Re: [ga] Privacy and Whois databases

[Mikki Barry <ooblick@netpolicy.com>]

At 1:52 PM -0400 10/15/99, J. William Semich wrote:
>This contact information should be private, I believe. If someone needs
>contact imformation (for example, a trademakr attorney) about a domain name
>holder, they should reveal what they need it for and who they are to the
>registrar/registry before private information is given to them.
>
>If they can not justify a valid need for this information, it should be
>witheld.
>
>What does the rest of the DNSO think?

I believe this is exactly on point.  I was personally stalked via 
information in the whois database.   My domain has also been spoofed 
by someone advertising a porn site who had incorrect information 
(deliberately) in the whois database.  I can see both sides of the 
issue.

The contact information should be available for bona fide reasons. 
However, privacy must be protected.  Not just to prevent stalking, 
but also to prevent repercussions against dissidents and others who 
use the net's free speech aspects for criticism.