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It seems fairly obvious to anyone taking a dispassionate view
of this issue that Verisign's action in unilaterally imposing a redirection
which overrules prior individual selections, cannot be opted out of, and
abitrarily abrogates requests which were clearly not intended to go to
Verisign's Web site, is an intrusion of privacy. It would also appear that
the imposition of this sort of procedure (presumably for private profit) on the
Internet community without discussion, and the refusal to withdraw the system
even temporarily to allow discussion of its effects, is a breach of trust and a
breach of contract. Immediate and decisive action is needed to remedy the
harm already caused; this may need to include legal claims for
damages. The resposible authorities must also make it clear that
future contractors to the Internet system (a unique international pubic utility,
which needs to be protected from such hijacking attempts in pursuit of private
interest) will be summarily terminated if they indulge in such
behavior.
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