In January 1989 the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) issued a statement of policy concerning Internet ethics. This document is referred to as RFC 1087 'Ethics and the Internet'.

An extract of RFC 1087 follows:The IAB strongly endorses the view of the Division Advisory Panel of the National Science Foundation Division of Network, Communications Research and Infrastructure which, in paraphrase, characterized as unethical and unacceptable any activity which purposely:

Seeks to gain unauthorized access to the resources of the Internet.

Disrupts the intended use of the Internet.

Wastes resources (people, capacity, computer) through such actions.

Destroys the integrity of computer-based information.

Compromises the privacy of users.