Fwd: Federal Agency Nixes Your Right to Privacy

Fri Apr 1 16:47:31 CEST 2005

A registrar has decided to take on the US Government on the prvacy
issue. This is great. NCUC members who are in Argentina should make a
concerted effort to meet with GoDaddy representatives and discuss
cooperation and support in the Whois policy process.

>>> "GoDaddy.com" <notice at godaddy.com> 3/30/2005 5:23:09 PM >>>
Dear Valued Go Daddy Customer,

Today I have the unfortunate responsibility of informing you that there
has been a decision made by bureaucrats of a Federal agency that takes
away your right to privacy as guaranteed by the United States
Constitution.

This decision was unilaterally made by the National Telecommunications
and Information Association ("NTIA") -- http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ --
without hearings that would determine the impact on those affected, and
delivered without notice -- in short, the NTIA decision was made without
due process of any kind. This is exactly how our government is not
supposed to work.

The effect of this decision is to disallow new private domain name
registrations on .US domain names.  In addition, if you already own a
private .US domain name registration, you will be forced to forfeit your
privacy no later than January 26, 2006. By that time, you will need to
choose between either making your personal information available to
anyone who wants to see it, or giving up your right to that domain
name.

I personally find it ironic that our right to .US privacy was stripped
away, without due process, by a federal government agency -- an agency
that should be looking out for our individual rights. For the NTIA to
choose the .US extension is the ultimate slap in your face. .US is the
only domain name that is specifically intended for Americans (and also
those who have a physical presence in our great country). So think about
this for a moment. These bureaucrats stripped away the privacy that
you're entitled to as an American, on the only domain name that says
that you are an American. I am outraged by this -- you should be also.

If, like me, you are outraged at the NTIA's decision to strip away our
constitutional right to privacy, the Web site
http://www.TheDangerOfNoPrivacy.com will provide you with a petition
to sign. (Only your name will be published, your address and email
information will be kept private.) This Web site also provides a very
easy way for you to send either a fax or an email, expressing your
outrage, to your Congressperson and Senators. This is all provided at no
cost to you. All that is required is for you to take the time to visit
http://www.TheDangerOfNoPrivacy.com sign the petition, and send the
fax or email to your legislators.

On my personal Blog -- http://www.BobParsons.com -- there are a number
of articles where you can learn more about the NTIA's unfortunate
decision and what you can do to help get it reversed.

I also will be talking about our right to privacy on Radio Go Daddy,
our weekly radio show that debuts today, March 30, at 7 PM PST. To find
out how to listen in, please visit the Web site dedicated to the show,
http://www.RadioGoDaddy.com

You can be sure that I, and everyone at GoDaddy.com, will do everything
in our power to get the NTIA decision reversed. However, we need your
help. Please visit http://www.TheDangerOfNoPrivacy.com to sign the
petition and express your feelings to your Congressperson and Senators.

Sincerely,

Bob Parsons
President and Founder
GoDaddy.com

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