GAC Public Safety Working Group (PSWG)

Work Efforts

The GAC regularly considers a broad range of public policy issues impacting the DNS and other matters regarding the functions of ICANN. This work can result in consensus advice for the ICANN Board or public comment guidance to the ICANN community. This part of the website shares information related to those ongoing topics and activities.

Status: Active

Date Formed: 12 Feb 2015

The GAC's Public Safety Working Group (PSWG) focuses on aspects of ICANN’s policies and procedures that implicate the safety of the public.

The current strategic objectives of the PSWG, as detailed in its 2018-2019 work plan are as follows:

Develop DNS Abuse and Cybercrime mitigation capabilities of the ICANN and Law Enforcement communities
Preserve and improve domain registration directory services effectiveness
Build effective and resilient PSWG operations
Develop participation and in PSWG work and ensure stakeholder input

The PSWG was established in February 2015 at ICANN52 in Singapore (see section V.10. of GAC Communiqué) and its Terms of Reference were adopted in June 2015 at ICANN53 in Buenos Aires.

The PSWG is currently chaired by three co-chairs:

Cathrin Bauer-Bulst, European Commission
Laureen Kapin, United States Federal Trade Commission
Chris Lewis-Evans, United Kingdom, National Crime Agency

Reference

PSWG Operations

For more Working Group Documentation: see Ongoing Work or Documenation sections below.

Status and Ongoing Work

The Working Group is following its work plan, with a particular focus currently in the following areas:

Ensuring Law enforcement and public safety agencies do not go dark on whois data that would become hidden on 25 May 2015, including by:

Raising awareness in Law enforcement communities worldwide
Raising awareness in relevant parts of Governments (GAC Representation, Ministries of Justice and Interior)
Seeking arrangements and solutions to ensure Whois is not going dark

Providing timely input into ICANN's process to have Whois come into compliance with GDPR

Meeting and Records

Mar

2022

ICANN73 - Session 10 - GAC Public Safety Working Group Update and DNS Abuse Discussions

18:30 - 19:15 UTC

Materials:

...

Topics: DNS Abuse

Feb

2022

Pre-ICANN73 PSWG Conference Call

Closed Meeting

Nov

2021

PSWG Conference Call - 23 November 2021

Closed Meeting

May

2021

Pre-ICANN71 PSWG Conference Call

Closed Meeting

Members

Documentation

Filter Documents

Title	Date	Type
PSWG Work Plan 2018-2019 (14 March 2018) Date: 14 Mar 2018 Type:	14 Mar 2018		1521028800000

PSWG Work Plan 2018-2019 (14 March 2018)

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