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From FixForwarding, something can be done for the email

This web site is dedicated to the analysis of current forwarding practices and a possible solution that is compliant with privacy rules. An implementation will hopefully be proposed at a further time.

The problem

Our standard behavior page gives an executive summary of current mail forwarding mechanisms, highlighting where the problem occurs. A rather technical definition of forwarding is also given.

Savage forwarding produces quite some shortcomings:

• Recipients have no means to directly control the forwarding mechanism.
• Responsibility for injecting spam becomes ambiguous.
• Bounces may reveal recipients' identities thereby dishonoring any anonymity concern that forwarding might have implied.

The solution: Standardize forwarding practices

Forwarding is an agreement between two entities, the owners of the relevant mailboxes. The solution proposed is designed so as to reflect this property; in particular, it provides for a standard way for recipients to learn that their mailbox address has been configured as the target of a forwarding recipe.

The opt-in and opt-out methods have been discussed at length, and are ratified in a number of privacy laws. The FixForwarding solution provides for an implementation for some of those recommendations, not otherwise formalized by the IETF.

Are we serious about using email?