|
ICANN has released temporary specifications for gTLD registration data in order to establish temporary requirements needed for the organization and gTLD registry operators to continue to comply with existing ICANN contractual requirements and community-developed policies. Trevor Little reporting in World Trademark Review: “Subject to further revision prior to a board vote, the model proposes the establishment of a mechanism to allow contact with domain name registrants—while cloaking their identity. ... last month the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party (WP29) responded to ICANN’s initial request for feedback on a proposed interim model for ensuring that the treatment of WHOIS data is compliant with GDPR. While welcoming the decision of ICANN to propose an interim model which involves layered access, the WP29 raised a number of concerns. With the May 25 enforcement date for GDPR two weeks away, the past few days have seen a flurry of activity at ICANN HQ.”
Sponsored byRadix
Sponsored byWhoisXML API
Sponsored byVerisign
Sponsored byCSC
Sponsored byIPv4.Global
Sponsored byDNIB.com
Sponsored byVerisign
This is an interesting development with respect to GDPR. Indeed, by its very nature, WHOIS provides public disclosure of very personal information. I haven’t read the temporary specifications but, hopefully, whatever is proposed will not be limited to Eurozone area domain name registrants. An easy solution might be to provide optional domain name privacy and data escrow services, free of charge, to all registrants (including those inside and outside the Eurozone area). :)
Cheers,
Doug