accurate all the time.  But then the tide began to turn.

The registry constituency representative said that he supported privacy in WHOIS; the two registrar representatives both said they supported privacy in WHOIS (and Network Solutions gave several examples of stalking, etc, sent to them by their customers).   The At Large Rep said that all information should be voluntary (registrant, admin contact, and tech contact).

Then I had a chance to speak (and the final word :-) ).  I talked about how historically, the Whois was created at a time of large institutions on NSFNET in the US.  I also talked about the values of privacy and freedom of expression that are protected by national laws worldwide.  Privacy is key because personal data (address/phone/email) exposed to the world can lead to abuses by companies, by law enforcement, by stalkers, etc.

I also spoke of a right not to be identified as a speaker, and that the use of domain names for noncommercial speech (e.g., family pictures, personal writings, and especially for human rights websites) historically allows and fosters a right to anonymity in some countries (in the US. How about in your country?)

I then presented a model for a new WHOIS:  one with expanded technical data, but no mandatory personal data.  No registrant, no admin contact (unless a businesses, organization or individual chooses an option to list), but the technical contact, and adding full contact information for the registrar and registry.

To me this new WHOIS record addresses the issues of Internet stability and security, without compromising privacy, free speech and due process.

Please let me know what you think.  The agenda, as well as our recently posted powerpoint slides is listed at http://www.icann.org/carthage/whois-workshop-agenda.htm.

I would also urge you to check out a wonderful letter sent to ICANN on Tuesday by the Electronic Privacy Information Center and signed by over 50 civil liberties organizations in over 21 countries.  It is posted at www.thepublicvoice.org.  The timing could not have been better.  Thank you Marc and EPIC!

Regards from Tunisia,
Kathy (Kleiman)