ICANN recently published the Registration Data Request Service (RDRS) Two-Year Pilot Summary Report, which provides an analysis of RDRS program operations from 28 November 2023 to 30 November 2025. The report includes information on system usage metrics, engagement efforts, and user experience survey data that informed discussions between the ICANN Board and the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) Council on next steps for the System for Standardized Access/Disclosure (SSAD) policy recommendations.
RDRS is a centralized system for requestors such as consumer protection advocates, cybersecurity specialists, government officials, intellectual property professionals, law enforcement personnel, and others with a legitimate interest to request access to generic top-level domain (gTLD) nonpublic registration data. It provides a standard format for submitting requests to participating registrars and offers requestors the ability to upload legal documents, create templates, and track requests.
ICANN launched RDRS in November 2023 with 56 registrars representing 51 percent of domains under management (DUMs). Registrar participation fluctuated over time, peaking at 95 registrars representing 60 percent of DUMs in February 2025 and ending with 80 participating registrars representing 46 percent of DUMs. Requestor participation started at 209 requestor accounts and reached more than 13,700 accounts by the pilot's end.
More than 40,400 domain names were queried and over 3,700 disclosure requests were submitted. Intellectual property (32 percent), law enforcement requests (16 percent), and those marked as "other" (25 percent) represented the largest request categories. Twenty-six percent of requests were approved, 55 percent of requests were denied, and the remaining 19 percent were either partially approved or for data that was already publicly available. RDRS also maintained 99.92 percent uptime, demonstrating strong operational stability.
ICANN hosted more than 100 events and webinars across all global regions, reaching over 5,000 participants. Educational materials, outreach campaigns, and media efforts helped raise awareness among stakeholders. Throughout the pilot, ICANN worked closely with requestors, registrars, and the RDRS Standing Committee to gather feedback and implement system enhancements aimed at improving usability and operational efficiency. Ultimately, the pilot confirmed sustained demand for a centralized system to request access to gTLD nonpublic domain registration data and standardized how requests were submitted and tracked.
Looking ahead to ICANN85, the ICANN Board and GNSO Council will hold discussions on the SSAD policy recommendations to define a clear path forward for requesting access to gTLD nonpublic registration data and to align the recommendations with the enhancements identified by the Board and community as important for RDRS or a successor system.
We extend thanks and appreciation to the GNSO Council, the RDRS Standing Committee, participating ICANN-accredited registrars, and the broader community for their dedication and contributions to the RDRS pilot and for their ongoing support as the policy work on SSAD continues. ICANN will publish RDRS usage metrics quarterly and continue gathering user feedback, as policy development work moves forward over the next two years.
For ongoing updates, visit the RDRS webpage and RDRS Work Summary.
