[address-policy-wg] Has 2008-08 passed? If not, what now?

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Somewhat inevitably, starting a discussion about how 2008-08 would be
received by those with legal power (not just governments), led us if not
off-topic then at least into a broad discussion that confuses the real
issue before us.

I believe the question that this WG has to answer is "Do we believe
that, on balance, adopting this policy will do more harm than good?".

I suggested that adopting and deploying 2008-08 might over time result
in more route hijacking rather than less, when you include the risk of
hijacks conducted under legal compulsion.

If I may summarise the answers I've heard by way of caricature, they are:

- - "you're imagining things you silly conspiracy theorist"

- - "if you don't like what the government does vote for someone else"

- - "this will help prevent hijack attempts by criminals, which is our
responsibility; preventing hijack attempts by lawyers is not our
responsibility".

(There was also "we've been working on this for years and spent loads of
money, we can't stop now" and "do you have a better idea?", but neither
of these address the question of whether this does more harm than good).

Like most people, I don't want to continue reciting the arguments
indefinitely. Nonetheless, I should say clearly that I don't find that
any of the arguments that fall within the categories caricatured above
make me feel any more comfortable that 2008-08 is a good and necessary
proposal or that the world will be a better place if it is adopted.

It seems that a number of other people also believe 2008-08 is negative
on balance. Presumably the WG chairs will therefore conclude there is no
consensus in its favour.

I remain interested to hear the answer to my question about what the
RIPE NCC intends to do if there is no consensus to approve 2008-08.

Malcolm.
- -- 
            Malcolm Hutty | tel: +44 20 7645 3523
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