Registration Directory Service (RDS) Review (formerly WHOIS Review)
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| RDS Review Wiki Workspace Page Find the latest status updates, recordings of past meetings, and opportunities to participate |
Introduction to Reviews Learn more about Reviews, their purpose and process for conducting and opportunities to participate |
| RDS Review Meeting Schedule Find the schedule to observe RDS Review Team Meetings |
RDS Fact Sheet See the progress of the RDS Review Team towards completing the Review |
| Implementation Progress See progress of implementation of Recommendations from past Reviews |
Objectives of the RDS Review
According to the Bylaws (Section 4.6(e)), ICANN shall use commercially reasonable efforts to enforce its policies relating to registration directory services and shall work with Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees to explore structural changes to improve accuracy and access to generic top-level domain registration data, as well as consider safeguards for protecting such data.
The Board shall cause a periodic review to assess the effectiveness of the then current gTLD registry directory service and whether its implementation meets the legitimate needs of law enforcement, promoting consumer trust and safeguarding registrant data (“Directory Service Review”).
The review team for the Directory Service Review (“Directory Service Review Team”) will consider the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”) Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data as defined by the OECD in 1980 and amended in 2013 and as may be amended from time to time.
The Directory Service Review Team shall assess the extent to which prior Directory Service Review recommendations have been implemented and the extent to which implementation of such recommendations has resulted in the intended effect.
The Directory Service Review shall be conducted no less frequently than every five years, measured from the date the previous Directory Service Review Team was convened, except that the first Directory Service Review to be conducted after [1 October 2016] shall be deemed to be timely if the applicable Directory Service Review Team is convened on or before 31 October 2016.
Review Progress and Milestones
The graphic below illustrates phases and status of each review - a 
indicates that all activities within a given phase have been completed. The chart that follows the graphic provides further details of key activities and milestones within each phase – you can view these details by clicking on each of the phases in the graphic. The table also contains links to relevant documents.
| Phase | Activity | Description | Start Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assemble Review Team | Call for Volunteers | Public announcement inviting volunteers to submit application | 28 Oct 2016 | |
| Call for Volunteers Extension | Application extended for the Registration Directory Service Review Team | 6 Dec 2016 | ||
| Call for Volunteers Deadline | Deadline extension for the Registration Directory Service Review Team | 11 Jan 2017 | ||
| Call for Volunteers Deadline | Deadline extension for the Registration Directory Service Review Team | 22 Feb 2017 | ||
| Appointment of Board Designee | Board appoints a member to the RDS Review Team | 3 Feb 2017 | ||
| Review Team Announced | Selection of the Registration Directory Service (RDS/WHOIS2-RT) Review Team Members Announced | 2 Jun 2017 | ||
| Plan Review | Terms of Reference | Terms of Reference and Work Plan submitted to ICANN Board. | 9 Feb 2018 | |
| Conduct Review | Draft Report | Registration Directory Service (RDS) - WHOIS2 Review Draft report | 4 Sep 2018 | |
| Public Comment Extended | Public Comment period extended for the Draft Report of Recommendations | 6 Nov 2018 | ||
| Final Report | Registration Directory Service (RDS)-WHOIS2 Review Final Report | 3 Sep 2019 | ||
| RDS Final Report Executive Summary | Executive summary of the RDS Final Report | 3 Sep 2019 | ||
| Draft Report & Recommendations Public Comment | Public Comment period for the Review Team's draft report of recommendations | 4 Sep 2018 | ||
| Board Action | Public Comment on Final Report | Final report and recommendations posted for Public Comment | 8 Oct 2019 | |
| Board Action on Recommendations | Board takes action on 22 recommendations | 25 Feb 2020 |