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Comment by umilegenio | Hacker News Reader

Basically this essay is about the issue that many internet services become monopolies and the negative effect of this phenomenon. The author argues that we have to create pro-market regulations and models of development (e.g., favors the creation of services that are open, like email, instead of one closed, like Whatsapp) that favors the creation of competition between different players.

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Email is effectively closed these days. You can’t really send email from your own server and expect it to be read.

I used to think that way. But the other day, I set up a mailserver (dovecot + postfix) on a DigitalOcean droplet and a domain I own. With proper configuration (SPF, DKIM), I had no problem with delivery of the mail I sent from it so far.

You will run into issues sending email to services that run very aggressive IP based spam filtering w/ white-lists. AT&T (att.net, bellsouth.net) is one example of a company that does this. They subscribe to the UCEPROTECT blacklists, which will sometimes include all of DO in a bad neighbor list. The only way to not get on this list is to pay UCEPROTECT. If you don't pay then you will need to contact mail admins at AT&T (and others) to get added to whitelists. When you move to a knew droplet and get a new IP you will have to do it all again.

I had looked into moving to a service where I could reserve and IP and assign it to an instance (vultr.com) in order to keep a consistent IP across instance migrations. I eventually decided it wasn't worth the time and signed up for a managed email account with runbox.com (they have the best family deal).

Anyone using pay-for-delisting spam lists is running a broken email system - this is essentially blackmail, even if it is att that is using it.

Reputable spam blacklists use proper metrics and monetize their service via other means (e.g. spam appliances, client use service fees etc)

Okay, but whether their system is broken or not, I still need to be able to send emails to it.

I agree completely, but that is the state of things.

UCEPROTECT does NOT run a „pay for delisting“ blacklist. See Removal Policy: http://www.uceprotect.net/en/index.php?m=7&s=0

Registering an IP into a high trustee whitelist is an optional offer to the admins of clean mailservers and not blackmail.

See the FAQ at http://www.whitelisted.org/?go=faq

And just because you said: „reputable spam blacklists....“ I have to tell you the bad news:-) UCEPROTECT is and was never a problem for mailservers with a good reputation.

If you are running a mailrelay, all that matters for delivery success is reputation. That means you have to make sure your system can‘t be abused for spamming and you don‘t spam. Doing so will ensure that your IP will never show up in UCEPROTECT Level 1. Having a good reputation also means, you have to look at the reputation of your provider before signing up. If your ISP is activeley preventing abuse originating from their networks and ranges, and acting quick on abuse, then you should also never run in trouble with UCEPROTECT‘s Levels 2 and 3.

It‘s really that easy. But if all what matters to you chosing an ISP is the price, you don‘t have to wonder about the consequences. You know: Lay down with the dogs, stand up with fleas...

nonsense

HN readers voice real concerns over these issues regularly. For the Americans ready to take them seriously, there’s a long road of dusty books ahead. But we’re short on time so I’ll save you the hassle the only way I know how:

https://www.dsausa.org

And the tech committee is wonderful people with some great open stack projects in tow. Now is surely the best time in history to volunteer.

Thank you for the executive summary. Academese is generally incomprehensible and this is no exception.

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