Hi. In recent years, there has been an option for people to observe IETF WG meetings, plenaries, etc., for which Meetecho is used without identifying themselves with a Datatracker login. People taking advantage of that option could, of course, not actively participate in the sessions, get in the mic line, etc. That option no longer exists. I gather the thinking is that, because videos are available on YouTube with only a short delay, the option to observe in real time is no longer necessary. For the overwhelming number of cases, that is almost certainly correct. However, my recollection is that the decision that is must be possible to be an anonymous observer in real time was made, on privacy grounds, after significant community discussion and IETF consensus. IIR, some of that discussion included a sense that disadvantaging such observers in any way was inconsistent with the privacy principles the IETF was trying to promote. I hope we can avoid reopening the original discussion. However, we normally take the position that a decision made by IETF consensus can only be reversed by IETF consensus. AFAICT, the decision to remove the anonymous observer functionality was made without any timely announcement and opportunity for community comment. So... How was this decision made and by what process? Does the principle that decisions made by the community can only be reversed by the community no longer apply in some cases and, if so, which ones? thanks, john
