I am one of those that testified.

This bill doesn't impact personal privacy or the first ammendment and anyone familure with domain registrations knows that.

Allowing inaccurate information in the whois allows anyone the capability to commit fraud.

I'm really amazed at how folks are spinning this issue. There are several way to prevent the use of personal identifing infomation in a domain registration.

The argument if applied to drivers licenses or business licenses means I shopuld be able to evade all forms where my name and address are required.

Its truley silly that wendy believes that anyone should be able to easly commit fraud on the interent; because that is what she is advocating by not requireing correct information in a whois record.

Thanks for the comment, Rick, but I'm not suggesting that we give fraudsters a free pass -- only that we not compromise the general public's right to anonymity in non-commercial lawful speech on overblown claims of fraud and infringement. There are already laws that punish fraud, and this bill in fact has little to do with fraud. It does, however, add chill anonymous speech by adding unrelated potential liabilities.

Can't you liberals break out of your self absorbed outlook on society? The world does not revolve around your selfish needs! There is simply too much crime, and too many innocent people getting hurt by individuals, and business entities, engaging in fraudulent activities via the internet. If you want to play the "subversive" 60's type radical, I'm sure you can find other ways to engage in your fantasies.

bc90021's /. thread, at http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/05/1930246 , recommends services like http://www.domainsbyproxy.com to protect privacy

A response for Mr. DeYoung using the words of individuals that are much more eloquent than I:

"Nobody likes these measures but these are dangerous times."

"Be careful Mr. Dickinson. They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

B. Franklin to J.Dickinson

The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all.

H. L. Mencken

The role of politicians is becoming quite disturbing.

This is a law written by a lawyer on behalf of large multi-national corporations. This congressman does not work for the people, but for his own self interests and those of his under-the-table employers.

This law aims to eliminate free speech and privacy - that's it. This congressman needs to be educated on the Internet. It's not a "USA thing" - it's global. This law targets AMERICANS. The businesses using the Internet for fraud will relocate out of the USA and continue their activities, while the 100 million honest people in America who have websites will no longer enjoy a venue to share information and opinions privately. Criminals have a way of circumventing pathetic little laws like this.

The fact of the matter is that copyrights and trademarks can be inadvertently infringed. There are so many that writing a random sentence could lead to "fraud". Who will want to risk more prison time that a rapist current serves, just for a copyright violation?

Of course this congressman is going to jump up and say this is all wrong, that his pro-corporate law will not effect the American people. This is flat out untrue.