5.3 Domain WHOIS Privacy

As you have seen referenced in several videos, domain registrants have the ability to make their information private.

In the video below you will see how the large domain registration firm GoDaddy allows a domain registrant to substitute its information (i.e. Domain Privacy) for the registrant’s information. This is a service offered by all domain registration companies, not just GoDaddy; and it is available for a minimal annual fee.

In 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union has come into force. It requires that domain registrars limit the amount of personal information that is publicly available through WHOIS registrars. Technically the regulation only applies to companies that service citizens of the European Union; however, because of the global nature of the Internet many domain registration companies have taken the view that they will redact the personal information displayed in WHOIS registrations, unless it is clearly a company or other organization that has registered the domain.

That is also the approach that the Canadian Internet Registration Authority has taken.