[discuss] [IANAxfer] [ccnso-igrg] Two accountability questions - help pls- Workshop 23 - ICANN accountability

Thu Sep 11 19:13:23 UTC 2014

> > A good way to reconcile those two requirements is to have an
> "independent judiciary" with the authority to enforce binding, constitutional
> limitations on what the policy process can do. This appeals process could be
> used to challenge ultra vires policies, to challenge major process failures, or
> to challenge implementations that do not reflect agreed policies. All of these
> challenges should take place BEFORE anything hits the IANA, of course.
> 
> While it's somewhat understandable that this would be considered desirable
> by some in the DNS community, it's probably worth considering how this
> looks to the other organizations which rely on the IANA operator (i.e. the
> IETF and RIR communities.)
> For the IETF community, your "independent judiciary" introduces "noise"
> into their already existing and well-working system.  It effectively creates an
> "attack vector"

As noted, I am talking about a strengthening of ICANN's IRP, which only applies to its DNS policy making role. Neither I nor anyone I know have any intention of making IRP applicable to IETF standards decisions. And it would not be, any more than the current IRP could be used against IETF or IAB decisions. So that argument can be disposed of quickly. 

> One could make the same arguments for the RIR community, but there's
> even more irony in this particular case, in that the "independent review"
> body for new global  address policies is already in place and operational, 
> and it is... the ICANN Board.

A body which, the consensus is everywhere but inside ICANN, Inc., lacks sufficient accountability. ;-)
Nevertheless, as noted, most of us are talking about reform of the DNS space not numbering.