Dear Colleagues,

during the ICANN meeting, the ALAC met with the SSAC and touched on several topics.
A recording is linked below - but a particularly interesting intervention was that of Dr. Steve Crocker.

Joint Session: ALAC & SSAC
Session Details: https://sched.co/1T4Kr
Zoom Recording: https://icann.zoom.us/rec/share/wglfBxy1wiD1QWzk0yxQbBf5Wa-1ocJWLCcfc7SUCrra5zR9z5gozfOFXVp_3Qdp.saTcYJQPcR7nbXGM?startTime=1697973518000

Steve Crocker starts on: 00:08:56 - and touches on some interesting topics.
At 21:48 - Dr. Crocker provides his opinion about the WHOIS situation, which in his view has been broken for many years.
The "System", meaning the ICANN policy and implementation of the Registration Data Request System (RDRS) reflects concerns of the domain owner side, its Registrar, Registries, but very little on the Requester side.
And then the comments on: 26:24 tagged a personal opinion about the ICANN consensus process being flawed relating to this topic.

These are significant words coming from an ex-Chair of ICANN who had access to all of the ICANN inside track.

The SSAC also had a meeting with the ICANN Board. Again, several members of the SSAC raised some significant points - whereas the "consumer" which includes end users are faced with ridiculous process put in place by incorrect implementation of ICANN policy.

Joint Session: ICANN Board and SSAC
Session Details: https://sched.co/1T4Ht
Zoom Recording: https://icann.zoom.us/rec/share/EgEGgiDRs1DIr7arQu_UBULIw1k-zhsk9bouuxnufPYg5F-u_tSkpy4RbeEg1EjW.aCjin6h4k9w_hzrm?startTime=1698152456000

Several SSAC members noted a pattern of not involving the consumer in the design of these systems. A particular concern relates to "urgent requests" which the PDP has responded to as a response in a matter of days - not hours or minutes.

Steve Crocker speaks at: 22:42
John Levine speaks at: 32:49

Both Avri Doria and Edmon Chung provide very valuable input into the discussion - and explain that ultimately the Board is tasked with upholding the Global Public Interest.

But the point is made that CISA DS ( https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives ) which was included initially as consensus policy does not appear to be in the contracts signed with ICANN - and the SSAC member asking the question (Benedict Addis - a technical officer in the Cyber and Forensics department of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), a UK law enforcement body) regarding access to Registrant data in emergency situations - those of hostage taking or where there is a matter of life or death, does not seem particularly impressed.

The ICANN Board - as Becky Burr said, agree that the system is not fit for purpose. "The Board will be bringing the urgent request issue back to the GNSO council".

At 50:00 Rod Rasmussen spoke of "things that don't quite work right" - but is careful in mentioning SSAC are not picking on Contracted Parties.

Sadly, two of the Board members that focussed in particular on the topic were Avri and Matthew and they have now left the Board. I hope other Board members will pick up the helm of the Public Interest because it becomes clear that there is a problem here.

Could it be useful to take these problems as examples to support the need for an ICANN pilot Holistic Review?

Kindest regards,

Olivier