IETF LLC & IETF Participation from USA-sanctioned countries

[Fernando Gont <[e-mail]>]

Folks,

While studying the topic of diversity and inclusiveness in the IETF, the 
question arouse about what are the implications of the IETF LLC being 
registered in the USA.

In particular, I'm concerned about the possible implications for 
participants from USA-sanctioned countries or organizations.

I asked a few people here and there, and was referred to this document: 
https://www.ietf.org/media/documents/IETF_LLC_OFAC_Compliance_Policy_2020-10-06.pdf

That document contains text such as:

---- cut here ----
Meeting Registrations
The current automated meeting registration system can continue, but at 
regular intervals, and no later than 30 days before the meeting begins, 
the list of registered participants and financial institutions 
associated with payment of registration fees must be checked (both for 
individual names and country of domicile and residence).
---- cut here ----

and

---- cut here ----
Action
The IETF Executive Director will work with IETF LLC counsel to determine 
what action to take in each individual case. This may include not 
pursuing the contractual relationship, revoking the meeting 
registration, cancelling any existing contract or other action.
---- cut here ----


I'm certainly not a lawyer, and hence I'd like an authoritative and 
clear explanation about what are the possible outcomes of this "OFAC 
Compliance Policy".

For example, could it result in participants from Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, 
North Korea, Sudan or Syria being rejected their registration, and hence 
being prevented to participate in IETF meetings?

If that were the case, I'm sure that we'd all agree that that would be 
inappropriate, discriminatory, oppressive, and ultimately unacceptable. 
I hope that that's not even a possibility.

Could anyone please clarify this?

P.S.: Besides sanctions on countries such as the above, there also seems 
to be a whole list of people and organizations that are 
sanctioned/banned: 
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/specially-designated-nationals-and-blocked-persons-list-sdn-human-readable-lists

Thanks,
-- 
Fernando Gont
e-mail: [e-mail] || [e-mail]
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