FW: Contribution on Transparency Reforms for CCWG
Posting to the list for transparency in the conversation P Paul Rosenzweig <mailto:paul.rosenzweigesq@redbranchconsulting.com> paul.rosenzweig@redbranchconsulting.com O: +1 (202) 547-0660 M: +1 (202) 329-9650 VOIP: +1 (202) 738-1739 Skype: paul.rosenzweig1066 <http://www.redbranchconsulting.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl e&id=19&Itemid=9> Link to my PGP Key From: Schaefer, Brett [mailto:Brett.Schaefer@heritage.org] Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 2:26 PM To: Eric Brunner-Williams <ebw@abenaki.wabanaki.net>; Robin Gross (robin@ipjustice.org) <robin@ipjustice.org> Cc: farzaneh badii <farzaneh.badii@gmail.com>; Tamir Israel <tisrael@cippic.ca>; Padmini <pdmnbaruah@gmail.com>; Edward Morris <egmorris1@toast.net>; Robin Gross <robin@ipjustice.org>; Jyoti <jyoti@cis-india.org>; Pranesh Prakash <pranesh@cis-india.org>; Paul Rosenzweig <paul.rosenzweig@redbranchconsulting.com>; kdrazek@verisign.com; Becky Burr <becky.burr@neustar.biz>; jordan@internetnz.net.nz; James Gannon <james@cyberinvasion.net>; Wilson, Christopher <cwilson@21cf.com>; Matthew Shears (mshears@cdt.org) <mshears@cdt.org>; Lane, Rick <RLane@21cf.com>; Michael Karanicolas <michael@law-democracy.org>; Karel Douglas <douglaskarel@gmail.com> Subject: RE: [CCWG-ACCT] Contribution on Transparency Reforms for CCWG Eric, I'm an observer on the CCWG list, so I can't post to it. I thought the rationale was explained in the document, but perhaps it could be clearer. I'm not sure I follow your number references. However, my responses to your questions, perhaps not representative of the group, are below: * The problem is not the accounting or records practices, it is access to them. As a member organization, the sole member would have had full access to those documents upon request. The designator does not have similar power under California law. This bullet seeks to patch that gap that arose from the switch of models. * The DIDP policies have not facilitated transparency to the extent that many of the community feel is needed. The vast majority of DIDP requests have been denied based on several analyses. There is insufficient means of independent appeal as you note. The recommendation is to tighten the exemptions and provide independent means for appealing DIDP denials. * Periodic review of any policy is a good idea I would think. If biannually is too frequent, what review cycle do you suggest? * Do you disagree that ICANN should make clear to the multi-stakeholder community its contacts with government officials, who it has hired to represent the organization and how much compensation they receive, and what policies it is seeking to influence? It is unclear in your e-mail. I believe, as a corporation representing the public interest, the public has an interest in knowing what ICANN is doing on its behalf. * As was mentioned in the Q&A portion of the Dublin meetings, the level of disclosure should be similar to that required under the Foreign Agents Registration Act in the U.S. There are hundreds of people who comply with this law in the U.S. I understand it can be tedious, but the number of ICANN employees likely to be affected is fairly small and the benefits in terms of transparency and community accountability would, in my opinion, be significant. Best, Brett From: accountability-cross-community-bounces@icann.org <mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces@icann.org> [mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces@icann.org] On Behalf Of Eric Brunner-Williams Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 1:39 PM To: accountability-cross-community@icann.org <mailto:accountability-cross-community@icann.org> Subject: Re: [CCWG-ACCT] Contribution on Transparency Reforms for CCWG Robin, and others "of small subgroup", Could you point to the deficiencies in the current accounting, records and minutes practices? Your first bullet point. Your second bullet point contains several items. I concur with the recommendation that something be improved in the office of the Ombudsman, its staffing, its processes, and the recourse available when its staff and processes fail, other than laughing it off. Your item #3. Could you share the rationals for items #1 and #2? What is the rational for biannual review of DIDP, and what are "best practices" in this context? Your item #4. Your third bullet point #3 (and the emboldened duplicate) starts out non-controversially, putting domestic filings where the unfamiliar are likelier to find them. But then the scope of disclosure broadens beyond lobbying to all individuals, and all "government officials". As a practical matter, how many members of staff do you all envision being allowed to interact with public employees? As the scope is not limited to employees, but extends to "representatives", how far do you all envision the duty of record and disclose to extend? If two people speak about addresses or protocol parameters or names, and one is an employee of some public agency, and the other an employee of ICANN, or a "representative", does that necessarily fall within the duty to record and disclose? Thanks in advance, Eric On 10/27/15 12:00 PM, Robin Gross wrote: All: Here is a link to a document intended to contribute to CCWG's work on improving transparency at ICANN: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11sX-zY5uie9s7zNeGz2GIRXk7BBg2xrbN_pplpJn Nvc/edit?pli=1# <https://docs.google.com/document/d/11sX-zY5uie9s7zNeGz2GIRXk7BBg2xrbN_pplpJ nNvc/edit?pli=1> The doc is the creation of small subgroup of CCWG participants focusing on this transparency issue. Feedback is most welcome! Thanks, Robin _______________________________________________ Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list Accountability-Cross-Community@icann.org <mailto:Accountability-Cross-Community@icann.org> https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
Hello Paul, . >> The DIDP policies have not facilitated transparency to the extent that many of the community feel is needed. The vast majority of DIDP requests have been denied based on several analyses. There is insufficient means of independent appeal as you note. The recommendation is to tighten the exemptions and provide independent means for appealing DIDP denials. No doubt the DIDP process can be improved however it is not true that the vast majority of requests have resulted in denials. I asked the staff for some statistics, and they responded that since the establishment of DIDP, 96 requests have been submitted. ICANN responds to every single request. o In 66 cases, ICANN was able to refer the requestor to documents already publicly available. This speaks to ICANN's commitment to making as many documents publicly available as possible. o In 22 cases, ICANN published additional documents. The appeal mechanism currently is to the Board's reconsideration process - but perhaps this is something that a role like the Ombudsman could perform. Regards, Bruce Tonkin
Dear Bruce, Once again tks for info. Could the involvements of Ombudsman could be further enforce by being assisted by the representative of the community selected by CCWG ch- charrs or be the entity replace that organ among 7 experts nominated by each SO and AC Ombudsman involvement seems to be enforced by the community Representative Regsrds Kavoudd Sent from my iPhone
On 29 Oct 2015, at 13:04, Bruce Tonkin <Bruce.Tonkin@melbourneit.com.au> wrote:
Hello Paul,
. >> The DIDP policies have not facilitated transparency to the extent that many of the community feel is needed. The vast majority of DIDP requests have been denied based on several analyses. There is insufficient means of independent appeal as you note. The recommendation is to tighten the exemptions and provide independent means for appealing DIDP denials.
No doubt the DIDP process can be improved however it is not true that the vast majority of requests have resulted in denials.
I asked the staff for some statistics, and they responded that since the establishment of DIDP, 96 requests have been submitted. ICANN responds to every single request.
o In 66 cases, ICANN was able to refer the requestor to documents already publicly available. This speaks to ICANN's commitment to making as many documents publicly available as possible.
o In 22 cases, ICANN published additional documents.
The appeal mechanism currently is to the Board's reconsideration process - but perhaps this is something that a role like the Ombudsman could perform.
Regards, Bruce Tonkin _______________________________________________ Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list Accountability-Cross-Community@icann.org https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
participants (3)
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Bruce Tonkin -
Kavouss Arasteh -
Paul Rosenzweig