North American Network Operators Group
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Re: EU Official: IP Is Personal

  • From: J. Oquendo
  • Date: Thu Jan 24 09:07:12 2008
Rod Beck wrote:

I am frankly shocked that some people claim that you cannot identify people by the IP address. There was a scandal in the States where a well known ISP released search records and the New York Times was able to identify individuals using the IP address together with the search records.

And here is a shocker... Supposing I despised you enough to do something horrendous to your reputation. I despised you enough to perhaps surf around your neighborhood for an open wifi connection, if I connect to what I believe is yours even the better.

Since I despise you so much, I begin say, spreading viruses, spreading malware, attempting to break into banks, maybe chatting with minors. Remember now, I am in close proximity to your home, who knows maybe I was lucky enough to stumble upon your wireless connection. Should I go on with this?

I see no difference between a static IP address and a credit card number. Neither are the individual's property, but that doesn't mean there should not be legal or ethical obligations surrounding them.

There is a humongous difference. There is nothing more then a broad assumption that you are the individual sitting behind your IP address. There can only be proof if its shown that it was impossible for someone to have connected via your home address. Wireless router throws everything out the door unless you're using WPA, WEP which even then there is the possibility of someone still breaking into your connection.

RADIUS accounting for say PPP? Oh... You'd like to verify my identity via caller ID? Caller ID spoofing defeats this too. So what's next? I'll respond offline, lest I get flamed, banned, shown the AUP again and have my fingers hit with a ruler... (sorry Alex, Martin)


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J. Oquendo

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