Maybe we could make it a little easier for folks to contact their GAC representative on this by coming up with a couple different sample letters that people could send to their own GAC rep. I can do one example letter if others think this would be worthwhile. Robin [log in to unmask] wrote: > <<It seems GAC's working group headed by NTIA is keen to totally open > WHOIS data -- not surprising, of course. Is this going to be the > position of the GAC? --c.a.>> > > Only if no one goes to their GAC members to ask them to come forward. > This GAC communique is signed only by the US and Australia -- the same > two who railed against the GNSO Council going forward with its > original vote > on the "Purpose" of Whois. > > Note -- this says nothing in this statement that is fair or even. > Nothing > about protecting domain name registrations from > the dangers of exposure of their personal data to phishing, spamming, > stalking, > intimidation of individuals, small organizations and developing > businesses, and other abuses. > > Lots of government care about what we are saying. There was great > opposition to the US position behind the closed doors of the GAC > meeting in Marrakech. Many of you are in touch with your governments > and your GACs. Educate them, help them participate more actively in > GAC, help them take their concerns beyond the closed doors of GAC to > the rest of ICANN. > > Silence here only benefits the US and Australia, not the NCUC and not > the rest of the Internet. > > Kathy > >> >> >> -------- Original Message -------- >> Subject: draft gac whois principles text >> From: "Suzanne Sene" <[log in to unmask]> >> Date: Thu, September 21, 2006 1:02 am >> >> ** High Priority ** >> >> hello everyone, as the convenor of gac working group 1, i am pleased to >> forward the text of the draft gac whois principles regarding the purpose >> and use of whois data, prepared by our gac colleagues from australia >> (ashley cross and paul szyndler). >> >> this draft text is the culmination of both internal gac discussions and >> external public sessions the gac has organized since 2005 to address the >> public policy aspects of the purpose and use of whois data. >> >> during our most recent meeting in marrakech, the gac plenary agreed to >> finalize the principles at the sao paulo meeting in December, 2006. >> >> to meet the December deadline for gac plenary approval of the text, all >> gac members are requested to submit comments via the working group 1 >> discus thread on whois according to the following timeline: >> >> October 13: submission of first round of comments >> >> October 27: revised text circulated >> >> November 2: submission of second round of comments >> >> November 27: final version of text circulated >> >> we will discuss the text during the working group 1 meeting in sao paulo >> on December 3, followed by discussion and adoption by the gac plenary. >> >> please note the availability of background documents on the gac discus >> site under the whois heading, and feel free to contact me should you >> have any questions. >> >> thanks in advance for your attention and support for this gac priority >> project. best regards, suz. >> >> Suzanne R. Sene >> Senior Policy Advisor >> NTIA/OIA >> 202-482-3167 (ph) >> 202-482-1865 (fax) >> >> --- text version of attached document --- >> >> >> >> DRAFT >> >> GAC PRINCIPLES REGARDING THE PURPOSE >> AND USE OF WHOIS DATA >> >> Presented by the Governmental Advisory Committee >> December 6, 2006 >> >> Preamble >> >> 1.1 The purpose of this document is to identify a set of general >> public policy principles related to the operation and management of the >> generic top level domain (gTLD) WHOIS service. >> >> 1.2These principles have been developed in consultation with privacy, >> law enforcement, consumer and intellectual property bodies within each >> GAC member government. >> >> Objective of this document >> >> 2.1These principles are intended to guide the work within ICANN >> pertaining to the WHOIS service and to inform the ICANN Board of the >> consensus views of the GAC regarding the range of public policy uses of >> WHOIS data. >> >> Public Policy Aspects of WHOIS Data >> >> 3.1 The GAC believes that the WHOIS database serves many legitimate >> purposes, including: >> >> 1.Assisting national law enforcement agencies, both civil and criminal, >> in resolving cases that involve the use of the Internet (such as child >> pornography, violent crimes, wire fraud, cyber crime, consumer fraud, >> identity theft, phishing, and other violations of consumer privacy and >> data security); >> >> 2.Combating intellectual property infringement and theft through the >> identification of cybersquatters, trademark infringers, counterfeiters, >> and copyright pirates; >> >> 3.Supporting Internet network operators responsible for the operation, >> security, and stability of the Internet; >> >> 4.Protecting the rights of consumers by facilitating their >> identification of legitimate online businesses; and >> >> 5. Assisting businesses in investigating fraud, phishing and other >> violations of law affecting their business interests and the interests >> of their customers. >> >> >> 3.2 While the GAC recognizes the complexity posed by such a broad range >> of public policy uses of WHOIS data, the GAC believes that the policy >> development process regarding the definition, purpose and operation of >> gTLD WHOIS services needs to reflect the interests and concerns of this >> broad range of users of WHOIS data. >> >> Principles Applicable to WHOIS Data >> >> 4.1 The GAC believes that a fully functional WHOIS service should: >> >> 1.Satisfy the traditional and ongoing goal of ensuring the security and >> stability of the Internet; >> >> 2.Facilitate continued, timely and cross-border access to accurate WHOIS >> data for law enforcement, intellectual property rights protection, >> consumer protection, and compliance and regulatory purposes; >> >> 3.Provide the necessary level of data regarding domain name registrants >> and registrations to any user who seeks it, including, for example, >> civil and criminal law enforcement officials, online consumers, network >> operators, intellectual property rights holders, and registries and >> registrars; and >> >> 4.Consider national laws and global agreements associated with trade >> practices, consumer protection, intellectual property rights and >> copyright protection, and privacy protection. > > >