<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p class="gmail-isSelectedEnd">Hi,</p><p class="gmail-isSelectedEnd">I don't believe introducing identity verification is the right solution. The platform should remain open and accessible to anyone who wishes to participate.</p><p class="gmail-isSelectedEnd">What matters is the quality of the argument, not who makes it. If participants choose to share their background or affiliations, that's entirely their decision, but it should never become a requirement for taking part.</p><p class="gmail-isSelectedEnd">The same applies to AI. Its use is only going to become more common, and that in itself isn't a problem. The focus should remain on whether contributions are constructive, evidence-based, and engage with the discussion.</p><p>Kind regards,</p></div>Zen<br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, 22 Jul 2026 at 16:12, <<a href="mailto:rpd-request@afrinic.net">rpd-request@afrinic.net</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Send RPD mailing list submissions to<br>
<a href="mailto:rpd@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd@afrinic.net</a><br>
<br>
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit<br>
<a href="https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd</a><br>
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to<br>
<a href="mailto:rpd-request@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd-request@afrinic.net</a><br>
<br>
You can reach the person managing the list at<br>
<a href="mailto:rpd-owner@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd-owner@afrinic.net</a><br>
<br>
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific<br>
than "Re: Contents of RPD digest..."<br>
<br>
<br>
Today's Topics:<br>
<br>
1. Re: Policy supremacy (Jaco Kroon)<br>
2. Re: RPD Digest, Vol 222, Issue 158 (Fundiswa Nadia Maseko)<br>
<br>
<br>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
Message: 1<br>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:01:03 +0200<br>
From: Jaco Kroon <<a href="mailto:jaco@uls.co.za" target="_blank">jaco@uls.co.za</a>><br>
To: <a href="mailto:rpd@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd@afrinic.net</a><br>
Subject: Re: [rpd] Policy supremacy<br>
Message-ID: <<a href="mailto:14936a5e-6d1e-4e4b-8957-b0e2018274aa@uls.co.za" target="_blank">14936a5e-6d1e-4e4b-8957-b0e2018274aa@uls.co.za</a>><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed<br>
<br>
Hi,<br>
<br>
Are we thus proposing that each and every person must positively <br>
identify themselves prior to being subscribed to the RPD list, as well <br>
as for all existing subscribers to be positively identified by date X or <br>
be unsubscribed?? To what extend should this identification go - should <br>
it include affiliation checking, eg, Jaco Kroon actually JK19-AFRINIC in <br>
the whois db - from where you can track the networks I'm involved with?<br>
<br>
I'd be in support of such a policy change/direction.<br>
<br>
Regarding use of AI, I don't have a particular objection to the use of <br>
LLMs (but having worked on the Comp-Sci side of things ... I would not <br>
trust them without validating whatever they spit out - and recent <br>
experience - not restricted to this ML - shows they spit out more <br>
garbage than most community-driven support forums), as long as they're <br>
used sensibly to help with formatting and/or interpretation of emails, <br>
not to spew out noise for the sake of noise - as what it feels has been <br>
done the last week or two.<br>
<br>
Kind regards,<br>
Jaco<br>
<br>
n 2026/07/22 15:52, Diroi Karalis wrote:<br>
<br>
> Dear Musa,<br>
><br>
> Tshepo and Gugu don't need prior recognition from established <br>
> participants before their input counts. Joining recently, missing <br>
> earlier meetings, or sharing similar views is not evidence of <br>
> impersonation or bad faith. Anyone is entitled to join an open process <br>
> at Last Call and raise objections before a proposal becomes policy.<br>
> KYC would be a significant procedural and privacy change. It can't be <br>
> applied selectively to objectors we don't recognize it would need a <br>
> formal basis, a clear justification, proper safeguards, and equal <br>
> application to every participant, not just the inconvenient ones.<br>
> If you have evidence of misconduct, send it to the co-chairs. <br>
> Otherwise, engage with Tshepo and Gugu's arguments on their merits. <br>
> Familiarity isn't authority, and "the community" isn't a closed circle <br>
> that gets to decide who's allowed in.<br>
><br>
> Regards,<br>
> Diroi<br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> RPD mailing list<br>
> <a href="mailto:RPD@afrinic.net" target="_blank">RPD@afrinic.net</a><br>
> <a href="https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
------------------------------<br>
<br>
Message: 2<br>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:11:08 +0200<br>
From: Fundiswa Nadia Maseko <<a href="mailto:fundiswanadia2@gmail.com" target="_blank">fundiswanadia2@gmail.com</a>><br>
To: <a href="mailto:rpd@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd@afrinic.net</a><br>
Subject: Re: [rpd] RPD Digest, Vol 222, Issue 158<br>
Message-ID:<br>
<CABV0QcRrHfKFhTOrPUrO=<a href="mailto:rbjfBJEesLOjvV_f1OTFkeiLpGj0Q@mail.gmail.com" target="_blank">rbjfBJEesLOjvV_f1OTFkeiLpGj0Q@mail.gmail.com</a>><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"<br>
<br>
Hi everyone,<br>
<br>
I understand the concerns being raised about AI and new participants<br>
joining the discussion. However, I don't think we should discourage people<br>
from participating simply because they are new or because they choose to<br>
use AI as a writing aid.<br>
<br>
AI can help people organize their thoughts, improve grammar, or communicate<br>
more clearly, but it shouldn't replace independent thinking. What matters<br>
most is whether the ideas being presented are relevant, technically sound,<br>
and contribute meaningfully to the policy discussion.<br>
<br>
The PDP has always been intended to be open and inclusive. New participants<br>
should be encouraged to engage, provided they do so respectfully and in<br>
good faith. If there are concerns about duplicate messages or coordinated<br>
submissions, those can be addressed based on evidence rather than<br>
assumptions about individuals.<br>
<br>
I believe we should continue evaluating contributions on their merit and<br>
keep the discussion focused on the policy itself.<br>
<br>
Kind regards,<br>
<br>
Fundiswa Nadia Maseko<br>
<br>
On Wed, 22 Jul 2026, 15:53 , <<a href="mailto:rpd-request@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd-request@afrinic.net</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
> Send RPD mailing list submissions to<br>
> <a href="mailto:rpd@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd@afrinic.net</a><br>
><br>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit<br>
> <a href="https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd</a><br>
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to<br>
> <a href="mailto:rpd-request@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd-request@afrinic.net</a><br>
><br>
> You can reach the person managing the list at<br>
> <a href="mailto:rpd-owner@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd-owner@afrinic.net</a><br>
><br>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific<br>
> than "Re: Contents of RPD digest..."<br>
><br>
><br>
> Today's Topics:<br>
><br>
> 1. Re: Policy supremacy (Nonjabulo Sphilile)<br>
> 2. Re: The usage of AI in platforms (JP)<br>
> 3. Re: Policy supremacy (Diroi Karalis)<br>
><br>
><br>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
><br>
> Message: 1<br>
> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:45:19 +0200<br>
> From: Nonjabulo Sphilile <<a href="mailto:nonjabulosphilile@gmail.com" target="_blank">nonjabulosphilile@gmail.com</a>><br>
> To: <a href="mailto:rpd@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd@afrinic.net</a><br>
> Subject: Re: [rpd] Policy supremacy<br>
> Message-ID:<br>
> <CAJwHbZOpK+zh=<br>
> <a href="mailto:aWw6YqZVRZ51DVEdpsQ3xfRar0XmgPedHLruA@mail.gmail.com" target="_blank">aWw6YqZVRZ51DVEdpsQ3xfRar0XmgPedHLruA@mail.gmail.com</a>><br>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"<br>
><br>
> Hi Musa,<br>
><br>
> The PDWG is open. Participation does not depend on being known to<br>
> long-standing members, attending earlier meetings, or proving a<br>
> professional stake after joining. New participation is still participation.<br>
><br>
> KYC would be a serious procedural change, not an informal test for<br>
> unfamiliar objectors. Any such requirement would need to be formally<br>
> adopted, proportionate, privacy-preserving, and applied equally to<br>
> established and new participants.<br>
><br>
> Similar views are not proof of impersonation. If there is concrete evidence<br>
> of misconduct, please submit it to the co-chairs. Otherwise, I will not<br>
> continue discussing identities or drafting methods.<br>
><br>
> Let us return to the policy.<br>
><br>
> Regards,<br>
> Nonjabulo<br>
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> ><br>
><br>
> ------------------------------<br>
><br>
> Message: 2<br>
> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:51:18 +0200<br>
> From: JP <<a href="mailto:froztbyte@froztbyte.net" target="_blank">froztbyte@froztbyte.net</a>><br>
> To: <a href="mailto:rpd@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd@afrinic.net</a><br>
> Subject: Re: [rpd] The usage of AI in platforms<br>
> Message-ID: <<a href="mailto:A9B484F0-A3F8-408A-B9DF-7E4FE3E2024D@froztbyte.net" target="_blank">A9B484F0-A3F8-408A-B9DF-7E4FE3E2024D@froztbyte.net</a>><br>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; Format="flowed"<br>
><br>
> On 22 Jul 2026, at 12:15, Mzwakhe Mabasa via RPD wrote:<br>
><br>
> > Good day.I would like to post to the RPD mailing list. Kindly allow me<br>
> > this opportunity of being part of the RPD afrinic policy decisions.?<br>
> ><br>
> > While AI is widely used across the internet, its acceptability<br>
> > depends on the specific platform you are referring to . Most social<br>
> > networks allow AI assistance, but require the clear labeling of<br>
> > AI-generated imagery and ban non-consensual deepfakes or harmful<br>
> > content.?LSince platform policies vary greatly, here is a breakdown<br>
> > of how the most popular services handle AI usage:<br>
> ><br>
> > - Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube): Generally<br>
> > allowed, but social media algorithms penalize low-quality, generic<br>
> > content. Major platforms are shifting to automatic detection and<br>
> > require synthetic imagery to be appropriately labeled to avoid<br>
> > misinformation penalties.?<br>
> ><br>
> > - Design & Creative Platforms (Canva): AI usage for brainstorming<br>
> > and generating designs is permitted, but platforms typically place<br>
> > operational limits on how much AI content you can generate per month.<br>
> > Users are responsible for ensuring AI outputs do not mislead others<br>
> > and are used in accordance with local copyright laws.?<br>
> ><br>
> > - AI Generation Models (Open AI, Midjourney): AI tools are<br>
> > permitted, but they enforce strict universal policies. You cannot use<br>
> > these services for harassment, defamation, or generating unauthorized<br>
> > deepfakes of real people<br>
><br>
> to play off an older joke:<br>
><br>
> q: ?how do you know someone?s using LLMs??<br>
> a: ?they?ll damn well tell you?<br>
><br>
> normally I don?t need to pay much attention to rpd because things<br>
> don?t move that much, and then the last week? the sloppist tsunami<br>
> has been quite notable. and it?s near all this kind of milquetoast<br>
> nonsense gibberish. I saw someone else mention the astroturfing<br>
> component of things too (and a cursory investigation around the poster<br>
> domains for the most vocal proponents there had me raising my eyebrows<br>
> most spock-like) but I?ll leave that aside for now<br>
><br>
> it?s probably worth rpd considering a full and complete ban on<br>
> prompt-generation and prompt-assistance for use on the policy list, with<br>
> possibly a poster cooldown/block period (and some way to deal with<br>
> repeat offenders and ban evasion).<br>
><br>
> there?s both precedent and strong arguments in favour<br>
><br>
> precedent: a number of other public-benefit and mass-cooperation<br>
> organisations and projects have taken to the hardline block (the most<br>
> notable is codeberg, as of earlier today)<br>
><br>
> arguments: the most obvious is exactly what has happened in the last<br>
> week (and the alternative of no ban is an utter deluge of worthless<br>
> noise, which will space-fill as far as it can go). there is also ample<br>
> evidence across multiple years and multiple studies that these<br>
> technologies are _bad_ at fine detail, and that?s exactly the sort of<br>
> thing that is very ill-fitting in the context of what rpd is to be doing<br>
><br>
> -J<br>
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> ><br>
><br>
> ------------------------------<br>
><br>
> Message: 3<br>
> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:52:40 +0200<br>
> From: Diroi Karalis <<a href="mailto:diroikaralis@gmail.com" target="_blank">diroikaralis@gmail.com</a>><br>
> To: <a href="mailto:rpd@afrinic.net" target="_blank">rpd@afrinic.net</a><br>
> Subject: Re: [rpd] Policy supremacy<br>
> Message-ID:<br>
> <<br>
> <a href="mailto:CA%2Bwt7VoZ2hQyw6ZiGAAxr-SRTmXaYwjM-xD_aknC2tj%2BOqhdig@mail.gmail.com" target="_blank">CA+wt7VoZ2hQyw6ZiGAAxr-SRTmXaYwjM-xD_aknC2tj+Oqhdig@mail.gmail.com</a>><br>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"<br>
><br>
> Dear Musa,<br>
><br>
> Tshepo and Gugu don't need prior recognition from established participants<br>
> before their input counts. Joining recently, missing earlier meetings, or<br>
> sharing similar views is not evidence of impersonation or bad faith. Anyone<br>
> is entitled to join an open process at Last Call and raise objections<br>
> before a proposal becomes policy.<br>
> KYC would be a significant procedural and privacy change. It can't be<br>
> applied selectively to objectors we don't recognize it would need a formal<br>
> basis, a clear justification, proper safeguards, and equal application to<br>
> every participant, not just the inconvenient ones.<br>
> If you have evidence of misconduct, send it to the co-chairs. Otherwise,<br>
> engage with Tshepo and Gugu's arguments on their merits. Familiarity isn't<br>
> authority, and "the community" isn't a closed circle that gets to decide<br>
> who's allowed in.<br>
><br>
> Regards,<br>
> Diroi<br>
> -------------- next part --------------<br>
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> ><br>
><br>
> ------------------------------<br>
><br>
> Subject: Digest Footer<br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> RPD mailing list<br>
> <a href="mailto:RPD@afrinic.net" target="_blank">RPD@afrinic.net</a><br>
> <a href="https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd</a><br>
><br>
><br>
> ------------------------------<br>
><br>
> End of RPD Digest, Vol 222, Issue 158<br>
> *************************************<br>
><br>
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<br>
------------------------------<br>
<br>
Subject: Digest Footer<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
RPD mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:RPD@afrinic.net" target="_blank">RPD@afrinic.net</a><br>
<a href="https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/rpd</a><br>
<br>
<br>
------------------------------<br>
<br>
End of RPD Digest, Vol 222, Issue 159<br>
*************************************<br>
</blockquote></div></div>