WHOIS privacy

[Al Mithani <almithani@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear ICANN –

Regarding the proposed rules governing companies that provide WHOIS privacy
services (as set forth in the Privacy and Policy Services Accreditation
Issues Policy document):

I urge you to respect internet users' rights to privacy and due process.
- Everyone deserves the right to privacy.
- No one’s personal information should be revealed without a court order,
regardless of whether the request comes from a private individual or law
enforcement agency.

In general, I'm appalled that ICANN would suggest something like this.
Essentially you're erecting a barrier to the creation of online businesses,
not to mention opening up everyone who already owns an online business to
having their personal information pilfered and used without their
knowledge.  This especially hurts small business owners - people who work
out of their private address.

Do you really want to make people think twice about starting an online
business?

Private information should be kept private.  Thank you,

           -Al Mithani