Data Protection/Privacy Issues
Data privacy and data protection regulations are currently undergoing developments that may impact specific areas of the ICANN organization's work. This page contains a current listing of ongoing projects at the ICANN organization related to data protection and privacy matters, and is intended to provide easy access to this information.
European Union General Data Protection Regulation
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was adopted by the European Union (EU) on 14 April 2016 and took effect on 25 May 2018 uniformly across the EU countries. According to the European Commission, the aim of the GDPR is to protect all EU citizens and residents from privacy and data breaches1. It applies to all companies processing and holding the personal data of subjects residing in the European Union, regardless of the company's location. More information is available here.
The ICANN organization executives, subject matter experts from various departments, and Board members are guiding the organization's activities related to the GDPR.
Contractual Compliance with Registry and Registrar Agreements
On 17 May 2018, the ICANN Board of Directors (ICANN Board) adopted by resolution the Temporary Specification for gTLD Registration Data. The Temporary Specification provides a single, unified interim model that ensures a common framework for handling registration data, including registration directory services (e.g. WHOIS). It aims to ensure the continued availability of WHOIS to the greatest extent possible while maintaining the security and stability of the Internet's system of unique identifiers.
Engagement Activities Related to GDPR
The ICANN organization engages in a range of forums and with a range of stakeholders on issues relating to ICANN's mission, including privacy and law enforcement, and the interdependent issues. The ICANN organization's engagement strategy can be described as involving: 1) awareness, including privacy-related aspects of ICANN's work such as WHOIS and associated procedures; and 2) educational awareness and capacity building on policy development, technical coordination and their implementation. ICANN will continue to engage with the European community (including the European Data Protection Board), data protection agencies, and other relevant stakeholders to gain a better understanding of the relevant aspects of GDPR related to the work of the ICANN organization and its' contracts with registries and registrars.
If you have questions, please direct them to [email protected]. Refer to the following information for additional details about this work:
- Latest Announcements, Updates & Blogs
- Legal Analyses, Proposed Compliance Models, & Community Feedback
- Comments/Questions Received on Models/Analyses
- Correspondence
- Meetings & Work Sessions
GNSO Policy Development Processes and Implementation
The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) has ongoing policy development processes related to data protection and privacy matters. Refer to the GNSO active projects list for more information.
WHOIS Conflicts Procedure
Additionally, in response to a GNSO Council request, the ICANN organization has commenced an assessment of the revised ICANN Procedure for Handling WHOIS Conflicts with Privacy Law, which was made effective on 18 April 2017.
Reference Documents
- European Union Data Protection website
- FAQ on ICANN Organization's Chief Data Protection Officer Role [PDF, 211 KB]
- Summary of ICANN Organization's Contractual Compliance Team Data Processing Activities [PDF, 51 KB]
1 http://ec.europa.eu/justice/data-protection/reform/index_en.htm