[Rt4-whois] Huffington Post article

[Smith, Bill]

James,

I'm struggling to understand how our report is false. On Page 80 & 81 we write:

As discussed in Chapter 6, in January 2009/10, ICANN published a study conducted by the National Opinion Research Council of the University of Chicago (NORC) that had been commissioned in 2009 by ICANN to obtain a baseline measurement of what proportion of WHOIS records are accurate. Examining an internationally representative sample of 1419 records, the Study found that, based on a strict application of the criteria, only 23% of records were fully accurate, though roughly twice that number met a slightly relaxed version of the criteria. The study also found that 21.6% of data was not sufficient for the registrant to be located, with either missing or deliberately false information.

Our report makes a factual reference to an ICANN-sponsored study. Based on the criteria established, the study found "only 23% were fully accurate". Doing the math results in Carr's assertion.

Of course there are other ways to interpret the data, for example; "Assuming 220 million domains names, the study suggests that nearly 48 million registrations lack sufficient information in their WHOIS records to locate the registrant".

There are risks associated with extrapolating from a study employing a sample of a set. That is well known but studies like the NORC one are commonly employed to discern the scale of problems. The NORC study when combined with anecdotal evidence from Law Enforcement and others suggests that inaccuracy is a significant problem. I am unaware of evidence to the contrary.

I also struggle with a requirement that our report, or we as a group need to dispel individual statements or perceptions of others. If we adopt that as an operating principle, I submit that we will spend considerable time in an unproductive activity.

Bill


On Feb 16, 2012, at 6:31 AM, James M. Bladel wrote:

"Out of a current total of 220 million domain names only 23% are fully accurate. 50 million are OK. 170 million are not. "

Our final report needs to do a better job of dispelling this falsehood.

J.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Rt4-whois] Huffington Post article
From: Emily Taylor <emily at emilytaylor.eu<mailto:emily at emilytaylor.eu>>
Date: Thu, February 16, 2012 5:40 am
To: rt4-whois at icann.org<mailto:rt4-whois at icann.org>

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-carr/whois-reading-the-whois-r_b_1272733.html

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