ICANN Ombudsman Fails to Hide Story Regarding Air Canada Argument
ICANN Ombudsman tries to get name taken out of public record in air travel dispute.
Earlier this year DNW wrote regarding ICANN Ombudsman Frank Fowlie and a complaint he filed against Air Canada. A Canadian Transportation Panel found that Fowlie “engaged in abusive and offensive behaviour” on the flight. Needless to say, the complaint made Fowlie look bad. Following granting an interview to the Ottawa Citizen and the media attention that ensued, Fowlie tried to get his name removed from the complaint.
Fowlie filed an application for non‑publication of his name in the decision, citing a number of reasons, as stated by the recently handed down decision denying his request:
-the publication of the decision has had an adverse impact on his livelihood and that since the publication of the decision and the reporting of it in online journals relating to his profession, he has become a target of media scrutiny.
-that a non-publication order is necessary to prevent a serious risk to an notable interest which in this case is Dr. Fowlie’s employment as an ombudsman that carries an emphasis on public perception of impartiality and neutrality.
-the ruling has a direct and highly detrimental impact on that perception that goes beyond the scope of mere embarrassment and undermines public confidence in the Office of the Ombudsman. He alleges that this impact directly interferes with his ability to perform his job.
-the scope and nature of his employment is uniquely sensitive to matters such as the present case, and the threat to that employment posed by publication is real.
The review panel denied Fowlie’s request, citing a handful of reasons, such as Fowlie’s failure to submit evidence backing his claims.
(Hat tip George K)
