keep whois privacy for all non-corporate registrants and small businesses

[Jared Showalter <jms137@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have couple of domains, which I use purely for myself as a private
individual, and I have used my registrar's proxy service.  While the right
of anonymous speech is very important, I'm not even trying to be anonymous:
currently anyone can find my first and last name by visiting my site!

However, non-proxy registration is very undesirable, because it requires me
to put my home address and personal phone number in a public database that
people very obviously trawl through.  For example, before I used proxy
registration, I would receive scammy-looking attempts to get me to switch
registrars.  Furthermore, other individuals may have much more serious
concerns about the privacy of their personal contact information --
concerns for physical safety, for example.

I understand that your proposal is limited to sites with "commercial
activity", but this casts far too wide a net.  How do we know that this
won't be used to prevent blogs with Google AdWords or Paypal tip jars from
being forced not to use proxy registration?  Furthermore, why shouldn't
someone running a small online business from their home be able to keep
their address private.

Your proposal focuses on lawsuits, but there is no real problem now with
suing domains with proxy registration -- providers respond to subpoenas.
And there is ZERO problem with law enforcement getting information from
proxy registrars.

I honestly don't see any benefit to your proposal.  However, it a minimum,
it should only apply to corporate entities, not private individuals, even
if they make a little money from ads or tips, or operate a small business.

As a counter-proposal, I suggest that proxy registration be available to
ALL individual registrants (those for whom the Organization field is
inapplicable, or filled in with the personal name of the registrant, or
whatever).  But frankly, I would just scrap this proposal.

Thank you for your consideration.

Jared