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Dealing with domain names used in connection with criminal activity

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The policy process was started with a proposal submitted by Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) regarding domain names used in connection with criminal activity
Initial stakeholders' comments period closed on 23 February 2011.
Issue group members confirmed on 16 March 2011.
Background report on the issue prepared by an independent PhD researcher from Queen Mary College, University of London published on 16 March 2011. Please note that the report was amended on 24 March 2011, to correct an error in Question 11 on page 17.
Stakeholders submitted comments up until 31 March 2011.
The first meeting was held on 4 April 2011. A draft executive summary of the meeting approved for circulation by the Chair was published by the Secretariat. This summary was formally approved at the 20 May 2011 meeting of the issue group. A discussion document on areas of consensus and areas for further discussion based on the meeting was been drafted by the Secretariat.
The second meeting was held on 20 May 2011. The issue group approved the executive summary from the 4 April 2011 meeting. The discussion of the group focused around the slides prepared by the Chair based on the above discussion document. A draft executive summary of the meeting approved for circulation by the Chair was published by the Secretariat.
The Secretariat received written input from the Alliance Against IP Theft, Justice and LINX in relation to the issue group discussions to date. These documents were circulated to issue group members and were fed into the discussion at the July meeting.
The third meeting was held on the 6 July 2011. The issue group suggested amendments to the draft executive summary of the 20 May 2011 meeting. These amendments were made and the issue group approved the executive summary.
The draft executive summary from the 6 July 2011 meeting was published and circulated to stakeholders.
An initial set of draft recommendations from the issue group were published. Stakeholders were invited to give feedback on the draft recommendations.
The fourth meeting was held on 21 September 2011. At this meeting the issue group approved the executive summary of the 6 July 2011 meeting. The discussion focused around the slides prepared by the Chair. Following this meeting a revised set of draft recommendations were produced and stakeholders were invited to give feedback.
The draft executive summary from the 21 September 2011 meeting approved for circulation by the Chair has been published.
The issue group met on 20 October 2011 and a revised set of draft recommendations were published. Stakeholders were invited to give feedback.
The draft executive summary from the 20 October 2011 meeting approved for circulation by the Chair has been published.
At the January meeting of the issue group, the group did not have a consensus about a proposed policy for domain names used in connection with criminal activity. Nominet’s executive confirmed that it would provide the Nominet Board with a report that reflected the spectrum of views expressed in the issue group discussions and from wider stakeholder input. The report included a summary from the Chair, Professor Ian Walden, a joint letter from LINX and ISPA and an updated background legal report. The report was presented to the Board at their meeting in February. The Board expressed appreciation for the contributions of the issue group participants, and for the work of the Chair.
In response to the report, the Board recognised that there was no consensus from stakeholders as to the action which Nominet should take when put on notice of criminal use of .uk domains. The Board decided that further careful consideration would be required prior to deciding Nominet’s formal policy position moving forward. The Executive has been tasked with gathering further information and advice, in advance of developing options on the way forward for the Board to consider later in the year.