What is Whois?
The "whois" is the publicly displayed information of domain names'
registration data. Currently this information is readily accessible on
the public Internet and contains full details - including name,
physical address, email address and contact telephone number -for a
domain's administrative, technical and billing contacts.
There have been extensive discussions over possible changes to this system:
some argue the existing system is an invasion of privacy and open to
abuse and criminal activity; others, that removing the information
could lead to less accountability for actions over the Internet.
What is ICANN's role?
ICANN is ultimately the body that decides for three-quarters of existing
Internet domains what the Whois policy shall be. However, ICANN's Board
is reliant on recommendations made by its generic names supporting
organisation (GNSO) and the consent of its other supporting
organisations. So far this has not materialised.
Resources
- ICANN has a dedicated webpage for the Whois issue.
- There is also a processes page for Whois that provides details on what is going on currently with Whois.
- This webpage contains links to all the reports produced over Whois.