Policy Proposal 2003-3: Residential Customer Privacy [Archived]

This policy proposal was amended and reposted to PPML on 11/18/2003. Click here to view the amended proposal.

Previous versions:

Proposal:

ISPs with downstream residential customers may substitute that ISP’s name for the customer’s name, e.g. ‘Private customer - XYZ Network’, and the customer’s street address may read ‘Private Residence.’ Each private downstream residential reassignment must have accurate upstream Abuse and Technical POCs visible on the WHOIS record for that block.

Earlier version:

Proposal:

Privacy of Residential Customer Name and Address Information In WHOIS

Policy Proposal Statement:

ARIN guidelines presently state that privacy of an individual’s residential address information may be protected in WHOIS by indicating “Private Residence”. This policy proposal is intended to provide additional information privacy through omission of an individual’s name from WHOIS, replacing their name with “Private Individual”.

The proposed policy would amend and modify the existing ARIN guideline, forming a new, permanent policy.

Rationale and Justification:

With the continued growth and popularity of DSL service, increasing numbers of individuals and small home-based businesses are taking advantage of this technology. Many of these customers require /29 or larger assignments to support small networks. Knowing that WHOIS is a public database, the majority of these customers have a viable concern regarding the publication of their name and address information in WHOIS. It is the responsibility of an ISP to support the needs of their customers, and protect customer privacy whenever possible. This policy specifically addresses the privacy issue on behalf of home/residential customers.

The omission of personal name and address information from WHOIS is analogous to residential telephone service. When residential phone service is activated, the individual’s name, address and phone number are listed in the telephone directory. The individual may, however, request an “unlisted” number, and their information is omitted from the directory. This policy proposes the “listing” of the IP subnet in WHOIS, but individual name and address information would be “unlisted”.

It is the responsibility of the ISP to maintain complete and accurate information regarding the customer’s name, address, etc. This information would be made available to ARIN (if requested) for audit of netblock utilization in support of future allocations.

In these difficult times, home security and privacy is on everyone’s mind. As internet users, service providers and overseers, it is our combined responsibility to do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety, and protect the privacy of the internet community at large.

Earlier version:

Proposal:

Privacy of Residential Customer Name and Address Information In WHOIS

Policy Proposal Statement:

ARIN guidelines presently state that privacy of an individual’s residential address information may be protected in WHOIS by indicating “Private Residence”. This policy proposal is intended to provide additional information privacy through omission of an individual’s name from WHOIS, replacing their name with “Private Individual”.

The proposed policy would amend and modify the existing ARIN guideline, forming a new, permanent policy.

Rationale and Justification:

With the continued growth and popularity of DSL service, increasing numbers of individuals and small home-based businesses are taking advantage of this technology. Many of these customers require /29 or larger assignments to support small networks. Knowing that WHOIS is a public database, the majority of these customers have a viable concern regarding the publication of their name and address information in WHOIS. It is the responsibility of an ISP to support the needs of their customers, and protect customer privacy whenever possible. This policy specifically addresses the privacy issue on behalf of home/residential customers.

The omission of personal name and address information from WHOIS is analogous to residential telephone service. When residential phone service is activated, the individual’s name, address and phone number are listed in the telephone directory. The individual may, however, request an “unlisted” number, and their information is omitted from the directory. This policy proposes the “listing” of the IP subnet in WHOIS, but individual name and address information would be “unlisted”.

It is the responsibility of the ISP to maintain complete and accurate information regarding the customer’s name, address, etc. This information would be made available to ARIN (if requested) for audit of netblock utilization in support of future allocations.

In these difficult times, home security and privacy is on everyone’s mind. As internet users, service providers and overseers, it is our combined responsibility to do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety, and protect the privacy of the internet community at large.