What Has Riled 96 Prominent Internet Engineers and 49 Law Professors?

[woan]

http://spectrum.ieee.org/riskfactor/telecom/internet/what-has-riled-96-internet-engineers-and-49-law-professors/?utm_source=techalert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=101124

[swombat]

Terrible title (especially with the capitalisation), but very sound article.

On the technical side, I wonder if a new DNS system outside of US control wouldn't be a good thing. Presumably, the best DNS system would be decentralised in some fashion... This might lead to a difficult transition period, but the end result (an internet where domain names are basically uncensorable by any government) would be very desirable.

I wonder what that would look like.

[smutticus → swombat]

The bill doesn't rely on DNS and moving the DNS system outside of the USA wouldn't stop COICA from working.

COICA works by forcing American ISPs to block their users' access to a list of domains. It mandates 2 lists; one where ISPs won't be punished for blocking and a second list where ISPs are forced to block. It's very close to implementing what China has with their Great Firewall. It's censorship plain and simple.

[iwr → smutticus]

So ISPs would reverse-lookup all IPs requested by their customers, mapped onto a list of banned domains or naked IPs?

[wmf → swombat]

Decentralized DNS discussion from last week: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1919169

[epscylonb → swombat]

i don't understand how you could decentralize DNS any further, somebody has to administer it

I do think this proposal could lead to dark net, where people have to remember ip addresses to get illegitimate content

[swombat → epscylonb]

You could do it just like SSL - have a set of "root servers" hosted in multiple countries. Each netizen an then decide which internet he wants to access and pick the right root servers (obviously preselected by default to include the most reputable ones).

[gnaritas → swombat]

> to include the most reputable ones

If they're known, they can be blocked.

[ewams]

Step 1: Write your Representative. https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Step 2: Tell your friends and family to write their representatives.

Step 3: Search for your representative's contact information and call their office. Send them a fax. Go in personally.

Step 4: Pray.

Step 5: (If required). Join the legal movement that we will create. Follow on http://www.eff.org

Step 6: (If required). A technological solution can and will be created.

[pingswept → ewams]

I think step 4 may be less effective than steps 1-3 (although I do regard faxes and prayers as similar in reliability).

[lukeschlather → pingswept]

Reflection on your efforts is key to success.

[iwr]

Technically, if Google is indexing sites accused of wrongdoing, the MPAA could force Google itself to filter search results (or serve them with a court order to do so).

On a wider scale, if you link to a site that links to another site, would you still be liable?

[jdp23]

it's great to see IEEE spectrum laying out the technical issues so clearly along with the legal perspectives. it's something that any startup in the web space needs to be tracking to understand the likely risks moving forward.