Re: [alac] GAO Report on Domain Names

[Wendy Seltzer <wendy@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'd be particularly interested in seeing data from outside the 
U.S.  I don't think we've ever seen a thorough report of all 
registrants' reasons for choosing to provide "inaccurate" 
information, especially presented in a non-U.S.-centric manner.  I 
hear that the recent privacy conference discussed the more 
privacy-protective practices of some ccTLDs.

Does anyone have thoughts how we might gather more information on the 
subject, particularly keeping in mind that those who choose anonymity 
because they fear for their safety may not feel any more comfortable 
trusting us than the domain registration database?

John and I have long disagreed on the utility of WHOIS in stopping 
spam.  I think it only catches the marginal spammers, because the 
high-volume folks have already figured out how to use fake info.  I 
also think the IP WHOIS is more likely to be useful in solving 
technical problems than domain name WHOIS.

--Wendy

At 02:42 AM 12/8/2005, shahshah@xxxxxxxx wrote:
> In the 'Abstract' it is stated that <Data accuracy in the Whois service
> can help law enforcement officials to investigate intellectual property
> misuse and online fraud, or identify the source of spam e-mail, and can
> help Internet operators to resolve technical network issues>. Any idea how
> much the correct portion of WHOIS has actually been helpful in these
> directions? In dispute resolutions, false address results in the failure
> of the DR provider to reach the registrant and hence the loss of domain by
> default. Thus here providing false information can be automatically
> punished. Has anybody been able to combat spam through WHOIS information?
> What 'technical network issues' have been resolved through WHOIS data?
> Just asking for my own education.
> Siavash
>
> > Dear Committee Members,
> >
> > The United States Government Accountability Office, an independent
> > research and investigation department of the United States government,
> > issued a report today on issues directly applicable to aspects of our
> > work. The report is entitled "Internet Management: Prevalence of False
> > Contact Information for Registered Domain Names," and I recommend it to
> > you as helpful background information. The report is available at the
> > following URLs:
> >
> > Main Report:
> > http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06165.pdf
> >
> > Highlights:
> > http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06165high.pdf
> >
> > Abstract:
> > http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-06-165
> >
> >          Bret
> >
> >
>
>
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--
Wendy Seltzer -- wendy@xxxxxxxxxxx
Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School
Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet & Society
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/seltzer.html
http://www.chillingeffects.org/