Registration Directory Service Review (RDS)
Under the Bylaws (Section 4.6(e)), ICANN is committed to a periodic review of the effectiveness of the generic top-level domain (gTLD) registry directory service (RDS) and whether its implementation meets the legitimate needs of law enforcement, promotes consumer trust, and safeguards registrant data.
The ICANN organization (org) has conducted two iterations of the Registration Directory Service (RDS, formerly known as WHOIS) Review and is in the process of implementing RDS-WHOIS2 recommendations the Board approved in February 2020. For more information on RDS-WHOIS2 Review work, see here.
The Board took action on 22 September 2022 to defer the Third Review of the Registration Directory Service (RDS3). See the Board resolution here.
Click here to learn more about ICANN Reviews.
Status of RDS-WHOIS2 Recommendations
15 Board Approved Recommendations (in Whole or in Part):
Implementation Status | |
---|---|
Complete | |
In Progress |
|
Not Started | N/A |
2 Recommendations Passed through to Community Groups (in Whole or in Part): Recommendations CC.1, CC.4
6 Rejected Recommendations: Recommendations 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 10.1, 11.1, BY.1.
Implementation status of recommendations should be understood as follows:
- Complete: a recommendation's intent which is considered implemented or addressed and for which implementation documentation is available.
- In progress: a recommendation for which work has started to address deliverables identified during the implementation design. Implementation design is the preparatory phase for implementation during which a cross-functional project team develops guidelines that include deliverables for implementation, costing out resources, risk assessment, as well as an inventory of existing work etc.
- Not started: Work has not started due to, for instance, a dependency on another recommendation and/or process.
Quarterly Updates on Specific Reviews Recommendations
- ICANN Specific Reviews Q1 2024 Quarterly Report (31 March 2024)
- ICANN Specific Reviews Q4 2023 Quarterly Report (31 December 2023)
- ICANN Specific Reviews Q3 2023 Quarterly Report (30 September 2023)
- ICANN Specific Reviews Q2 2023 Quarterly Report (30 June 2023)
- ICANN Specific Reviews Q1 2023 Quarterly Report (31 March 2023)
- ICANN Specific Reviews Q4 2022 Quarterly Report (31 December 2022)
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Conduct Review | 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 | ||
Terms of Reference | Terms of Reference and Work Plan submitted to ICANN Board. | 9 Feb 2018 | ||
Draft Report | Registration Directory Service (RDS) - WHOIS2 Review Draft report | 4 Sep 2018 | ||
Draft Report & Recommendations Public Comment | Public Comment period for the Review Team's draft report of recommendations | 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 | ||
Board Action* | Public Comment on Final Report | Final report and recommendations posted for Public Comment | 8 Oct 2019 | |
Board Action on Final Report and Recommendations | Board takes action on 22 recommendations | 25 Feb 2020 | ||
Deferral of Third RDS Review | Deferral of the Third Review of the Registration Directory Service (RDS3) | 22 Sep 2022 | ||
Board Action on Pending Recommendations | Board takes action on the four pending recommendations | 21 Dec 2023 |
For information on the first WHOIS Review, click here: RDS1. For more information on Registration Data, please visit our Registration Data at ICANN page.