[gnso-dow123] Extract from GAC Communique related to WHOIS

["Bruce Tonkin" <Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello All,

I have extracted the following section from the GAC Communiqué presented at the 
ICANN Board Public Forum on Thursday 29 June 2006.

Regards,
Bruce Tonkin



II. WHOIS and New gTLDs 

The GAC Working Group on GNSO issues continued its focus on the development 
of GAC Principles applicable to the WHOIS database and to the introduction of 
new gTLDs, with the intention of sharing a stabilized draft with the community 
in 
Sao Paulo and to enable the GAC to provide guidance to the ICANN Board. 

Consistent with the GAC's commitment to providing information and advice on 
the range of public policy aspects of WHOIS data, representatives from Consumer 
Protection Agencies in three GAC members, OPTA in the Netherlands, MIC in 
Japan, and the FTC in the U.S. who made presentations during an open session 
with the GNSO outlining their respective perspectives and concerns regarding 
the 
accuracy and timely access to WHOIS data. 

Some of them and some GAC members also expressed concerns regarding the 
implications for enforcement of laws of the recent GNSO Council decision on a 
definition on the purpose of WHOIS data. Some GAC members expressed 
concerns that formulation 2 would also not provide an appropriate definition 
for 
the purposes of WHOIS. 

The GAC appreciates the interpretation of the GNSO Council Chair that 
formulation 1 does not imply that a decision has been taken to remove any data 
from public access. 

The GAC believes therefore that the final definition of the purpose of WHOIS 
data 
needs to reflect the public policy concerns expressed by GAC members. The GAC 
is intending to produce policy advice on the purpose and use of WHOIS in the 
form of principles for the Sao Paulo meeting.