Traffic Monitoring Considered Reasonable

Networking and security researchers must grapple with the following four potential constraints in the course of their work: (i) legal issues, (ii) institutional policies, (iii) community norms and (iv) personal ethics. These possible constraints can be intertwined and inform one another. In this position paper we set aside all except the third constraint: community norms. We do not mean to diminish the importance of considering the others, but, rather aim to make the case that the community has organically developed a community norm with respect to traffic monitoring. Position: network traffic monitoring—broadly defined—fits well within the networking and security research community’s norms. We believe this position is demonstrated through the community’s rough consensus and running code.