[NCSG-PC] About SSR2

Tue Oct 31 09:48:33 EET 2017

James,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings on this. I agree with
Stephanie that there is a danger with regards to this seen as a precedent
for future RTs. We need to understand what's really going on so we know how
to respond. Since there is a Council meeting tomorrow where we will discuss
this as well, please give us as many inputs as you can to help us
understand better.

I would like to paste here this note (i believe a letter from the Board to
whom?) that was shared by Farzi on a council skype chat. I bring it here so
we have everything at the same place :

[Message starts here]

All,

On behalf of the Board, set out below is the background to the letter we
sent to the SSR2 Review Team. We hope that this background is helpful.
The Stability, Security, and Resilience Review now underway (SSR2) is
intended to provide critical input needed to evaluate ICANN’s progress in
fulfilling its core mission. Under the ICANN Bylaws, the composition of the
review team is to be determined by the community through its Supporting
Organizations and Advisory Committees.  The ICANN Board takes seriously its
responsibility to safeguard the integrity of this process and the
independence of the review as well as to ensure that ICANN resources are
deployed efficiently and effectively.

In June, the ICANN Board wrote to the SSR2 team to express concern about
the adequacy of the SSR2 work plan, terms of reference, and proposed
scope.  We heard some of these same concerns from members of the Security
and Stability Advisory Committee in late September, and the SSAC formally
advised the Board about its concerns on October 4.  The Board’s
Organizational Effectiveness Committee (OEC) forwarded this letter to SO/AC
chairs on the same date, and indicated that it would be providing
recommendations to the Board and discussing the concerns with SO/AC chairs
in Abu Dhabi.

On October 3, the Board wrote once again to the SSR2 team concerning its
Subgroup 2 audit plan, which proposed to audit ICANN’s internal security
policies and procedures.  We acknowledged that a general understanding of
internal security at ICANN was relevant to the work of SSR2, but considered
that an audit exceeded the scope of the review. The SSR2 team responded on
6 October.

Throughout October, the Board considered the SSAC’s advice and received
recommendations from the OEC.  On October 27, as we gathered here in Abu
Dhabi, members of the Board again met with SO/AC Chairs to convey the
Board’s view that the SSR2 Review should be paused until the SOs and ACs
had an opportunity to consider, in light of the expressed concerns, whether
adjustments are needed to achieve the purpose of the review.  We realise
that our message to the gathered chairs may not have been clear.

The Board has not usurped the community’s authority with respect to this
review. Rather, we are asking the SOs and ACs to consider the concerns we
have heard and determine whether or not adjustments are needed.  We believe
that a temporary pause in the SSR2 work while this consideration is under
way is a sensible approach designed to ensure stakeholders can reach a
common understanding on the appropriate scope and work plan, which will
ensure the efficient use of ICANN’s resources as the review continues to
fulfill its mission.

We stand ready to assist the SOs and ACs in any way so that stakeholders
can resume the important work of the SSR review as soon as they are ready.

[Message ends here]

I would like to request you to comment on the above and give us your
perspectives with regards to this "clarification" from the Board of their
action, which will help us make up our mind. Please do this whenever you
can.

Also, someone shared the following with me on Twitter when i was
complaining about this issue. Looks like there has been some communication
between the Board-SSAC-SSR2 since June. Here is the timeline he provided:

[Start]
Timeline
June: Board-> #SSR2 <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSR2>
Late Sep #SSAC <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC>-> Board
10/3 Board-> #SSR2 <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSR2>
10/4 SSAC ->Board
10/4 Board OEC->SO/AC
10/6 SSR2->Board
[End]

Can you also comment on the above? Has this happened? Also, if you can,
please provide us with any substance from the communications between the
Board and the SSR2.

Thank you very much,
Arsene (observer)

------------------------
**Arsène Tungali* <http://about.me/ArseneTungali>*
Co-Founder & Executive Director, *Rudi international
<http://www.rudiinternational.org>*,
CEO,* Smart Services Sarl <http://www.smart-serv.info>*, *Mabingwa Forum
<http://www.mabingwa-forum.com>*
Tel: +243 993810967
GPG: 523644A0
*Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo*

2015 Mandela Washington Felllow
<http://tungali.blogspot.com/2015/06/selected-for-2015-mandela-washington.html>
(YALI) - ISOC Ambassador (IGF Brazil
<http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/education-and-leadership-programmes/next-generation-leaders/igf-ambassadors-programme/Past-Ambassadors>
& Mexico
<http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/education-and-leadership-programmes/next-generation-leaders/Current-Ambassadors>)
- AFRISIG 2016 <http://afrisig.org/afrisig-2016/class-of-2016/> - Blogger
<http://tungali.blogspot.com> - ICANN Fellow (Los Angeles
<https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2014-07-18-en> & Marrakech
<https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/marrakech55-attendees-2016-03-14-en>
). AFRINIC Fellow (Mauritius
<http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/1907-afrinic-25-fellowship-winners>)*
- *IGFSA Member <http://www.igfsa.org/> - Internet Governance - Internet
Freedom.

Check the *2016 State of Internet Freedom in DRC* report (English
<http://cipesa.org/?wpfb_dl=234>) and (French
<http://cipesa.org/?wpfb_dl=242>)

2017-10-31 9:19 GMT+02:00 Milan, Stefania <Stefania.Milan at eui.eu>:

> Dear James, thanks for sharing your notes on what is surely a painful
> process.
>
> What I think should be our main concern is, besides the specific case of
> this RT, twofold: this might set a dangerous precedent for the future of
> other RTs or ad hoc entities of this kind, and it might jeopardize the
> independence of RTs (if you scared the Board calls you off you might want
> to be more cautious bla bla bla, self-censorship sort to speak)
>
>
> ________________________________________
> Da: NCSG-PC <ncsg-pc-bounces at lists.ncsg.is> per conto di James Gannon <
> james at cyberinvasion.net>
> Inviato: lunedì 30 ottobre 2017 19:14:12
> A: Arsène Tungali
> Cc: ncsg-pc
> Oggetto: Re: [NCSG-PC] About SSR2
>
> Hi All,
> Yes this has all happened without any consultation with the review team.
> What appears to have happened is that some concerns were raised in SSAC
> (We have no details on by whom) and instead of engaging with the review
> team through its 2 SSAC members on the RT the SSAC wrote to the board with
> a set of in my opinion (And this is shared by most of the review team)
> unfounded concerns about the skillset and ability to execute there review.
>
> The board then again without consultation with the review team took the
> unnatural action to suspend the review. The first the RT heard about this
> was the letter from the board liason yesterday.
>
> In my opinion the RT had a slow start but has been making good progress
> against the agreed consensus terms of reference and work plan and that this
> suspension is totally unwarranted and without merit.
>
>
> On 30 Oct 2017, at 10:27, Arsène Tungali <arsenebaguma at gmail.com<mailto:
> arsenebaguma at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> (observer)
>
> Hi Rafik,
>
> Thanks for your email which states the issue. Please consider my comments
> bellow as personal reflections and i stand to be corrected on my judgements.
>
> The question is being discussed now at the joint ccNSO/GNSO meeting and
> there are, imo, multiple views with regards to this question. GNSO Chair is
> one of the people who are surprised about the decision that came in (like
> only 24hours) from a meeting between the Board and ASO/AC leaders (that
> happened on Friday). ccNSO Chair seems to say that they were aware of a
> possible decision by the Board which was presented during Friday's meeting
> but Heather (who was serving as proxy for James) seemed not to have heard
> the same.
>
> James, we would like to hear from you (as our rep there) on what you think
> were the issues that the review team were facing, mostly on the scope of
> work as it appears to be one of the main reasons that led the Board to act
> that way. I asked on Twitter and someone replied with the following:
> "According to SSAC, #SSR2<https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSR2> realized
> they needed a scoping document before finding reviewers", can you tell us
> more about this if it is true? It appears that you were not consulted and
> only were informed of the decision to pause your work? What can you share
> with us on that note? What is the feeling of your collegues in that group
> about this? What are you planning to do?
>
> I have tried to put here all ideas i have though i have limited knowledge
> about this specific review work and would appreciate to hear your thoughts
> on this. Please do share anything you think the NCSG can help with.
>
> Thank you,
> Arsene
>
> ------------------------
> *Arsène Tungali<http://about.me/ArseneTungali>*
> Co-Founder & Executive Director, Rudi international<http://www.
> rudiinternational.org/>,
> CEO, Smart Services Sarl<http://www.smart-serv.info/>, Mabingwa Forum<
> http://www.mabingwa-forum.com/>
> Tel: +243 993810967
> GPG: 523644A0
> Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo
>
> 2015 Mandela Washington Felllow<http://tungali.
> blogspot.com/2015/06/selected-for-2015-mandela-washington.html> (YALI) -
> ISOC Ambassador (IGF Brazil<http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-
> do/education-and-leadership-programmes/next-generation-
> leaders/igf-ambassadors-programme/Past-Ambassadors> & Mexico<http://www.
> internetsociety.org/what-we-do/education-and-leadership-
> programmes/next-generation-leaders/Current-Ambassadors>) - AFRISIG 2016<
> http://afrisig.org/afrisig-2016/class-of-2016/> - Blogger<http://tungali.
> blogspot.com/> - ICANN Fellow (Los Angeles<https://www.icann.org/
> news/announcement-2014-07-18-en> & Marrakech<https://www.icann.
> org/resources/pages/marrakech55-attendees-2016-03-14-en>). AFRINIC Fellow
> (Mauritius<http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/1907-
> afrinic-25-fellowship-winners>) - IGFSA Member<http://www.igfsa.org/> -
> Internet Governance - Internet Freedom.
>
> Check the 2016 State of Internet Freedom in DRC report (English<
> http://cipesa.org/?wpfb_dl=234>) and (French<http://cipesa.org/?
> wpfb_dl=242>)
>
> 2017-10-30 11:09 GMT+02:00 Rafik Dammak <rafik.dammak at gmail.com<mailto:
> rafik.dammak at gmail.com>>:
> Hi James,
>
> (PC list in cc)
>
> I am reaching you because we had yesterday discussion at GNSO working
> session and then NCSG Policy meeting about the board letter regarding
> suspending SSR2.
>
> there was a consensus that we should reach you as you are the
> representative to the review team to get more information from you on the
> status of work there and what kind of issues there.
>
> as we only found out about the letter and SSAC advice in the last 2 days,
> we have little idea about the current state. any update from you will be
> really helpful. it is clear that there is concern about the process and the
> possible involvement of board but we are trying to get the full picture to
> work on common NCSG position on the matter.
>
> Best,
>
> Rafik
>
> _______________________________________________
> NCSG-PC mailing list
> NCSG-PC at lists.ncsg.is<mailto:NCSG-PC at lists.ncsg.is>
> https://lists.ncsg.is/mailman/listinfo/ncsg-pc
>
>
>
>
> The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to
> which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
> material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution,
> forwarding, or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this
> information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is
> prohibited without the express permission of the sender. If you received
> this communication in error, please contact the sender and delete the
> material from any computer.
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ncsg.is/pipermail/ncsg-pc/attachments/20171031/12f86d42/attachment.htm>