RE: [ga] Privacy and Whois databases

[Srikanth Narra <snarra@talus.net>]

Peter

This proposal, if any thing, should act to everyone's advantage in fighting
spam.

1. It becomes prohibitively expensive for a spammer to get (or revalidate
your information if you change it) from whois database as they have to pay
on a domain by domain basis giving valid reason (however filmsy) for
obtaining your details. The records of such requests exist with the
register.

2. Becomes (hopefully) easier for registers to spot someone mining the whois
for spamming purposes  - as they will have to make fairly number of
requests. At the least complicates spammer's methods to gather information
as they will have to use multiple identities, etc (remember verifiable means
of payment).

(maybe we can even suggest some guidelines for registers to request for a
additional safety deposit from someone requesting too large a number of
records like couple of thousand - for legal defence or compensation purposes
- to be release back to requester after a certain time lapse)

3. Gives you a advance notice that someone is trying to lookup your records
and  why, (automatically and free of cost email to your email account -
unlike credit bureaus where you have to request for such information) -
giving you a chance to notify register if you suspect its a spammer. or take
precautions if its a potential stacker or political/religious persecuter.

4. As far as change from present system - from your additional burden
perspective - all that has changed to is, you having to pay nominal fee
(just like a spammer would) to enquire the spammers records. All your legal
and other options remain intact  - nothing else changes from present day. A
fair price for the little bit more sanity, peace of mind and personal safety
- is it not ?

Best of all nobody ICANN or anyone gets additional powers or juridiction and
is a market based solution.

comments ?

Sri
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Veeck
To: Mark C. Langston
Cc: ga@dnso.org; Srikanth Narra
Sent: 10/15/99 10:19 PM
Subject: Re: [ga] Privacy and Whois databases



"Mark C. Langston" wrote:

> On 15 October 1999, Srikanth Narra <snarra@talus.net> wrote:
>
> >May be we can take a clue from the way credit files are kept in US
and use
> >the same model.
> >
> >The whois records stay private with register. Anyone wants to take a
look at
> >them pays a nominal amount by verifiable means like credit card or a
check
> >for the privileage to see the information. (that should cover the
registers
> >expenses for keeping the records private and to fend the queries).

I use whois to fight spam abuse.  Are  Spam complaints going to be taken
over by
ICANN or a subset thereof?

Peter Veeck