[ALAC] On TOR and Alternate DNS

[Holly Raiche]

Hi Evan

Next question - should we have two discussions rather than one.  The WG meetings are really for ALAC people.  The Multi-Stakeholder fora are for a more inclusive audience.  (and at this stage, the Multistakeholder forum hasn't decided on a topic so this is just my proposal so far.

Anyway - are two sessions aa good idea - one for ALAC WG and one for a broader audience?

Holly
On 10/01/2014, at 7:43 AM, Evan Leibovitch wrote:

> I'm happy to propose it as one of the main topics of the Future Challenges WG's meeting in SIN.
> 
> The FCWG is EXACTLY designed to encourage this kind of forward thinking, And, as Co-Chair, I will certainly attest that it is not taboo or out of scope.
> 
> While we need to be working to make the DNS better, but we must also be aware of what alternatives could be ready should the current system (or the one we have once the TLD expansion takes place) fail the needs of Internet information providers and end-users.
> 
> Personally I would prefer NOT to mix this with Internet Governance/1Net activities.
> 
> 
> On 9 January 2014 14:43, Holly Raiche <h.raiche at internode.on.net> wrote:
> Hi Garth (and Patrik)
> 
> I for one would really welcome the session you propose.  And my suggestion is that it be an open suggestion as well.  For example, everyone on the Privacy Proxy GNSo WG should be interested as well as EWG - since one of the topics of discussion is who should be able to use a pp service - again noting there are many legitimate reasons to hide one's identity
> 
> Holly
> On 10/01/2014, at 6:30 AM, Garth Bruen wrote:
> 
> > Hello all,
> >
> > I have been looking to introduce some discussion subjects which are becoming
> > more critical in our space but have been considered off-limits or even taboo
> > by some in the ICANN world. While in BA Glenn and I met with Patrik Falstrom
> > from SSAC to talk about TOR and other topics.
> >
> > For those who do not know The Onion Routing (TOR) is a system that provides
> > additional privacy or obscurity to Internet communications by extending and
> > blurring the network path. The regular DNS, of course, works by using the
> > shortest, best-known traffic paths for quick communication and keeps
> > extensive logs in various places for troubleshooting. While this method
> > makes sense for effective data movement it also exposes Internet users to
> > spying, stalking, interception, etc. TOR works in the opposite way by
> > dropping information using very long network routes to make source
> > identification nearly impossible.
> >
> > This presents challenges as well as opportunities. Most of the media
> > attention about TOR has been on the illicit side, how criminals have used it
> > to conduct illegal commerce in secret. However, there are a large number of
> > people who depend on TOR to protect their identity for completely legitimate
> > reasons. This week I met with Kelley Misata from the TOR Project in Boston
> > who has championed the use of this technology for various victims and people
> > under threat. I think it is important for us as policy-makers to have open
> > discussions about this technology.
> >
> > As far as it relates to ICANN, TOR represents an alternate method of
> > Internet communications. While there is no domain system, TOR issues what it
> > calls "domains" in the form of unique strings which bind to IP addresses and
> > serve content through those unique strings. These "domains" can only be
> > reached with TOR. There is no governing body, registry system, or costs for
> > these "domains." Yes, it is confusing as to how TOR can look like a DNS but
> > not be a DNS, others can explain it much better than me.
> >
> > Additionally, there are other DNS roots out there which ICANN has no
> > authority over. These roots have been created for a variety of purposes and
> > I have complied a list of over 600 "unsanctioned" TLDs which can be accessed
> > with different configurations.
> >
> > I have proposed that at the Singapore meeting we have a session where these
> > topics can be presented and discussed for our benefit and awareness. I will
> > add this as a discussion item on the next NARALO call and propose it be
> > discussed on the next ALAC call.
> >
> > Thanks, Garth
> >
> > -------------------------------------
> >
> > Garth Bruen
> > gbruen at knujon.com
> >
> > “If history is deprived of the Truth, we are left with nothing but an idle,
> > unprofitable tale” -Polybius
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > ALAC mailing list
> > ALAC at atlarge-lists.icann.org
> > https://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac
> >
> > At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org
> > ALAC Working Wiki: https://community.icann.org/display/atlarge/At-Large+Advisory+Committee+(ALAC)
> 
> _______________________________________________
> ALAC mailing list
> ALAC at atlarge-lists.icann.org
> https://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac
> 
> At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org
> ALAC Working Wiki: https://community.icann.org/display/atlarge/At-Large+Advisory+Committee+(ALAC)
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Evan Leibovitch
> Toronto Canada
> Em: evan at telly dot org
> Sk: evanleibovitch
> Tw: el56