Jack Handy
@charter.com
| Spammers Attack? Maybe
So far about all that can be said is "we don't know" who is precipitating the attacks. It might be a spammer or spammers but then again alot of people are being falsely accused of spamming and enduring the penalties by the SPEWS network which includes Osirusoft. Also there are other groups who might feel that now is a good time to launch such an attack in order to blame spammers figuring that such action is somehow justified and righteous. Whatever the case may be it has certainly brought the SPEWS network into focus which upon investigation would seem a good thing in and of itself.
Osirusoft in particular seems to have a less than stellar reputation in regard to false accusation and a history of behaviour that well surpasses any borderline depiction of irresponsibility. While the cause may be just, the overriding question lingers as to the justification of means to that end. There is little doubt that victims of Osirusoft and the SPEWS network question the ethics and methods implemented and rightfully so.
As disconcerting as the spam problem can be, willing disruption of email communication by well intentioned Internet Service Providers utilizing the SPEWS network and similiar entities is not a matter to be taken lightly as recent events have shown. I would contend that if we are going to accept censorship and entrust others to implement that censorship, that the responsibility not ultimately fall to a secretive, unresponsive, irresponsible committee of self righteous vigilantes who view the punishment of innocents as acceptable collateral damage.
Personally I do not want an ISP to censor email on my behalf although I do appreciate having the choice and others may wish so. I would rather have effective tools at my disposal to handle my own inbox problems which could well include the utilization of blacklists, however SPEWS in general and Osirusoft in particular will have to improve their methods and accountability if they are to be trusted with my email. |
