Slashdot Mirror
Domain: pfir.org
Stories and comments across the archive that link to pfir.org.
Comments · 18
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Re:Slashdot self-publishing?
Who is Lauren Weinstein and why does he get to submit his own blog post to the front page of slashdot?
Lauren Weinstein was working on technology and privacy issues when you were in diapers. (One of my closest brushes with an Internet great was having him correct me when I thought "Lauren" was a woman's name...oops.)
You are reduced to apprentice geek.
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Re:Uhmmmmm
http://www.whois.net/whois/gctip.org
gctip was registered by Lauren Weinstein on behalf of Vortex Technology, which also appears to be run by Lauren. According to their whois record, they have an office in this building. On her blog, she claims to be self-employed.
They also seem related to pfir.org, though not by whois. What exactly that connection is, besides webdesign, is unclear.
My guess, this is either a well-meaning person who has never run a 100k response survey before, or they're a First Class Grep Wizard.
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Re:Bayesian is still good
The great thing about Bayesian filtering is that it's adaptive. So they would have to dramatically increase the rate at which they discover and use filter-killing tricks for this to work.
Hmmm. Many anti-spammers seem to assume that advertisers will keep sending the same kind of spam, just superficially doctored by the spam-sender to evade the latest anti-spam heuristics.But I worry that eventually, some companies that advertise via spam will learn to speak in a human voice. Surely this is possible for some products or scams. Advertisements don't have to look like advertisements, especially if they are only trying to pique your interest in a product that you will then go buy (or vote for) offline.
Even you will have to read the message carefully to realize that it's unsolicited bulk email. In such cases, we can't expect good accuracy from Bayesian filters, and the message will take more of your time.
Basically, advertisers adapt. A parallel example: If we get too good at zapping TV commercials with our TiVOs, they'll switch to more insidious product placement in the shows, so that the commercials are indistinguishable from the content.
Collaborative spam-filtering methods like Vipul's Razor might hold more promise. But the character of spam could shift to evade these filters, too. Spam might eventually come to resemble a bigger form of junk snailmail, or telemarketing -- where there are lots more advertisers but each one does a better job of targeting to a smaller list of customers (thanks to database companies like Experian). By flying under the radar with smaller lists, an advertiser might be able to stay out of the database of known spams. (With a small list, few recipients may bother to report the spam, so you can't distinguish it from solicited bulk mail that has been accidentally or maliciously reported as spam by several people.)
In the long run, I think we have to solve spam in the email architecture. I've always thought hashcash was the most promising idea, and it is now being pursued at Microsoft Research. There are also more radical proposals like Tripoli.
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ICANN accepting comments
I for one will be happy to see VeriSign blasted on this one
Well, blast away . .
ICANN is accepting comments on Sitefinder. This page also has links to various official letters they've received.
Also, Lauren Weinstein 's People for Internet Responsibility is looking for data on the effects of sitefinder -
ICANN accepting comments
I for one will be happy to see VeriSign blasted on this one
Well, blast away . .
ICANN is accepting comments on Sitefinder. This page also has links to various official letters they've received.
Also, Lauren Weinstein 's People for Internet Responsibility is looking for data on the effects of sitefinder -
Exactly
The only way to stop spam is to scrap SMTP and build a new trust based system from the ground up. The protocol is broken and can't be fixed.
If you weren't already at 5, I would have modded you up. Wish I could mod you higher. This is exactly correct, and it makes me a little crazy to see all the continual wasted effort to plug holes in the dike even as new ones steadily emerge.
Please make sure your congresscritter really understands that, and convinces all his/her congresscritter friends the same way. We need to get moving on the alternative, whatever it's going to be. (Tripoli?) -
Re:Sounds an awful lot like kerberos
Why is it that when some chick and dude get some stupid idea to make them famous, spend $50 bucks on a domain name, and post a website,
Assuming that the preceding refers to Lauren Weinstein and Peter G. Neumann, check out this hot picture of the "chick" on a motorcycle. If you want to use it as your desktop background, here's a larger version.
In any case, my point is that your personal attacks on the authors are inappropriate. You obviously don't know either of them (or more importantly, their backgrounds). Limit your critique to their proposal.
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Re:Sounds an awful lot like kerberos
Why is it that when some chick and dude get some stupid idea to make them famous, spend $50 bucks on a domain name, and post a website,
Assuming that the preceding refers to Lauren Weinstein and Peter G. Neumann, check out this hot picture of the "chick" on a motorcycle. If you want to use it as your desktop background, here's a larger version.
In any case, my point is that your personal attacks on the authors are inappropriate. You obviously don't know either of them (or more importantly, their backgrounds). Limit your critique to their proposal.
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Site Quote
PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility
TRIPOLI Project Press Release
May 8, 2003PFIR Announces the "TRIPOLI" Project
A Call to Arms to the Internet and Open-Source Communities!
It's Time to Secure E-Mail, Control Spam, and Empower E-Mail Users!People For Internet Responsibility (PFIR) co-founders Lauren Weinstein and Peter G. Neumann today called on the Internet and Open-Source Communities to consider a proposal for the most significant and far-reaching changes to e-mail systems since the creation of the Internet and its ancestor ARPANET more than 30 years ago.
PFIR today released a white paper describing a proposed project to consider the implementation and deployment of widespread encryption, authentication, anti-spam, and other advances directly into the fundamental structure of Internet, intranet, and local e-mail systems.
The "TRIPOLI" project overview paper located at:
http://www.pfir.org/tripoli-overview
describes the proposed new environment which focuses on ensuring that choices and power regarding e-mail are vested directly with e-mail users themselves, rather than with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or government agencies.
The changes described by the TRIPOLI proposal could be gradually implemented, largely based upon open-source software tools that already exist. Ultimately under TRIPOLI, the volumes of forgeries and spam (both received by users and traversing the Internet) would be drastically reduced, by default all e-mail would be encrypted, and e-mail users would have essentially complete control over how they individually choose to send and receive e-mail.
"Current e-mail systems were not designed to deal with the kind of world we have today -- they've become a hopeless nightmare for users and ISPs alike," said Weinstein. "E-mail users are inundated with spam, forged mail, and other garbage, and unfortunately the actions many ISPs are taking to try control spam and other e-mail are shackling their honest customers with unreasonable restrictions and making matters even worse. Some of the proposed anti-spam laws may also exacerbate these problems without really controlling spam at all. Legitimate e-mail users need to be put back in the driver's seat, and there isn't a moment to lose."
"These problems are getting more severe every day," said Neumann. "Not only are users and networks drowning under spam and other e-mail deficiencies, but basic matters of security and reliability on the Internet are being largely ignored under the current intolerable situation. These critical problems simply cannot be fixed without coordinated and major changes to the way e-mail is handled throughout the Internet. It's going to be a big job, but we have to get going on this right now."
PFIR hopes that the TRIPOLI proposal can act as a starting point for discussion and implementation of systems to solve the many e-mail problems that exist today, in a manner that empowers users rather than unfairly restricting them. PFIR invites the participation of the open-source and Internet communities at large towards these crucial goals.
Persons interested in participating or getting more information about the TRIPOLI project can send e-mail to:
or use the contacts listed below.
- - -
CONTACTS:
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@pfir.org
Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
http://www.pfir.org/laurenPeter G. Neumann
neuma -
Site Quote
PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility
TRIPOLI Project Press Release
May 8, 2003PFIR Announces the "TRIPOLI" Project
A Call to Arms to the Internet and Open-Source Communities!
It's Time to Secure E-Mail, Control Spam, and Empower E-Mail Users!People For Internet Responsibility (PFIR) co-founders Lauren Weinstein and Peter G. Neumann today called on the Internet and Open-Source Communities to consider a proposal for the most significant and far-reaching changes to e-mail systems since the creation of the Internet and its ancestor ARPANET more than 30 years ago.
PFIR today released a white paper describing a proposed project to consider the implementation and deployment of widespread encryption, authentication, anti-spam, and other advances directly into the fundamental structure of Internet, intranet, and local e-mail systems.
The "TRIPOLI" project overview paper located at:
http://www.pfir.org/tripoli-overview
describes the proposed new environment which focuses on ensuring that choices and power regarding e-mail are vested directly with e-mail users themselves, rather than with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or government agencies.
The changes described by the TRIPOLI proposal could be gradually implemented, largely based upon open-source software tools that already exist. Ultimately under TRIPOLI, the volumes of forgeries and spam (both received by users and traversing the Internet) would be drastically reduced, by default all e-mail would be encrypted, and e-mail users would have essentially complete control over how they individually choose to send and receive e-mail.
"Current e-mail systems were not designed to deal with the kind of world we have today -- they've become a hopeless nightmare for users and ISPs alike," said Weinstein. "E-mail users are inundated with spam, forged mail, and other garbage, and unfortunately the actions many ISPs are taking to try control spam and other e-mail are shackling their honest customers with unreasonable restrictions and making matters even worse. Some of the proposed anti-spam laws may also exacerbate these problems without really controlling spam at all. Legitimate e-mail users need to be put back in the driver's seat, and there isn't a moment to lose."
"These problems are getting more severe every day," said Neumann. "Not only are users and networks drowning under spam and other e-mail deficiencies, but basic matters of security and reliability on the Internet are being largely ignored under the current intolerable situation. These critical problems simply cannot be fixed without coordinated and major changes to the way e-mail is handled throughout the Internet. It's going to be a big job, but we have to get going on this right now."
PFIR hopes that the TRIPOLI proposal can act as a starting point for discussion and implementation of systems to solve the many e-mail problems that exist today, in a manner that empowers users rather than unfairly restricting them. PFIR invites the participation of the open-source and Internet communities at large towards these crucial goals.
Persons interested in participating or getting more information about the TRIPOLI project can send e-mail to:
or use the contacts listed below.
- - -
CONTACTS:
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@pfir.org
Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
http://www.pfir.org/laurenPeter G. Neumann
neuma -
Site Quote
PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility
TRIPOLI Project Press Release
May 8, 2003PFIR Announces the "TRIPOLI" Project
A Call to Arms to the Internet and Open-Source Communities!
It's Time to Secure E-Mail, Control Spam, and Empower E-Mail Users!People For Internet Responsibility (PFIR) co-founders Lauren Weinstein and Peter G. Neumann today called on the Internet and Open-Source Communities to consider a proposal for the most significant and far-reaching changes to e-mail systems since the creation of the Internet and its ancestor ARPANET more than 30 years ago.
PFIR today released a white paper describing a proposed project to consider the implementation and deployment of widespread encryption, authentication, anti-spam, and other advances directly into the fundamental structure of Internet, intranet, and local e-mail systems.
The "TRIPOLI" project overview paper located at:
http://www.pfir.org/tripoli-overview
describes the proposed new environment which focuses on ensuring that choices and power regarding e-mail are vested directly with e-mail users themselves, rather than with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or government agencies.
The changes described by the TRIPOLI proposal could be gradually implemented, largely based upon open-source software tools that already exist. Ultimately under TRIPOLI, the volumes of forgeries and spam (both received by users and traversing the Internet) would be drastically reduced, by default all e-mail would be encrypted, and e-mail users would have essentially complete control over how they individually choose to send and receive e-mail.
"Current e-mail systems were not designed to deal with the kind of world we have today -- they've become a hopeless nightmare for users and ISPs alike," said Weinstein. "E-mail users are inundated with spam, forged mail, and other garbage, and unfortunately the actions many ISPs are taking to try control spam and other e-mail are shackling their honest customers with unreasonable restrictions and making matters even worse. Some of the proposed anti-spam laws may also exacerbate these problems without really controlling spam at all. Legitimate e-mail users need to be put back in the driver's seat, and there isn't a moment to lose."
"These problems are getting more severe every day," said Neumann. "Not only are users and networks drowning under spam and other e-mail deficiencies, but basic matters of security and reliability on the Internet are being largely ignored under the current intolerable situation. These critical problems simply cannot be fixed without coordinated and major changes to the way e-mail is handled throughout the Internet. It's going to be a big job, but we have to get going on this right now."
PFIR hopes that the TRIPOLI proposal can act as a starting point for discussion and implementation of systems to solve the many e-mail problems that exist today, in a manner that empowers users rather than unfairly restricting them. PFIR invites the participation of the open-source and Internet communities at large towards these crucial goals.
Persons interested in participating or getting more information about the TRIPOLI project can send e-mail to:
or use the contacts listed below.
- - -
CONTACTS:
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@pfir.org
Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
http://www.pfir.org/laurenPeter G. Neumann
neuma -
Site Quote
PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility
TRIPOLI Project Press Release
May 8, 2003PFIR Announces the "TRIPOLI" Project
A Call to Arms to the Internet and Open-Source Communities!
It's Time to Secure E-Mail, Control Spam, and Empower E-Mail Users!People For Internet Responsibility (PFIR) co-founders Lauren Weinstein and Peter G. Neumann today called on the Internet and Open-Source Communities to consider a proposal for the most significant and far-reaching changes to e-mail systems since the creation of the Internet and its ancestor ARPANET more than 30 years ago.
PFIR today released a white paper describing a proposed project to consider the implementation and deployment of widespread encryption, authentication, anti-spam, and other advances directly into the fundamental structure of Internet, intranet, and local e-mail systems.
The "TRIPOLI" project overview paper located at:
http://www.pfir.org/tripoli-overview
describes the proposed new environment which focuses on ensuring that choices and power regarding e-mail are vested directly with e-mail users themselves, rather than with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or government agencies.
The changes described by the TRIPOLI proposal could be gradually implemented, largely based upon open-source software tools that already exist. Ultimately under TRIPOLI, the volumes of forgeries and spam (both received by users and traversing the Internet) would be drastically reduced, by default all e-mail would be encrypted, and e-mail users would have essentially complete control over how they individually choose to send and receive e-mail.
"Current e-mail systems were not designed to deal with the kind of world we have today -- they've become a hopeless nightmare for users and ISPs alike," said Weinstein. "E-mail users are inundated with spam, forged mail, and other garbage, and unfortunately the actions many ISPs are taking to try control spam and other e-mail are shackling their honest customers with unreasonable restrictions and making matters even worse. Some of the proposed anti-spam laws may also exacerbate these problems without really controlling spam at all. Legitimate e-mail users need to be put back in the driver's seat, and there isn't a moment to lose."
"These problems are getting more severe every day," said Neumann. "Not only are users and networks drowning under spam and other e-mail deficiencies, but basic matters of security and reliability on the Internet are being largely ignored under the current intolerable situation. These critical problems simply cannot be fixed without coordinated and major changes to the way e-mail is handled throughout the Internet. It's going to be a big job, but we have to get going on this right now."
PFIR hopes that the TRIPOLI proposal can act as a starting point for discussion and implementation of systems to solve the many e-mail problems that exist today, in a manner that empowers users rather than unfairly restricting them. PFIR invites the participation of the open-source and Internet communities at large towards these crucial goals.
Persons interested in participating or getting more information about the TRIPOLI project can send e-mail to:
or use the contacts listed below.
- - -
CONTACTS:
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@pfir.org
Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
http://www.pfir.org/laurenPeter G. Neumann
neuma -
Site Quote
PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility
TRIPOLI Project Press Release
May 8, 2003PFIR Announces the "TRIPOLI" Project
A Call to Arms to the Internet and Open-Source Communities!
It's Time to Secure E-Mail, Control Spam, and Empower E-Mail Users!People For Internet Responsibility (PFIR) co-founders Lauren Weinstein and Peter G. Neumann today called on the Internet and Open-Source Communities to consider a proposal for the most significant and far-reaching changes to e-mail systems since the creation of the Internet and its ancestor ARPANET more than 30 years ago.
PFIR today released a white paper describing a proposed project to consider the implementation and deployment of widespread encryption, authentication, anti-spam, and other advances directly into the fundamental structure of Internet, intranet, and local e-mail systems.
The "TRIPOLI" project overview paper located at:
http://www.pfir.org/tripoli-overview
describes the proposed new environment which focuses on ensuring that choices and power regarding e-mail are vested directly with e-mail users themselves, rather than with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or government agencies.
The changes described by the TRIPOLI proposal could be gradually implemented, largely based upon open-source software tools that already exist. Ultimately under TRIPOLI, the volumes of forgeries and spam (both received by users and traversing the Internet) would be drastically reduced, by default all e-mail would be encrypted, and e-mail users would have essentially complete control over how they individually choose to send and receive e-mail.
"Current e-mail systems were not designed to deal with the kind of world we have today -- they've become a hopeless nightmare for users and ISPs alike," said Weinstein. "E-mail users are inundated with spam, forged mail, and other garbage, and unfortunately the actions many ISPs are taking to try control spam and other e-mail are shackling their honest customers with unreasonable restrictions and making matters even worse. Some of the proposed anti-spam laws may also exacerbate these problems without really controlling spam at all. Legitimate e-mail users need to be put back in the driver's seat, and there isn't a moment to lose."
"These problems are getting more severe every day," said Neumann. "Not only are users and networks drowning under spam and other e-mail deficiencies, but basic matters of security and reliability on the Internet are being largely ignored under the current intolerable situation. These critical problems simply cannot be fixed without coordinated and major changes to the way e-mail is handled throughout the Internet. It's going to be a big job, but we have to get going on this right now."
PFIR hopes that the TRIPOLI proposal can act as a starting point for discussion and implementation of systems to solve the many e-mail problems that exist today, in a manner that empowers users rather than unfairly restricting them. PFIR invites the participation of the open-source and Internet communities at large towards these crucial goals.
Persons interested in participating or getting more information about the TRIPOLI project can send e-mail to:
or use the contacts listed below.
- - -
CONTACTS:
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@pfir.org
Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
http://www.pfir.org/laurenPeter G. Neumann
neuma -
Site Quote
PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility
TRIPOLI Project Press Release
May 8, 2003PFIR Announces the "TRIPOLI" Project
A Call to Arms to the Internet and Open-Source Communities!
It's Time to Secure E-Mail, Control Spam, and Empower E-Mail Users!People For Internet Responsibility (PFIR) co-founders Lauren Weinstein and Peter G. Neumann today called on the Internet and Open-Source Communities to consider a proposal for the most significant and far-reaching changes to e-mail systems since the creation of the Internet and its ancestor ARPANET more than 30 years ago.
PFIR today released a white paper describing a proposed project to consider the implementation and deployment of widespread encryption, authentication, anti-spam, and other advances directly into the fundamental structure of Internet, intranet, and local e-mail systems.
The "TRIPOLI" project overview paper located at:
http://www.pfir.org/tripoli-overview
describes the proposed new environment which focuses on ensuring that choices and power regarding e-mail are vested directly with e-mail users themselves, rather than with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or government agencies.
The changes described by the TRIPOLI proposal could be gradually implemented, largely based upon open-source software tools that already exist. Ultimately under TRIPOLI, the volumes of forgeries and spam (both received by users and traversing the Internet) would be drastically reduced, by default all e-mail would be encrypted, and e-mail users would have essentially complete control over how they individually choose to send and receive e-mail.
"Current e-mail systems were not designed to deal with the kind of world we have today -- they've become a hopeless nightmare for users and ISPs alike," said Weinstein. "E-mail users are inundated with spam, forged mail, and other garbage, and unfortunately the actions many ISPs are taking to try control spam and other e-mail are shackling their honest customers with unreasonable restrictions and making matters even worse. Some of the proposed anti-spam laws may also exacerbate these problems without really controlling spam at all. Legitimate e-mail users need to be put back in the driver's seat, and there isn't a moment to lose."
"These problems are getting more severe every day," said Neumann. "Not only are users and networks drowning under spam and other e-mail deficiencies, but basic matters of security and reliability on the Internet are being largely ignored under the current intolerable situation. These critical problems simply cannot be fixed without coordinated and major changes to the way e-mail is handled throughout the Internet. It's going to be a big job, but we have to get going on this right now."
PFIR hopes that the TRIPOLI proposal can act as a starting point for discussion and implementation of systems to solve the many e-mail problems that exist today, in a manner that empowers users rather than unfairly restricting them. PFIR invites the participation of the open-source and Internet communities at large towards these crucial goals.
Persons interested in participating or getting more information about the TRIPOLI project can send e-mail to:
or use the contacts listed below.
- - -
CONTACTS:
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@pfir.org
Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
http://www.pfir.org/laurenPeter G. Neumann
neuma -
Site Quote
PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility
TRIPOLI Project Press Release
May 8, 2003PFIR Announces the "TRIPOLI" Project
A Call to Arms to the Internet and Open-Source Communities!
It's Time to Secure E-Mail, Control Spam, and Empower E-Mail Users!People For Internet Responsibility (PFIR) co-founders Lauren Weinstein and Peter G. Neumann today called on the Internet and Open-Source Communities to consider a proposal for the most significant and far-reaching changes to e-mail systems since the creation of the Internet and its ancestor ARPANET more than 30 years ago.
PFIR today released a white paper describing a proposed project to consider the implementation and deployment of widespread encryption, authentication, anti-spam, and other advances directly into the fundamental structure of Internet, intranet, and local e-mail systems.
The "TRIPOLI" project overview paper located at:
http://www.pfir.org/tripoli-overview
describes the proposed new environment which focuses on ensuring that choices and power regarding e-mail are vested directly with e-mail users themselves, rather than with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or government agencies.
The changes described by the TRIPOLI proposal could be gradually implemented, largely based upon open-source software tools that already exist. Ultimately under TRIPOLI, the volumes of forgeries and spam (both received by users and traversing the Internet) would be drastically reduced, by default all e-mail would be encrypted, and e-mail users would have essentially complete control over how they individually choose to send and receive e-mail.
"Current e-mail systems were not designed to deal with the kind of world we have today -- they've become a hopeless nightmare for users and ISPs alike," said Weinstein. "E-mail users are inundated with spam, forged mail, and other garbage, and unfortunately the actions many ISPs are taking to try control spam and other e-mail are shackling their honest customers with unreasonable restrictions and making matters even worse. Some of the proposed anti-spam laws may also exacerbate these problems without really controlling spam at all. Legitimate e-mail users need to be put back in the driver's seat, and there isn't a moment to lose."
"These problems are getting more severe every day," said Neumann. "Not only are users and networks drowning under spam and other e-mail deficiencies, but basic matters of security and reliability on the Internet are being largely ignored under the current intolerable situation. These critical problems simply cannot be fixed without coordinated and major changes to the way e-mail is handled throughout the Internet. It's going to be a big job, but we have to get going on this right now."
PFIR hopes that the TRIPOLI proposal can act as a starting point for discussion and implementation of systems to solve the many e-mail problems that exist today, in a manner that empowers users rather than unfairly restricting them. PFIR invites the participation of the open-source and Internet communities at large towards these crucial goals.
Persons interested in participating or getting more information about the TRIPOLI project can send e-mail to:
or use the contacts listed below.
- - -
CONTACTS:
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@pfir.org
Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
http://www.pfir.org/laurenPeter G. Neumann
neuma -
Too much powerPFIR's Declaration of Principles is FNW's proposed guiding framework for the replacement of ICANN. Most of them sound good to me (except for restrictions on anonymity). But do we really need and want an international organization which takes on all these areas? Regulation always sounds great if you think that all the decisions are going your way. But if this powerful body starts making decisions that you don't agree with, watch out. You've created a monster.
Take a look at some of the areas covered by this Declaration: financial privacy; medical privacy; technological aid to the developing world; monitoring and tracking of internet access by governments or industry; content filtering; spam; electronic signatures; electronic voting; DOS attacks; penalties for computer crimes; restrictions on anonymity; program installation dialogs; framing of web pages; web linking; encryption; national jurisdiction; DMCA and copyright issues; patents.
Now, by and large PFIR takes reasonable positions on these issues that most of us would support. But do we really want a body that includes all these topics in its area of responsibility? That would be an enormous concentration of power! And we all know what happens to regulatory agencies which have too much power. They get corrupted and influenced by the deep pockets businesses they are supposed to be regulating.
Creating the super-powerful replacement for the ICANN that PFIR calls for would be a big mistake. We should stick to an agency which has a very limited mandate to deal with Internet infrastructure like DNS. I don't know enough to be able to come up with a plan to fix ICANN, but following PFIR's ideas would be terribly risky.
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PFIR Statement
And the people at People for internet responsibility think that opening the source is important but consider far worse problems with the entire carnivore idea.
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Too many problems to overcome firstHaving been married recently and hearing my wife say repeatedly, "Government sure makes it hard for me to be an honest citizen," I can definitely appreciate and understand the appeal of moving a lot of the government-citizen interaction online -- e.g., no more snotty bureaucrats, long lines, horrendously inconvenient hours, etc. But, on the other hand, I've seen how OLTP systems are designed and implemented; for many, it's a playground, Kindergarten mentality. I've seen how and why functionality, reliability, scalability, security, privacy, fault tolerance, availability, integrity, etc. get butchered or even completely sacrificed, and I've seen the results -- corrupted data and systems unavailability being examples. I've seen how the absence of plans and processes to recover from faults and disasters can leave an OLTP system dead in the water, totally useless for hours -- occasionally even more. I've experienced how useless call center people can be -- e.g., because they're not trained well enough in processes and policies, they don't have access to information, their computers don't work, etc. I've also seen how flaky Internet connectivity, for whatever reason, can be. We all have. And this is all coming from either start-ups, who are supposedly on the bleeding edge of technology and innovation, or historic, reputable companies, who are putting their reputation on the line (and sometimes damaging it) to play catch-up who know better.
I've also seen and read more than enough about how totally inept (U.S.) local, state, and federal government agencies, officials, and lawmakers can be. They're barely capable of handling basic government functions -- e.g., education, transportation, defense, finances, and the mish-mash of social programs -- in an intelligible manner.
If goverment agencies, software companies, and consultants are brought together, do you honestly think they'll understand what it means to build and be able to actually build systems that are highly available (99.9% is a good start), fault-tolerant, and reliable; that guarantee data integrity; that safeguard citizens' information and privacy; that are secure from the webservers back to the database(s); that are scalable? Will they be able to design, implement, and rehearse disaster recovery plans? How will they handle issues such as citizen authentication (e.g., see PFIR Statement on Electronic Signatures and Documents for an explanation of the risks surrounding recent U.S. legistation to make electronic signatures legally binding) and information disputes/inaccuracies? Are they ready to staff call centers with enough trained employees with adequate computers and tools to help citizens in a timely manner (e.g., so that they're not on hold for 15 - 30 minutes). Are they ready to adapt current government processes, regulations, and procedures so that online transactions are efficient? For example, how do you translate the real-world requirement for original documentation into the online world without making the turn-around time for transaction processing measurable in weeks? And what about those who can't use online transactions? Over time when transaction processing becomes much more common, will they be forced to pay a surcharge to visit a government office for their business, just as some banks do in today's ATM/mail/online-banking world when someone tries to talk with a teller, even for something that can't be done via ATM, mail, or online banking? Will they be open to independent, surprise audits?
A lot of unanswered questions, and, let's face it, previous efforts by private and public sector groups to modernize public-sector agencies haven't gone as smoothly as they should've.
Instead of spending millions upon millions of dollars on technologies and paradigms that government agencies and officials have proven complete arrogance of in the past and making software companies and consultants obscenely rich, wouldn't it be better to spend some money in the short term to streamline the current processes and practices? And then do enough research to phase in a solid OLTP system over time, rather than a rushed, flaky one with flaky processes behind it?
As others have stated, Virginia has done an excellent job of making visits to their Department of Motor Vehicles offices significantly less painful and lengthy. My wife was able to get a new driver's license, register and title her car, and get new license plates in all of 30 minutes or so on a Saturday morning at a busy DMV office. And the folks were very friendly and helpful, patiently answering questions and such. Her interest in their online system all but died after that -- she doesn't see the need, doesn't want the nerves (e.g., where's my registration, is something wrong, did they get it, did they lose it?), and doesn't want to deal with the risks.
