[anti-abuse-wg] Discussion on 2011-06

 > "Phase one: Implementing the policy" will include a new whois switch 
being introduced

This will break existing software that makes whois queries for IP's.  
When you run an IP for possible abuse you don't want one command for 
ARIN and a different command for RIPE.  That is why this issue must be 
coordinated between different RIR's.  Inconstant whois policies is cited 
as a problem in the latest ICANN whois report and comments:

http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/whois-rt-final-report-11may12-en.htm

However, this proposal is premature as the legal issues involving the 
whois restrictions have not been fully analyzed or described. Also, the 
fundamental difference between different contacts as it relates to the 
privacy laws has also not been fully analyzed or describe.  The reasons 
and methods RIPE uses to implement these policies has also not been 
fully analyzed or described.

The undisclosed issue is that some technical folks have this feeling 
that whois data should restricted even though the contacts agreed to 
make it public.  They believe they can control how data is used once it 
is made public.  Unfortunately none of these people can actually 
describe why they do it or the legal authority behind it and they don't 
want to admit the tactics they use to stop it don't work.  It is just a 
feeling people get once their information gets into the hands of 
spammers.  The result is that legitimate services get disrupted while 
spammers continue on essentially unabated.