Re: [ga] Privacy and Whois databases

[<idno@tallship.net>]

I think this information should be public record, period.

there are several ways that people can protect themselves from so-called
stalkers, and spoofers can play their gig anyway. There are PO Boxes,
business addresses etc, available and even bogus information can be fed in
as well for the ultra paranoid. This has been done over and over again and
with regards to the SOA records and other such DNS records, someone needs
to be contacted in certain cases regardless.

For individuals, education should proceed irresponsible registrations just
like education for the safe operation of firearms is a no-brainer for
those who purchase weapons.

There will always be those who don't use common sense.

Nothing has changed here on the Internet with repect to the whois
databases, only the perception that this "World Wide Web" IS the Internet
is a new concept having come along in the last few years.

On Fri, 15 Oct 1999, Mikki Barry wrote:

> 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.
>