A fresh rule under consideration is right at the centre of a debate over Internet harassment, privacy rights and copyright infringement.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is now debating a policy which may induce some web site owners to freely reveal their address and restrict the usage of proxy enrollment

Domain Name owners use proxy enrollment from being recorded in the WHOIS database, a public on-line directory including the contact information of domain name owners to hide their identifies.

ICANN is attempting to address criticisms that proxy enrollment permits content pirates to conceal from prosecution.

But opponents warn that driving domain name owners into such disclosures will allow it to be less difficult to harass people online and also in person, especially those people who are regular targets of Internet threats.

“The endemic nature of inequity on the internet is an issue of profound concern for all of us,” the letter reads. “The suggestion before ICANN would drastically undermine progress in that direction, in part by making it much simpler to dox domain name owners.”

“What ICANN is attempting to do here would be to bring order, predictability and consistency to a method which has been freely reachable for the past 30 years,” says Steven Metalitz, counsel for the Coalition for Online Accountability, whose organization is seeking foil and clearer regulations on domain name registration.

Nevertheless, the Online Abuse Prevention Initiative says that cyber harassment is a far larger issue and law enforcement has the legal processes available to deal with piracy.

“A domestic violence worker, or a reproductive rights supporter, or someone fighting for transgender rights may have to reveal their personal addresses should they register their domain name,” says Clark. “The cost they pay comprises nonstop dangers of sexual assault, physical injury and invasion of their houses. It is just common sense that we protect their privacy.”

Based on Danielle Citron, a cyber-law professor in the University of Maryland and author of the novel Hate Crimes in Cyberspace, the ICANN policy is “troubling for solitude interests normally” and an even greater problem for stalking and harassment casualties.

But Metalitz says that specific requests for a domain name owner’s info may be refused and the brand new rule contains some safeguards.