<div dir="auto">Hi All,</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Thanks so much. We finalized this and will ask Rafik to send it to GAC and we will put it on NCSG.is<br clear="all"><br clear="all"><div dir="auto"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Farzaneh </font></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Sep 23, 2025 at 9:36 AM Michaela Nakayama Shapiro <<a href="mailto:michaela.shapiro@article19.org">michaela.shapiro@article19.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204)">
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INTERNAL<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Dear Shiva,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Thank you for your input on this topic. I would like to jump-in to add a few points to the discussion.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color:black">On 4. DNS Abuse Mitigation<u></u><u></u></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">As Farzaneh very helpfully noted, the NCSG is not opposed to DNS abuse mitigation. As noted at the top of the HRIA document, we are concerned with the GAC's emphasis on enforcement without outlining concrete human
rights safeguards and accountability mechanisms for implementation. Our concern stems from how DNS abuse mitigation is being implemented rather than with the premise of DNS abuse mitigation, which we agree is an issue of priority for ICANN and implicates registrants'
human rights.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">I also appreciate that in your position, you are handling complex and serious issues that must be addressed quickly and securely. The mentioned examples such as "gender-based crime" and "morphing of images" come
precariously close to recommending that registries and registrars act as content moderators, which the NCSG opposes and which would also be in violation of Section 1.1(c) of
<a href="https://www.icann.org/en/governance/bylaws" title="https://www.icann.org/en/governance/bylaws" target="_blank">
ICANN's bylaws</a>. In such cases, most registries would point law enforcement officials towards the actor of 'least impact,' starting with the hosting provider then working deeper into the internet 'stack.' This is because of the technical limitations in what
registries and registrars can do: if they wish to block a particular activity or content, often their only recourse is to take down the entire domain name. This blunt force action should
</span><u><span style="color:rgb(17,85,204)"><a href="https://www.article19.org/resources/icann-new-ceo-and-the-opportunity-to-reiterate-human-rights-commitments/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">only be taken as a last resort</span></a></span></u><span style="color:black">.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">It should also be noted that suspending a domain does not remove the content from the internet: those disseminating such content can move to another domain. Similarly with DNS blocking, as noted in the recent SSAC’s
<a href="https://itp.cdn.icann.org/en/files/security-and-stability-advisory-committee-ssac-reports/sac127-dns-blocking-revisited-16-05-2025-en.pdf" title="https://itp.cdn.icann.org/en/files/security-and-stability-advisory-committee-ssac-reports/sac127-dns-blocking-revisited-16-05-2025-en.pdf" target="_blank">
recent report</a>, the content itself typically remains available at the original IP address or through alternative domain names or protocols, meaning that "determined users" can still reach it using other means. As Farzaneh very eloquently summarized, the
issues you cited—while clearly human rights issues—are not always best solved via the DNS, and doing so could further undermine human rights (such as through overblocking of legitimate content online).<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">In sum, this is not to say that registries or registrars should never take action to prevent further dissemination of such content, but rather to emphasize that the burden of responding and addressing such issues
is not (and should not be) within the purview of registries and registrars except in very limited cases. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color:black">On "1. Expanded Law Enforcement Access (RDRS)" 2. Urgent Requests for Disclosure" & "3. Accuracy of Registration Data"<u></u><u></u></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Regarding the recommendations you put forward under "3. Accuracy of Registration Data," in my opinion, this is largely aligned with the NCSG's position: the NCSG also supports a definition of accuracy that "ensures
contactability, not mandatory identity disclosure." This was highlighted in the session that the NCSG organized at ICANN on the
<a href="https://icann83.sched.com/event/246XU/gnso-human-rights-impact-assessment-navigating-disclosure-of-domain-name-registrant-data" target="_blank">
HRIAs of law enforcement requests for data</a>. This session also addresses concerns of expansion of law enforcement access and urgent requests for disclosure.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">--<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Lastly, we couldn't agree more on your position that "our collective responsibility is to find the right balance: protecting fundamental rights while ensuring that victims are not left helpless.” For the NCSG,
finding that balance means ensuring that our considerations regarding protecting registrants' rights to freedom of expression online must be given equal weight as the interests of those working to address the very valid issues identified as within the scope
of ICANN's DNS abuse definition (in full <a href="https://www.icann.org/dnsabuse" title="https://www.icann.org/dnsabuse" target="_blank">
here</a>). <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">We appreciate you providing us this feedback and comments, and I would be more than happy to discuss further.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Best,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Michaela<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black"> NCSG-Discuss <<a href="mailto:NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU" target="_blank" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU</a>> on behalf of Johan
Helsingius <<a href="mailto:00001963cc94b85a-dmarc-request@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU" target="_blank" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">00001963cc94b85a-dmarc-request@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU</a>><br>
<b style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sent:</b> 23 September 2025 13:13<br>
<b style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To:</b> <a href="mailto:NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU" target="_blank" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU</a> <<a href="mailto:NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU" target="_blank" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU</a>><br>
<b style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Subject:</b> Re: Please Comment: Our Second Human Rights Impact Assessment on GAC Communique</span>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">On 23/09/2025 03:43, farzaneh badii wrote:<br>
> I don’t think it’s accurate to say we’re “one-sided.” Our role isn’t to <br>
> constantly compromise to appear “balanced.” Our role is to hold the line <br>
> on rights. That’s the contribution we make in this system.<br>
<br>
Indeed. GNSO as a whole should be balanced, but we help provide that<br>
balance by defending human rights against other interests. In doing<br>
that, we are pragmatic and try to find workable solutions.<br>
<br>
> I will make it clear in our HRIA that we are not against DNS abuse <br>
> mitigation and debunk that myth.<br>
<br>
Great!<br>
<br>
Julf<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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