The global fight against spammy websites saw a bizarre episode unfold over the past week, involving two Internet hosting companies, an anti-spam and anti-phishing organization, and the ghost of ICANN hovering in the background. For those who missed it, KnujOn, a company whose product fights junk email, including spam and phishing, published a report alleging certain domain resellers and hosting providers were complicit with organizations using spam email to lure unsuspecting users into using illegal online pharmacies.
As with many issues pertaining to ICANN-accredited registrars, it's difficult trying to follow a paper trail to determine which companies actually own the problem domains, especially considering the complicated system of resellers. After Directi, one of the companies accused, responded to the media coverage of the KnujOn report with questions about journalistic integrity, both sides appear to have come to an agreement, releasing a joint statement on Sunday detailing the facts behind the story.
Even though the two sides have grudgingly come to an agreement, the root problem behind the tangled mess of parent companies, subsidiaries, software providers, and spam. In a nutshell, the system is broken. It's easy for email abusers to continue setting up domains, spam millions of people, and move on without suffering any serious consequences. No ones seems to be coming up with a way to effectively manage the ever-growing spam problem, and the resulting illegal activities that feed off the system.
On his personal blog on the Directi site, Bhavin Turakhia responded to KnujOn's charges against his company, and noted how quickly the story spread through the Internet. He also said, as others have on occasion, that stories often propagate from site to site without offering those accused of wrongdoing a chance to respond. Unfortunately, when it comes to situations like this one, where the governing body -- ICANN -- seems either unable or unwilling to deal with the situation, it's often the court of public opinion that reveals the extent of the problem and forces some participants to change their ways. The KnujOn-Directi-HostExploit situation only reinforces the need for more oversight of domain registration and hosting, stiff penalties that are actually enforced, and a less complicated hierarchy of accredited registrars and resellers.
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Comments
EXACTLY SO, well put !
ICANN is a useless administrivia outfit working for the registrars, They could not care less about SPAM- or registrars condoning it (wink-wink).
ICANN sent out LETTERS OF WARNING 4 months ago, after being beaten up by Knujon.
Outfits cited, like XIN NET, and ENOM continue their SERIAL SPAM REGISTRATION knowing full well that ICANN is completely toothless- and wants to stay that way.
QUESTION: Why does the FTC allow this to continue ?
IMO, all ICANN management needs to replaced. I hope the next administration can show some backbone on this issue...
Court of public opinion replacing ICANN?
Critical mass has not yet been reached for a public outcry for dissolving ICANN in favor of an actually functional entity. However, the movement is growing. SafeNetting and UGNN have both called for the renovation of ICANN, and continue to do so.
People should keep in mind that ICANN's contract with the Federal Government expires next year. There is discussion of moving it out from under U.S. jurisdiction. This would be the fatal blow to the integrity and accountability of internet practices. (What little there is left.) This movement above all must be stopped.
ICANN must be brought back to accountability and compliance under the regulation of the State Department -- NOT the FTC, nor the FCC as some may advocate. The far-reaching impact of the internet on international affairs, as evidenced by the recent botnet attack on Georgia as preamble to invasion has escalated IP and Registrar integrity to a matter of U.S. security.
This will be a tough nut to crack -- and will be widely unpopular. But with issues such as identity theft, network security, and even loss of life through junk pharmacy hucksters, we cannot fail on the mission. The only way to get the movement into high gear is to lean on the media and lean on YOUR local legislators to act and act quickly -- before it's too late.
Safe Netting
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