Tom Ray <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > I also totally agree with this practice, if they are going to be on > the hook for something their users did then they need to keep a > watchful eye on their customers. But the ISPs should not be 'on the hook' for something their users did. What is needed is for users to take more responsibility for their own systems and for ISPs to become like telephone service providers. If someone makes a nuisance of themselves using the telephone, the user (or renter of the number), not the telephone company, is held responsible and has to carry the can.
Personally I would solve the problem by going the other way. Get rid of dynamic IP addresses, especially for ADSL and cable, go back to the traditional mechanism of sending mail direct to MX rather than using an ISP's MTA for outgoing mail, have customers register their own domain name(s)[1] and get rid of email addresses of the form [EMAIL PROTECTED] Keep the ISPs incoming SMTP to POP/IMAP server as many people do not run 24/7. That way the customer would be responsible for any traffic (email or otherwise) originating from his IP address(es) in same way as he is responsible for any calls made from his phone number. [1] For example the ISP I use provides registration and administration of 1 domain in the price of standard ADSL.
