Consider end user

[SheetalThiam]

If the point is that the distinction between consolidation and centralisation makes it obvious we need to think about the end user, then what is the end goal, what are your recommendations for IRTF?

Response: We could consider/isolate the relevant RFCs and recommendations included therein (e.g HRPC guidelines - RFC 9260), RFC 8890, RFC 8280, and from there identify whether there are any gaps in addressing aspects of centralisation and consolidation from a protocol perspective.

[michaelaA19]

[Mark Nottingham] What is missing is an analysis of the impact these trends have on the end-user, as the reference point for the design of internet protocols at a time when economic and political forces are increasingly having an impact on how the internet evolves.

Response: Yes, we aim to do this by assessing how current RFCs focused on the end user address the issues of centralisation and consolidation and then trace any missing elements in relation to the threat of creating choke points and single points of failure

[michaelaA19]

[Andrew Campling] RFC8890 is relevant here re: internet being fully end-user from IETF

[michaelaA19]

[Vittorio Bertola] The end-to-end principle was conceived at a time when end-users had full control of their devices but that’s no longer the reality. It may be a moment to reframe this principle and think about how to protect end-users from their devices pushing them to do things they may not want to do?

Response: We suggest reviewing current RFCs on the end user and identifying relevant questions/recommendations and any gaps in relation to fragmentation, centralisation and consolidation. The main questions in guiding our analysis will be “how are the recommendations or guiding questions included here relevant to centralisation or fragmentation, specifically how are they relevant to the principal connections of concern: 1) the advancement of single points of failure 2) impact on user choice”?