Dear SOAC Leaders / ICANN58 Planning Team –

 

During the GNSO Council last week, there was discussion of a session at ICANN58 that would address data protection concerns in our industry, and would be attended by data protection commissioners from throughout the EU.  These folks are especially interested in the ongoing work around WHOIS/RDS, and the Copenhagen location is easily accessible to prospective attendees. 

 

Organizers of this session have asked the GNSO and other groups (GAC, I believe?) to support their inclusion on the meeting agenda.  Additionally, as it appears that one of the HIT sessions may become available (Monday 1515-1645), I would like to propose that we consider repurposing this HIT slot to accommodate the growing interest in the “Data Protection Summit”.

 

If there is support among this group for proceeding, then I would ask the volunteer organizers of this session to produce an overview/agenda of their session, to ensure that the subject matter and format meets the expectations of all SO/ACs, and contributes to the furtherance of the RDS policy work already underway.  I recognize that this is coming fairly late in to the process, but am hopeful that our group can be flexible in its consideration of this request.  If we are unable to accommodate the proposal, please note that some version of this session will likely occur in Copenhagen anyway, albeit it would not enjoy an unconflicted HIT slot on the main schedule.

 

If possible, we should decide this week, so I can task the volunteers to either (a) develop the aforementioned session agenda, or (b) make alternative (non-HIT) scheduling arrangements.

 

 

Thank you,

 

J.

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James Bladel

GNSO Chair