VeriSign says more unannounced surprises may be forthcoming!

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
> Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2003 21:49:11 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
> Subject: VeriSign says more unannounced surprises may be forthcoming!
> To: dave () farber net
>
>
>
> Dave,
>
> While the circus was proceeding out here in California -- proving that
> many Californians really *do* love boarish clowns -- ICANN held its public
> meeting regarding VeriSign's Site Finder.  As reported in a CNET
> article at:
>
> http://news.com.com/2100-1038-5088128.html
>
> VeriSign suggested that they didn't give warning to the network community
> about Site Finder for "competitive" reasons, that they may turn
> it back on again at any time, and they won't guarantee that more "surprise"
> changes of this sort won't be coming from them in the future.  They also
> reportedly did their best to limit the agenda to a narrow focus, and
> expressed concern that they hadn't seen the presentation from XO
> Communications in advance.  Yeah, maybe that gives them some clue as to how
> the rest of us felt about Site Finder's surprise debut.
>
> The solution to this situation is becoming very clear.  The critical
> registry and DNS functions that VeriSign appears incapable of not abusing
> must be removed from their stewardship.  These operations should be moved to
> one or more appropriately funded non-profits, who presumably won't allow
> competitive pressures and concerns over their own "proprietary information"
> to cloud their thinking and actions on these matters.
>
> This isn't the first time VeriSign has gone over the line.  It's time to
> stop theoretical discussions and start working toward the goal of
> moving beyond VeriSign as soon as possible.
>
> --Lauren--
> Lauren Weinstein
> lauren () pfir org or lauren () vortex com or lauren () privacyforum org
> Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
> http://www.pfir.org/lauren
> Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
> Co-Founder, Fact Squad - http://www.factsquad.org
> Co-Founder, URIICA - Union for Representative International Internet
>                      Cooperation and Analysis - http://www.uriica.org
> Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
> Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy

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