AFRINIC · RIR Watchdog
AFRINIC Whois Database Update Process
Start here for the proposal-by-proposal record: what changed, why it mattered, who argued for what, how positions evolved, what was decided, and where the evidence still has gaps.
Source facts
- Policy ID
- AFPUB-2014-GEN-001
- RIR
- AFRINIC
- Official status
- Withdrawn
- Normalized status
- Withdrawn
- Introduced
- May 15, 2014
- Last source update
- Oct 12, 2026
- Coverage
- Partial
Who actually shaped the debate?
Policy evolution
source_comparison_limit · Both captures identify draft-01. The earlier capture is only an archive placeholder, while the original RPD announcement supplies the proposal text. This is recovery of missing evidence, not evidence of a policy amendment; no substantive policy change can be inferred by comparing the empty wrapper with the recovered draft.
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📦 Archived Content — This page was originally hosted at 1133-afrinic-whois-database-update-process-afpub-2014-gen-001-draft-01 and has been preserved locally. This page references content from the AFRINIC archive.Source facts ↗
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Draft Policy name: AfriNIC Whois Database Update Process Unique identifier: AFPUB-2014-GEN-001-DRAFT-01 Status: New Submission Date 15 MAY 2014 Author:Jean Robert HountomeySource facts ↗
annual_validation_and_holder_duties · The draft strengthens annual validation from staff 'should' language to a mandatory check. It also directly requires object owners to check and update at least annually and organizations to update records when requesting resources or services. These are proposed obligations; the withdrawn draft does not itself establish current enforceability.
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Furthermore, at least once a year or at the renewal of resources, AFRINIC staff should conduct a whois database information validation. 3. The Proposal AfriNIC members are committed through the RSA to maintain their data and keep it accurate. AfriNIC will then maintain accuracy of whois information through periodical database clean up or update. AfriNIC will periodically ask object owners in the Whois Database to actively check and update the accuracy of data in AfriNIC whois database.Source facts ↗
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Furthermore, at least once a year or at the renewal of resources, AFRINIC staff must conduct a whois database information validation. 3) Proposal AFRINIC members are committed through the RSA to maintain their data and keep it accurate. AFRINIC must then maintain accuracy of whois information through periodical database clean up and update. Object owners in the whois Database are required at least once a year to actively check and update the accuracy of their data in AFRINIC whois database.Source facts ↗
response_and_reminder_deadlines · Draft-01 allows one month for an email response. Draft-02 specifies 30 days and adds a reminder on day 15 warning that a further 15 days without response leads to a grace period.
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3.2.1 - AfriNIC staff will ask members to confirm accuracy of their records in the Whois database in a month’s timeframe when contacted by email. 3.2.2 - After one month, AfriNIC Staff will use any communication tools at their discretion to contact those who have not answered or those whose email has bounced back. 3.2.3 - After another month of unresponsive response, the record will be marked invalid.Source facts ↗
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AFRINIC staff will ask members by email to confirm the accuracy of their records in the Whois database within thirty (30) days. Fifteen (15) days after the first contact initiation, AFRINIC staff will send a reminder email to members who have not responded, notifying them that they will enter a "Grace Period" within 15 days, should a response still not be forthcoming.Source facts ↗
bounced_contact_followup · Draft-01 waits one month before alternative contact attempts, including for bounced mail. Draft-02 requires immediate attempts through alternative means when an email is returned as undeliverable.
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3.2.1 - AfriNIC staff will ask members to confirm accuracy of their records in the Whois database in a month’s timeframe when contacted by email. 3.2.2 - After one month, AfriNIC Staff will use any communication tools at their discretion to contact those who have not answered or those whose email has bounced back. 3.2.3 - After another month of unresponsive response, the record will be marked invalid.Source facts ↗
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For contacts whose email has bounced back for "Non Delivery", AFRINIC Staff will immediately begin attempting to reach organizations via alternative means of communication.Source facts ↗
grace_period_timing · Draft-01 refers to another month before marking an unresponsive record invalid. Draft-02 defines a grace period starting 31 days after first contact and lasting 30 days, during which staff continue trying to reach members through available communication tools.
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3.2.1 - AfriNIC staff will ask members to confirm accuracy of their records in the Whois database in a month’s timeframe when contacted by email. 3.2.2 - After one month, AfriNIC Staff will use any communication tools at their discretion to contact those who have not answered or those whose email has bounced back. 3.2.3 - After another month of unresponsive response, the record will be marked invalid.Source facts ↗
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Thirty one (31) days after the first contact initiation starts the Grace Period. The Grace period lasts thirty (30) days. During the Grace Period, AFRINIC Staff will use any communication tools at their discretion to reach points of contact for member organizations who have not confirmed the accuracy of their records.Source facts ↗
invalidation_and_publication · Invalidation is tied to the end of the grace period, 61 days after initial contact. Publication changes from a discretionary report about resources with invalid contacts to a required list of non-responsive contacts and associated objects, published within 24 hours.
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3.2.3 - After another month of unresponsive response, the record will be marked invalid. 3.2.4 - AfriNIC may publish publicly a report about number resources with invalid POC.Source facts ↗
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3.3.3 - Record is marked invalid and the community notified. At the end of the Grace Period (61 days after the first contact initiation), AFRINIC will publish, within 24 hours, the list of non-responsive contacts and the objects associated with them. The associated objects will be marked INVALID.Source facts ↗
rectification_before_expiry · Draft-02 adds a procedure to remove a non-expired invalid resource record from the public website after its owner confirms the update in writing. AFRINIC must acknowledge within 72 hours; withdrawal should follow within 72 hours of that acknowledgement. Draft-01's publication-and-reclamation sequence contains no corresponding removal timetable.
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3.2.4 - AfriNIC may publish publicly a report about number resources with invalid POC. 3.2.5 - One year after the first contact initiation, if the data is still not accurate and the organization has failed to respond to the call to resolve the data inconsistency, AfriNIC may claim the number resources back.Source facts ↗
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An invalid resource record that has not expired can be withdrawn from the publicly available website after the object owners (new or old) address written notification to AFRINIC confirming that the records have been updated. AFRINIC shall acknowledge the object owner notification within 72 hours of receipt, and the withdrawal of the object from the publicly available website should occur within 72 hours of such acknowledgement.Source facts ↗
expiry_and_reclamation · At the one-year endpoint, Draft-01 permits reclamation if inaccurate data and non-response persist. Draft-02 requires marking the resource expired and reclaiming its associated number resources into AFRINIC's pool.
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3.2.5 - One year after the first contact initiation, if the data is still not accurate and the organization has failed to respond to the call to resolve the data inconsistency, AfriNIC may claim the number resources back.Source facts ↗
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One year after the first contact initiation, if the data is still not accurate and the organization has failed to respond to the requests to resolve the data inconsistency, AFRINIC will mark the Resource EXPIRED and claim the associated number resources back. The resource will go back to AFRINIC's pool.Source facts ↗
reapplication_after_expiry · Draft-02 adds a new application and associated fees when an organization returns after expiry, without a guarantee of receiving the same resources. Reclaimed resources are removed from the public list. Draft-01's reclamation clause does not specify these consequences.
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3.2.5 - One year after the first contact initiation, if the data is still not accurate and the organization has failed to respond to the call to resolve the data inconsistency, AfriNIC may claim the number resources back.Source facts ↗
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If the Organization contacts AFRINIC after the expiration, a new application with associated fees will be required with no guarantee that the Organization will keep the same resource. Once the resource is reclaimed, it will be removed from the publicly available website.Source facts ↗
refunds_after_reclamation · Draft-02 adds an explicit no-refund provision when an expired record's resources return to AFRINIC's pool. The old one-year reclamation provision does not specify this financial consequence.
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3.2.5 - One year after the first contact initiation, if the data is still not accurate and the organization has failed to respond to the call to resolve the data inconsistency, AfriNIC may claim the number resources back.Source facts ↗
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3.3.6. - No Refund. This current policy gives a year to an Organization to update its information in the AFRINIC Database before expiration. In case a record reaches an expiration status and is returned to AFRINIC's pool, the organization cannot claim a refund for any portion of unused fund.Source facts ↗
time_counting · Draft-02 defines literal calendar time rather than working days, daily start and expiry times, and the time zone of AFRINIC's registered address. This replaces the earlier draft's unqualified month-based timing with an explicit counting convention.
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3.2.1 - AfriNIC staff will ask members to confirm accuracy of their records in the Whois database in a month’s timeframe when contacted by email.Source facts ↗
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3.3.7. - Hours and timezone. For the purposes of this policy time periods specified are literal and not based on working days. Where time frames are specified in days, a day is deemed to have begun at 00:01 after the communication is received/sent. The time frame expires at 23:59 on the corresponding days. Times are based on the timezone relevant to the registered address of AFRINIC.Source facts ↗
Debate timeline
Entities
Could not load more
- Discussion messages1First activityDec 5, 2014Last activityDec 5, 2014First explicit stanceUnknownLatest explicit stanceUnknownStance changes0Viewpoint consistencyInsufficient evidence to assess consistencyOther policies13
- Adam Nelson · Identity unresolvedDiscussion messages1First activityNov 7, 2014Last activityNov 7, 2014First explicit stanceUnknownLatest explicit stanceUnknownStance changes0Viewpoint consistencyNo explicit position statedOther policies4
- Jean-Robert Hountomey · Identity unresolvedDiscussion messages0First activityUnknownLast activityUnknownFirst explicit stanceUnknownLatest explicit stanceUnknownStance changes0Viewpoint consistencyNo explicit position statedOther policies1
Sources and coverage
Official policy sources
Public discussion archives
- afrinic-rpd
- Earliest captured
- Aug 4, 2004
- Latest captured
- Aug 25, 2026
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 13,116
- Known gaps
- 0
- www.afrinic.net
- afrinic-africann
- Earliest captured
- Aug 3, 2026
- Latest captured
- Oct 2, 2026
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 2,599
- Known gaps
- 0
- afrinic-afripv6-discuss
- Earliest captured
- Aug 17, 2015
- Latest captured
- Sep 18, 2026
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 2,538
- Known gaps
- 0
- afrinic-announce
- Earliest captured
- Aug 18, 2015
- Latest captured
- Sep 18, 2026
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 2,497
- Known gaps
- 0
- afrinic-community-discuss
- Earliest captured
- Sep 11, 2015
- Latest captured
- Dec 29, 2019
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 3,127
- Known gaps
- 0
- afrinic-dbwg
- Earliest captured
- Aug 4, 2026
- Latest captured
- Oct 6, 2026
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 942
- Known gaps
- 0
- afrinic-dnssec-ops
- Earliest captured
- Aug 18, 2015
- Latest captured
- Dec 1, 2016
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 307
- Known gaps
- 0
- afrinic-icp2-review
- Earliest captured
- Apr 10, 2025
- Latest captured
- Nov 10, 2025
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 0
- Known gaps
- 0
- afrinic-measurement-wg
- Earliest captured
- Feb 1, 2018
- Latest captured
- Nov 22, 2024
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 138
- Known gaps
- 0
- afrinic-mira
- Earliest captured
- Nov 17, 2020
- Latest captured
- Nov 22, 2024
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 0
- Known gaps
- 0
- afrinic-ois-wg
- Earliest captured
- Sep 9, 2021
- Latest captured
- Nov 22, 2024
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 0
- Known gaps
- 0
- afrinic-rpki-discuss
- Earliest captured
- Jan 15, 2016
- Latest captured
- Apr 23, 2026
- Last refresh
- Oct 13, 2026
- Coverage
- Source coverage is incomplete.
- Loading
- 154
- Known gaps
- 0
Coverage
Partial
Earliest captured: Aug 4, 2004
Latest captured: Oct 13, 2026
Freshness
Known gaps
- www.afrinic.net: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
- www.afrinic.net: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
- afrinic-rpd: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
- www.afrinic.net: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
- afrinic-africann: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
- afrinic-afripv6-discuss: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
- afrinic-announce: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
- afrinic-community-discuss: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
- afrinic-dbwg: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
- afrinic-dnssec-ops: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
- afrinic-measurement-wg: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
- afrinic-rpki-discuss: Source coverage is incomplete. · The source boundary has not yet been reached.
