Privacy

[Tad Patterson <JTPatterson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I was very disappointed to hear that ICANN is considering forcing domain 
owners to make their personal information public. There is no need for 
this. Any reasonable legal need to obtain this information could easily 
be done through a court order to the registrar. Meanwhile, there is so 
much real harm that can be done by undermining people's privacy. With so 
many being targeted with harassment and hate campaigns as well as 
phenomenons like SWATting, the only protection many have from those who 
would terrorize them is the privacy of their personal information. Once 
that information is out there their homes are never safe again.
    All of the potential for abuse, harassment and physical danger is 
on one side and what is on the other? Making it easier for the 
government and organizations to track people down? Maybe some people 
don't want to be tracked down. If the government has a legitimate reason 
to find someone they already have the means to do that. Everyone else is 
not entitled to a person's home address.
    Not only is this not a worthwhile priority for ICANN but it has 
capacity to do serious harm to vulnerable individuals who will have to 
choose between being a part of our increasingly online society and their 
own personal safety.
-John T. Patterson