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Hints & Tips

Last Updated:

This hints and tips page is published on the GNSO website as a part of the GNSO Operating Procedures. Links from the procedures and other work products will provide the author with additional information that may be useful with completing a Data & Metrics request form. This page can be updated as necessary avoiding the formal change process on the Operating Procedures.

Principles when requesting collection of data and use of metrics:

  • Should be non-discriminatory among registrars/registries and data providers listed should also be treated as confidential
  • Should clearly state the purpose for which the data and/or metrics will be used
  • Should maintain the confidentiality of the data and/or metrics unless otherwise agreed
  • Should be anonymized and aggregated, unless otherwise agreed
  • Provide adequate safeguards to protect against unauthorized access or disclosure, consistent with ICANN's policy development process
  • Consider whether the data can be collected directly by ICANN or indirectly (i.e., collected and processed by an independent third-party)
  • Retail and wholesale pricing shall not be provided for use in consensus policy development (refer to Registry & Registrar agreements)
  • Special care should be taken when Personally Identifiable Information (PII) data is involved
  • Data should be stored only so long as required for the specified policy development effort, and should be destroyed upon completion
  • Request of data that do not have contractual obligations, data source owners should have a unilateral opt out if they determine that the data is sensitive (mostly applicable to contracted parties)

Data/Metric Assessment Tips:

  • Was the data collected using an established reliable system?
  • Are the data elements/samples geographically/temporally representative of the study subject, which may be impacted by a policy being developed?
  • Was the selection of study subjects (or controls if applicable) biased resulting in an inability to generalize the results?

Possible Data & Metrics Resources:

New gTLDs:

ICANN Operations:

Contractual Compliance:

Publicly Available Data submitted or about Contracted Parties:

IANA Sources:

Third Party Sources (free & fee):