[rpd] Fw: Policy supremacy

[NP Petronella]

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________________________________
From: NP Petronella
Sent: Wednesday, 22 July 2026 16:19:56
To: rpd-request at afrinic.net <rpd-request at afrinic.net>; honlue at gmail.com <honlue at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [rpd] Policy supremacy


Dear Musa and Colleagues,

Operating an ASN, attending the PPM, or being known to long-standing participants is not a condition for joining an open PDP. People may become aware of a proposal at different stages, including Last Call, and still have the right to question it.

Where other participants come from, and what they choose to disclose, is for them to explain. Familiarity does not determine legitimacy, and established participants do not own the definition of “community.”

If KYC or affiliation disclosure is considered necessary, it must be proposed formally, justified, privacy-protected, and applied equally to everyone. It cannot be introduced informally and selectively against unfamiliar objectors.

Experience may provide useful evidence. It does not create a mandate to decide who has enough “stake” to speak. If there is evidence of impersonation or abuse, submit it to the co-chairs. Otherwise, please assess the arguments and return to the policy.

I had a similar experience after becoming active on this mailing list: unusual activity on my Gmail account, an unexpected unsubscribe, and problems sending or receiving messages.

I am not accusing anyone without evidence. However, this is precisely why a change of email address should not be treated as proof of a false identity or improper participation. A mailbox is only a communication tool; it is not the person.

If identity verification is genuinely required, it should be introduced through a formal, privacy-protective process and applied equally to everyone. Until then, participants should be judged by what they submit, not by whether established members recognise their email addresses.

Regards,

Nonhlanhla

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