Now you're calling me a sheep.

OK.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

No, not calling you a sheep, but how society ramps up these stupidities which erode personal privacy in the name of mistaken efficiencies.

It's like gun registrations end up burdening good guys while the bad guys run wild.

The minute you criminalize false whois records, you are being simply ridiculous in proportion to other more important things and you're not solving a thing.

I don't use fake info, so this law only makes me angry because I'm worried about the stupidity of someone facing jail time for something so minor, but I DO understand the use of privacy on domains.

Why would you want to make it that easy for someone to find out where you live? What if you can't afford an office? And what if you have children at home? Maybe if someone decides to stalk someone for whatever reason and he sees privacy enabled, he'll just give up and move on to someone else or something. I know there are other ways to find out an address, obviously, but why make it that easy? Why take chances with the lives of your family?

I wouldn't. (Not even for a Hun listing.) :321GFY

seriously a good angle that's being missed by many...


it's almost like saying....who cares about privacy and civil liberties anyways (during time of war) I'm not doing anything wrong so I have nothing to hide...

The almost certain emergence of pin numbers on credit card transactions will go along way towards reducing the use of stolen cards for web transactions, which in turn will make it much easier for federal agencies to requisition cc info from registrars who hold domains which are the source of fraud. That's a start right there. :2 cents:

And what about cotroversial or political websites? The anonymity of the internet allows people to voice their opinions without fear.

If I wanted to create (for example) a pro-choice website, I wouldn't want religious zealots using my domain info to find out where I live so they can shoot through my windows.

The internet is not just a place to buy and sell stuff. Not every website is for-profit. People shouldn't be required to pay for a PO BOX and a seperate cell phone # just to safely participate in a global community.

I did the free 25 .info domain thing and they didnt offer privacy so I made shit up. I had no clue that was illegal. I dont really want to fix it. Should I be concerned?

Welcome to the new world order.

Because I dont want any letters, emails, or for anyone to even know my name.


Now, someone tell me, even if I pay with my credit card, or send a wire, watever, as long as I dont steal I'm not safe? If I pay for it but use a fake name and addy I can go to prison for 7 years?


If the answer is yes, tell me what host to start using so uncle sam cant get my info please.

What I think is funny is that is you register it under a fake name address, etc... and mask your IP or register it at while your at the library how are they to find out that you registered it under a fake name. There are places out there that let you register with paypal, so if you use fake info for paypal, then how would they find you. Not that I do this but it seems pretty funny that if your using fake info how are they going to find out.

Ask your host what IP logs into the control panel and see through your proxy. Better regester that shit in the library and hsot it outside the USA.

I don't like this at all.

The bottom line is the Federal Government wants to be able to know everything everywhere about everyone worldwide.

If you guys that aren't US citizens think you're safe from these information control zeolots, guess again. They want to database the entire planet.

Because there are people who not only scour WHOIS information for their spam database, but for physical mailing spam.

IM not saying I do this, IM askign what about those that do things like this. I dont like the idea at all either.

The US used to be a free country but it isnt anymore.

Why do these people insist on making laws that pop out of their ass?

I bet more than half who looked over this, have no real idea as to what whois information is.

The "Federal Government" - presumably ya mean the US govt - is of no interest to anyone or any other nation. Frankly they just don't matter to anyone, except those unfortunate enough to be born US citizens.

On the database stuff - the "Federal Government" has already databased the US to hell and back - tho they have clearly little thought on how to use all this shit.

If they want to database the planet with a load of bullshit domain record data - feel free - as long as the US taxpayer don't mind paying the bill for this crap.

They have no jurisdiction to act on any info and it's still not a "crime" to be Donald Duck in the free world.

This very naive and very arrogant/ignorant behaviour just makes the place more of a laughing stock in other countries. It's just too embarassing... There is a serious need for a mental health checkup.

<conspiracy theory>

perhaps this is all part of the domain registrars' masterplan to get us all to pay for "Private Whois" services.

</conspiracy theory>

makes sense to me.

good god. that is incredible.

yep :thumbsup sure is

Lamar Smith needs to either get off the web or take the time to learn how it really works.

yeah do that