Re: [saag] Ubiquitous Encryption: content filtering

[Stephen Farrell <[e-mail]>]

Hi Kevin, Natasha,

On 19/06/15 15:07, Smith, Kevin, (R&D) Vodafone Group wrote:
> Indeed, it is possible to filter at the endpoint. However, a mobile
> operator utilising licenced spectrum must adhere to regulations set
> by the government licensor, which include content filtering, or risk
> fines/licence suspension.

Just to note that IETF is not in the same position as mobile operators
here. Please see RFC 2804 for a good example of that kind of difference
(but note 2804 deals with a different topic).

That's not to say what the IETF consensus on such filtering/censorship
might or might not be - I don't think we've asked and I expect there'd
be a robust debate if we do, as there was for 2804.

So even if thing-X is required by some local regulator, that does not
by itself mean that the IETF needs to care about thing-X.

I'm sure this is familiar to many long time IETF participants, but it
may well not be commonly understood by some others who would consider
the argument Kevin makes above as a winning argument.

Cheers,
S.

PS: The mailing list archive for discussion that lead to 2804 is still
around [1] and many of the arguments made then would still be relevant
were we to delve further into this topic, or any other local-regulator
vs. big-I Internet type thing.

[1] https://www.ietf.org/mail-archive/web/raven/current/maillist.html