RIPE NCC 2024 Report Reveals Law Enforcement Impact on IPv4 Networks

The Evolving Landscape of Law Enforcement Requests in Internet Governance

As Support Team Leader at InterLIR, I’ve witnessed firsthand how law enforcement inquiries about IP resources create operational challenges for network operators. Last month, a German cybersecurity firm faced service delays when French authorities requested user data for an IP block they’d leased – a scenario becoming increasingly common in our industry. This analysis examines the systemic shifts in law enforcement engagement with internet registries, using the RIPE NCC’s 2024 transparency report as a cornerstone for understanding broader implications.

Historical Context: From Niche Operations to Global Scrutiny The RIPE NCC’s journey with law enforcement agencies (LEAs) began as occasional technical consultations but has evolved into a structured compliance framework. Between 2016-2021, annual requests never exceeded 60, but 2022 saw a 212% surge to 187 requests, peaking at 200 in 2023 before dropping to 115 in 2024. This volatility reflects growing global awareness of IP registration data’s investigative value combined with jurisdictional misunderstandings.

About the Author

I’m Evgeny Sevastyanov, Support Team Leader at InterLIR IPv4 Marketplace, where I manage operational challenges tied to IP resource governance and law enforcement requests. My work with RIPE/APNIC databases and doctoral studies in public law inform my perspective on balancing investigative needs with network operators’ realities. Having coordinated cross-border compliance cases, I remain focused on streamlining these processes while upholding constitutional principles in evolving digital ecosystems.