Good story. I think the biggest problem is misinformation.
If the public thinks having a public WHOIS will stop spam, #1 they're misled, #2 they'll support it.
Unfortunately, we're in a FOX news era temporarily, and naivity will prevail over reality.
I think most of the people here are smarter than that. So, translating that to the public and making it real is something I think we should discuss with importance. I always think about what I would have to say to my grandma - someone who was alive before there were airplanes - if I were to explain the IPv4 - IPv6 conversion. First thing, keep it simple, and second, what matters to her.
There are technical solutions to spam, but the public is being misled
because they use email so often. Analyzing the Asian markets is
fascinating in that the propensity to use email is declining in favor
of mobile devices. When spammers take over wireless devices, the
providers will be as involved as they are now with ISPs, they'll permit
whatever makes them money.
The key point to our concern, I think is stated in the article:
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"Whois rules contradict many international privacy laws, some say. In
Canada and Europe, for example, it's generally illegal for a company to
make any consumers' personal information available to others.
"As a Canadian company, we have laws to abide by. It's very
questionable whether ICANN policy is consistent with Canadian law,"
Rader said.
On the other hand, the U.S. government position is clear: Keep Whois available." (http://redtape.msnbc.com/2007/09/to-some-its-the.html)
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It is this reason that we should discuss this issue and encourage ICANN follow a certain path. This highlights the responsibility to our constituency. This is not just a legal issue, it's beyond that. Rather, there are moral ramifications across borders.
Thanks Beau and Wendy !
aloha,
RJGlass
A@L