[anti-abuse-wg] whois access

On 15 Dec 2011, at 12:28, russ at consumer.net wrote:

> Hi.  I am a problem with RIPE mis-applying it anti-abuse procedures for the RIPE database.
> 
> I have operated Network-Tools.com for 13 years.  The site is often used by people tracing spam or other security issues that includes IP address block lookups so people can send in a complaint or otherwise contact the network they have an issue with.   I find my web site is suddenly blocked from accessing the RIPE database and I cannot get answers to my questions from contacting the database administrator or IANA.
> 
> First - I am being accused of wanting "bulk access" to the database.  That is not true.

Yes it is. 

You want bulk access. 

> My system is a pass-through system where many different people make requests through network-tools.com.  The web site is merely a pass-through.  


It's irrelevant that you think your site is a "pass through" as you haven't coded your requests in such a manner as to pass the requesting IP over.


> I have asked many times how I can pass the requestor's IP address through so my web site won't be "penalized."  I never get an answer from RIPE.  ARIN told me they don't support such a scheme.  One purpose of the whois is so that individuals can contact abuse contacts, verfify who owns address blocks, etc. so blocking pass-through systems thwarts the whole purpose of the RIPE database.

No it doesn't

Someone can go to the RIPE or ARIN website and request the information for free.


> 
> Second- RIPE keeps claims the requests are for "personal information."  IP address and abuse contacts are business contacts and role accounts meant for the public.  this is nor "personal information"  (ARIN calls it "sensitive" data).  These are business contacts meant for the public, not "personal information" or "sensitive."  If if were "sensitive" it would not be available to the public.  

> In any case I do not want to display sensitive data or personal information, I want to display the abuse contacts.
> 
> As for blocking IP from accessing the database I do not see the purpose anyway.  Most harvesters use a distributed system of IP addresses so blocking IP only serves to disrupt pass-through systems doing legitimate tasks while harvesters continue to freely collect their data.  For the most part the only thing it does is disrupt legitimate users and cause expense to those users for no purpose.
> 
> How can I get answers to these questions?
> 
> Thank you
> 
> 

Mr Michele Neylon
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