Should the Internet be regulated? SPAM, SCAMs and phishing including identity fraud.

I thought I would open up the discussion on Internet regulation, the comment: "Network Engineering experts at RMIT University have identified that criminal activity on the Internet can be significantly reduced."

I am not surprised, my own personal ICT based research initiatives indicate the same, a direct reduction of the risks associated to SPAM, SCAMs, phishing including identity fraud and other high reward activity, including digital espionage and intelligence gathering.

Criminal activity on the Internet as we all may know has effectively more than redoubled each year since the crooks have begun to cotton on to the ease to which they may conduct their activities.

So, should the Internet be regulated? Here in Australia, we have already seen Federal government regulation on online gaming, internet content, streaming media and datacasting. I see no reason for objecting to further regulation related to other fields of information and communication technology services associated to the Internet.

Details relating to Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 are available on the following URI: http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=IND_REG_CODES_INT

Unfortunately, network engineering is part of the multi-faceted ICT industry. There is no doubt of the importance and role that network engineering plays in ICT, it is and always will be a foundation block sitting upon the cornerstone to which a credible digital or 'e' solution can be built and created.

It is obvious for fields (disciplines) such as 'network engineering', 'software engineering', 'graphic design', 'online marketing', 'communications media' and many others which make up the Internet as a whole; that self-regulation has or is failing to assist in delivering a better Internet and like many industries before them may require legislative driven regulation to increase the use of industry standards and best practices to help deliver better services and a higher 'duty of care'.

Therefore, should providers (contractors - individuals or business) of services; such as 'network engineering' make use of the existing technology frameworks to build network services that are better governed[1] by being built to meet the current range of relevant network engineering 'town-planning and building standards' (IETF standards and best practices related to Internet Protocol Suite) AND by doing so help to meet Australian legislative requirements, such as (but not limited to) Corporations Act, Trade Practices Act, Privacy Act and Spam Act.

In an ideal world, I would like to think that the ICT industry with its various disciplines would welcome an series of Act's to regulate the ICT industry and its sub-industries, such as Network Engineering.

Just as other industries, such as the construction industry, which is similar in diversity of services have in the past adopted Act's to:

(a) regulate the construction industry; and

(i) ensure the maintenance of proper standards in the industry; and

(ii) achieve a reasonable balance between the interests of construction contractors and consumers; and

(b) provide remedies for defective construction work; and

(c) provide support, education and advice for those who undertake construction work and consumers; and

(d) achieve a reasonable balance between the interest of construction contractors and building owners; and

(e.) maintain appropriate standards of conduct in the construction industry; and

(f) handle construction disputes.

Regulation of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry would lift the quality of craftsmanship and services provided, ensuring a better Internet for all users.

Unfortunately, we do not have to look far to find poor workmanship within the network engineering field, such as compliant use of IETF[2] RFC's and Bind[3] within most DNS's here in Australia or elsewhere UK and USA to help reduce risk and improve governance of ICT assets.

There are numerous Network & DNS audit associated tools[4], which are publically available, as are the high profile examples that range from Government agencies, Australian Universities to well known public and privately listed companies to which you may conduct your own research.

I beleive that the current 'status quo' of the ICT industry and network engineering as an essential service of ICT is unacceptable. Not only is the ICT industry letting itself down, it is letting its clients down by exposing them to unnecessary risks that can be effectively managed by use of industy statards, best practices and detailed procedures.

Although regulation of Internet would be quite large in terms of its scope, it would offer a comprehensive and systemic means to ensure network engineers have qualifications and experience appropriate to the roles to which they are assigned and to which, network engineering services are provided.

Where to with regulation? Well, I think that lays in the hands of Government agencies like the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (www.dbcde.gov.au), as well as educators such as the fine folks located at RMIT and other quality insituitions.

...

Resources:

[1.] Governed, related to Corporate governace and ICT governace standards.
[2.] IETF - Internet Engineering Task Force
[3.] Bind - Berkeley Internet Name Domaim, most commonly used DNS server on the Internet
[4.] Tools - dnscog.com, dnsreport.com, checkdns.net, robtex.com, Nessus, OpenVas, etc, etc.

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Regards

Anthony Caldwell