WHOIS Privacy

[Colin Johnson <cjg_johnson@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear ICANN,
                       I believe the proposed rule changes for WHOIS operators 
are bizarre and potentially life threatening. In an internet full of criminals 
and evil doers the privacy of web site owners must - MUST be protected. If 
there are legitimate legal claims for ownership information there are currently 
procedures for these to be obtained. However to publish them publicly would be 
as good as giving them the keys to your house.

Sadly I deal with scammers and other criminal organizations regularly, and 
think they would be only beneficiaries of publishing such information.

Instead I recommend INCREASING the privacy of web site owners, by making all 
WHOIS information private and privileged. These should only be obtainable by 
legal process in the country where the domain owner resides and where ICANN 
agrees to the reasons for the disclosure. For example, providing the name and 
address of the owner of a Gay rights web site to the Iranian government or ISIS 
so they can be executed would not, in my opinion, be a valid reason for 
disclosure.
- Kind regards, Colin Johnson