* Karl Auerbach wrote:
Real law enforcement agencies are not part of the whois equation
Unfortunly that's not correct. The AoC 9.3.1 set up the mandate for the review team as follows: ICANN additionally commits to enforcing its existing policy relating to WHOIS, subject to applicable laws. Such existing policy requires that ICANN implement measures to maintain timely, unrestricted and public access to accurate and complete WHOIS information, including registrant, technical, billing, and administrative contact information. One year from the effective date of this document and then no less frequently than every three years thereafter, ICANN will organize a review of WHOIS policy and its implementation to assess the extent to which WHOIS policy is effective and its implementation meets the legitimate needs of law enforcement and promotes consumer trust. [... organizational details ...] One can argue, that the review team is not allowed to even consider to think about the whois servies itself and it's access rules, but have to concentrate on the question how to reach a whois quality fitting the needs of law enforcment. Please wait for the transcript or hear into the recording. This question is obviously a starter item.
(A bigger question is not "whether law enforcement" but "who is law enforcement"?)
Exactly this question was considered as important enought to form a subgroup.