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RE: [whois-sc] TR: Whois @ ICANN Carthage.
- To: "Richard Francis" <rfrancis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Subject: RE: [whois-sc] TR: Whois @ ICANN Carthage.
- From: "Bruce Tonkin" <Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2003 10:47:28 +1000
- Cc: <gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <whois-sc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Sender: owner-whois-sc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Thread-index: AcOMM4NypFPFgkWtQQKjKPQf0tAHBgAOInQA
- Thread-topic: [whois-sc] TR: Whois @ ICANN Carthage.
Title: Message
Hello
Richard,
I can
provide a briefing to the cctld managers on the current status of work of the
WHOIS/Privacy steering group.
We can
invite other members of the steering group that may be in Cathage to attend as
well.
It
would also be useful for the WHOIS steering group members to hear a presentation
on European Commission study.
Note
however that there will be a WHOIS workshop, and it may be a better use of time
to coordinate with the workshop organisers to ensure that the above topics are
covered there. I intend to provide an update during the workshop on the
work of the GNSO WHOIS/Privacy group.
Regards,
Bruce
Please see the following request from Richard
Francis, the ccTLD Secretariat.
Please advise whether a meeting room will be needed
and on what day?
Thank you.
Glen
de Saint Géry
GNSO
Secretariat
WHOIS - Balancing Rights of Privacy and Access
to ccTLD Databases - ccTLD Secretariat Briefing
1 The CENTR
Secretariat have today alerted members to publication of the Joint
Research Centre of the European Commission of a study on the implications for
data privacy of decisions taken by governments in the wake of September 11 and
also of new technologies such as identity-management systems and
location-based services. The survey was commissioned by the European
Parliament and is available here
http://www.jrc.es/home/publications/publication.cfm?pub=1118
2
Nigel is ccTLD Liaison to the gNSO Whois Privacy Steering Group. http://gnso.icann.org/issues/whois-privacy/membership-liaison-update-19sep03.shtml Nigel
has drawn the attention of the Secretariat to a table of 'issues' and minutes
of two gNSO WHOIS WG meetings in August and September 2003, posted on the
ICANN gNSO Website
http://gnso.icann.org/issues/whois-privacy/table-whois-privacy-issue.shtml
http://gnso.icann.org/issues/whois-privacy/index.shtml
3
The ICANN Staff report, posted on 13 May suggested that the gNSO Whois/Privacy
Steering Group should provide its work plan by a specified date (such as 1
August 2003) in advance of the Carthage meeting and :-
3.1 Define
the five (approximately) issues that the Whois/Privacy Steering Group
recommends be accorded high priority in the policy-development process.
3.2 Prepare Issue Reports on each of these issues in time for the GNSO
Council?s consideration of all of them at the Carthage meeting.
It went
on to suggest that after considering and discussing the Issue Reports, the
GNSO Council should initiate PDPs in a sequence it concludes is appropriate,
with the understanding that any task forces formed would be separate from the
Whois/Privacy Steering Group.
4 The ccTLD Secretariat will
contact Glen de Saint Gery to establish whether the gNSO Whois Privacy
Steering Group would be willing to present to the ccTLD Managers, if invited
to do so.
Best regards
Richard Francis ccTLD
Secretariat
www.wwtld.org
+44 1993 898889
2
Four other groups in ICANN are actively involved in investigating Whois
issues:
At-Large Advisory Committee http://forum.icann.org/alac-forum/whois/
Governmental
Advisory Committee Whois WG Convened by Robyn Layton http://www.gacsecretariat.org/web/contact/LiaisonConvenors.xls
Security and Stability Advisory Committee http://www.icann.org/committees/security/sac003.htm
ICANN
Board ? At its March 2003 meeting, the ICANN Board directed
the President to appoint a President's Standing Committee on Privacy, to
be responsible for monitoring the implications of existing and proposed ICANN
policies on the handling of personal data.
http://www.icann.org/gnso/issue-reports/whois-privacy-report-13may03.htm
Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2003 16:33:04
+0200 To: ga@xxxxxxxxx From: Gabriella Schittek
<gabriella@xxxxxxxxx>
Dear all,
The Commission's Joint
Research Centre has just published a study on the implications for data
privacy of decisions taken by governments in the wake of September 11 and
also of new technologies such as identity-management systems and
location-based services. The survey was commissioned by the European
Parliament and its key findings are summarised below.
Gabriella
Digital technologies post-September 11th:
more security but less privacy for the European citizen?
Will new technologies protect privacy or hamper it in the
post-September 11 world? Trends in information society technology will
have a significant impact on the balance between citizens' security and
privacy, according to a report released today by the European Commission's
Joint Research Centre (JRC)(1).
The study on "Security and Privacy for the Citizen in the Post-September
11 Digital Age: A Prospective Overview", commissioned by the European
Parliament, analyses the security and privacy implications of three
emerging technologies: identity management (on-line services based on the
identification of the user), location-based services (focusing on local
positioning and tracking of the user) and virtual residence in an ambient
intelligence environment (with "smart" and mobile electronic devices
connected to our home, office, car etc.). According to the report, there
is a need to restore the balance in favour of privacy as the use of these
technologies for some governmental or commercial actions stretch the
ability of current legislation to provide adequate personal data
protection.
"In response to the threat of terrorism after the tragedy of
September 11, many governments enhanced their surveillance powers, but at
the risk of affecting privacy", said European Research Commissioner
Philippe Busquin. "However, citizens are not prepared to let privacy be
one of the casualties in the war on terrorism. This comprehensive report
will raise the awareness of decision makers for the need to maintain a
balance between protecting data and making services widely available
online, and the need to fight terrorism and crime whilst respecting
individual privacy."
"Steps have already been taken at the EU level to address concerns
raised by some governmental or commercial use of communications
technologies", said Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner
Liikanen. "The new Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications,
applicable in all Member States at the end of this month, applies
important principles of EU law to communications services, including new
mobile and Internet-based services. For instance, it requires that
location information generated by mobile phones can only be further used
or passed on by network operators with prior user consent, unless it is an
emergency call. Where exceptions have to be made, for example for national
security, they must be necessary and proportionate and laid down in
legislation".
Is
Big Brother watching you?
The effects of September 11 on privacy have yet to be
fully assessed. In the immediate aftermath, the United Nations responded
with Resolution 1368 calling for increased co-operation between countries
to prevent and fight terrorism. The ability of law enforcement and
national security agencies to intercept communications was increased, as
were powers of search and seizure. The variety of data accessed has also
grown. While no full appraisal of the effects of September 11 has been
carried out, new technologies and communication infrastructures have
strengthened enforcement of these powers, putting at risk the rights of
individual citizens to privacy.
Biometrics (using statistical and mathematical
methods to analyse biological data), for example, can be used to enhance
the security levels in identification processes. Biometrics can help
identify a person's physical features using electronic parameters. However
it can also provide additional and sensitive data such as ethnic or
medical information. A way to counter-balance this side-effect could be to
only use a sample of facial characteristics (the major pertinent points)
in producing the template needed for the matching process instead of a
full picture of the face.
Protecting an individual's privacy
To address these issues the European
Parliament Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home
Affairs, asked the Commission's JRC to develop a detailed and
comprehensive report on information society trends to identify particular
concerns. The Commission's Joint Research Centre sees an emerging pattern
and trend, characterised by a shift from 'reactive' to 'pro-active'
security protection, using information and communications technology
systems to support intelligence gathering.
These facilitate the control and
tracking of personal data, while offering opportunities of access for
third parties for commercial purposes. For example, Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) tags, tiny chips that will be increasingly embedded
in all kinds of devices and goods, will enable such items to be tracked.
However, they could also be used to identify the owner of the item. It is
important that these RFID tags are regulated by legislation addressing
identity-related issues.
I can see you, I can feel you, and I know where you are
The JRC report
outlines technology trends and implications for privacy and security and
new challenges. It summarises important issues relating to policy
development for privacy and surveillance in several areas, including:
- Identity-management
systems: Identity is a key concept for the future Information
Society. Identity-management systems and identity-related technologies
will become an essential part of communicating via the Internet,
enhancing the user's protection against potential privacy and security
risks.
- Location-based
services: Location computing technologies and permanent mobile
broadband connections provide multifunctional global positioning.
Commercial use of such services could enhance security but also expose
users to the risk of unauthorized access to personal data.
- Ambient intelligence and Virtual Residence: Computing
technologies in all kinds of objects will provide a large number of
services. The new environment will blur the traditional boundaries
between private and public domains and is uncharted territory in terms
of privacy practice in the future smart home, in cyberspace and when
mobile. New security and privacy measures will have to be devised.
Reducing
risks to a minimum
Based on security measures identified, the JRC report recommends:
- Privacy-invasive measures
resulting from September 11, developed as an immediate response to
establish a safer environment, should be temporary and limited; and
- Policy should strike an
appropriate longer-term balance between security and privacy when
dealing with measures facilitating the development of the Information
Society.
The role of technology
Technology can bring about change - but also
solutions to the problems caused by change. The flexibility of new
technologies must be acknowledged and considered before appropriate policy
measures can be formulated. While technologies could be used to invade
privacy, they can also help enhance protection of personal data and
increase transparency in security processes.
According to the JRC report, technology
could play a key role in protecting individual privacy against abuse if
aligned with current legal measures in the EU. The JRC identified a number
of areas where policy action may be needed, such as: identity theft;
private-sector databases; private-public sphere indicators; and
technology-specific regulation.
In the case of identity theft in Europe, the report
stressed that due to strong existing European legislation, which defines
clear privacy and data protection rights, this type of crime is less
frequent than in other countries. In order to maintain this level of
security for the citizen, new technologies will need to be integrated into
the existing legal framework. The report recommends that a monitoring
activity be established to track the rate of change in technology, its
impact on the security/privacy balance and the potential need for
regulatory action.
For further information, please see
http://www.jrc.es/home/publications/publication.cfm?pub=1118
(1)"The
mission of the JRC is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical
support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of
EU policies.As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as
a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the
policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States,
while being independent of commercial or national interests."
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Simon
O'Connor
Senior Consultant Weber Shandwick | Adamson Park
Leopold
Rue Wiertz 50
B - 1050 Brussels Tel: + 32 2 743
42 24 Fax: + 32 2 230 14 96 soconnor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.webershandwick-eu.com www.webershandwick.com
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