Sure Richard, here is the article in it's entirity. BTW
you need to
get that browser of your fixed, I had no trouble going right to the
article. At any rate it is listed on all of the AP news sites
and their
affiliates as well.
OCTOBER 12, 02:32 EDT
Internet Plan Spurs Privacy Fear
By TED BRIDIS
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) � A proposal to improve the
way information flows across the Internet is drawing
attention from privacy advocates, who worry its design
could be used to trace a sender's identity.
Engineers creating a new Internet address system are
proposing to include a unique serial number from each
personal computer within every parcel of data. That
could vastly simplify the sometimes befuddling job of
setting up computers so they can talk to each other on
a network.
But critics warn that, if adopted, the move could
potentially strip away a measure of anonymity and
security enjoyed by tens of millions of home computer
users who dial into America Online Inc. and other
Internet providers over traditional telephone lines.
The issue also illustrates the risks of unintended
consequences over arcane design decisions aimed at
ensuring the stability of the Internet into the 21st
century despite its extraordinary growth.
The proposal by the Internet Engineering Task Force,
an international standards body, would include the
unique serial number for each computer's network
connection hardware as part of its expanded new
Internet protocol address.
These ``IP'' addresses, planted within e-mails and all
other information flowing across the Internet, must be
as unique as telephone numbers to distinguish each
computer on the global network and to guide the
billions of bits and bytes flowing among them.
The IETF's top engineers acknowledge some
implications for online privacy, but, ``I think the privacy
concerns are overrated,'' said Fred Baker, the task
force's chairman.
However, some privacy experts said they were
appalled that IETF engineers would consider the idea.
The new address system, called ``IPv6,'' would not
become widely used for years but ultimately would
affect every Internet user.
Critics warned that commercial Internet sites, which
already routinely record IP addresses, could begin to
correlate these embedded serial numbers against a
consumer's name, address and other personal details,
from clothing size to political affiliation.
The task force itself will ultimately decide whether to
include the identifying numbers in the new IP
addresses. The timing on that decision is unclear.
Baker said the task force also envisions alternate ways
to configure Internet devices so addresses won't
contain the sensitive numbers.
``Those folks concerned about the privacy issue could
use this (alternate) technique,'' said Thomas Narten,
an
IBM software engineer working with the IETF.
Most home computer users currently are assigned a
different IP address each time they connect to the
Internet through a telephone line, which affords some
extra security and anonymity. It's akin to a person
using a different phone number every day to shield his
identity and avoid prank phone calls.
But under the IETF proposal, a portion of even those
somewhat randomly assigned addresses could include
the consumer's unique serial number � and that
information would be stamped on every piece of
information sent from his computer.
The danger worsens, critics warn, as Internet sites are
expected to begin to share information about their
customers: A consumer visiting a Web site for the first
time could be identified by his computer's serial
number that had been recorded at another site.
``There's no doubt there are serious privacy concerns,''
said Marc Rotenberg of the Washington-based
Electronic Privacy Information Center.
Baker and others said the plan is meant to simplify
configuring these new types of addresses. The IETF's
Scott Bradner said engineers wanted an easy method
for even less sophisticated consumers to hook up
computers to a network and share information.
Richard J. Sexton wrote:
At 10:30 AM 10/12/99 +0100, you wrote:Regards,
>Richard and all,
>
> Sorry there Richard, you are right. The corrected URL is:
> http://wire.ap.org/APnews/main.html?PACKAGEID=BIZinternet
>
>Richard J. Sexton wrote:
>
>> At 08:39 AM 10/12/99 +0100, you wrote:
>> >All,
>> >
>> > The following just came out that may be of some interest.
>> >http://wire.ap.org/APnews/center_story.html?FRONTID=TECHNOLOGY&STORYID=APIS701DBSO0
>>
>> This URL doesn't take you directly to an article. Do you have one that does,
>> Jeff?I get the same silly menu - no article.
Maybe you can just cut and paste the text here?
--
[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"I see you've got yout fist out. Say your peace and get out. Guess
I get the gist of it, but... it's alright. Sorry that you feel that
way. The only thing there is to say is to say: ever silver lining
has a touch of grey" - JG.
--
Jeffrey A. Williams
Spokesman INEGroup (Over 95k members strong!)
CEO/DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Contact Number: 972-447-1894
Address: 5 East Kirkwood Blvd. Grapevine Texas 75208
