ICANN Cracks Down on Invalid WHOIS Data

DotNM writes "Internet News reports that ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is beginning a crackdown on invalid data in the WHOIS database. In ICANN's annual report, they found that nearly 5000 of the 24148 complaints were due to inaccurate WHOIS information. Some of the domain names in question had the address information of known spammers in the database. Registrars, the companies you register your domains with, are under contractual obligations to ensure this information is correct and accurate. Do you believe this is a step in the right direction? Why?"

Comments

Re:Good for spammers

[cscx]

I really haven't had a problem. I get snail mail "bill" from ICLS.NET every once in a while. Occasionally I get SPAM sent to sales@mydomain.com (my real address is a catchall).

Aside from that, no real problems. I do have my real info in there. I say if you want to be a part of the Internet, you NEED vaild contact info in there. I couldn't give two flying fucks about your "privacy" issues. If you're so paranoid you won't put your info into the WHOIS, then just DON'T BUY A DOMAIN NAME.

Alternatively, just get a PO Box if you're that worried.

Re:It's a rule, play by it.

[morelife]

if everybody with bad WHOIS information lost their domains until they corrected it.

Nah, that would be fruitless.

Most people have put incorrect info for email and street address in whois on purpose - to avoid being the recipient of spam and postal mail, so punishing them by taking a domain away won't help the spam problem at all.

Second, and much more importantly, the WHOIS information if often wrong, outdated or simply has fields missing. Especially in the .ORG domains, after the transition to PIR. And a lot is Network Solutions' fault I think, as they did not transfer updated data in a timely or correct fashion.

How about this: crack down on fucking ICANN, and get rid of the bureaucracy. It's useless, but you never notice it until you need it, like in September when Netsol put up Sitefinder... .02

Re:I second that motion

[Monkelectric]

Who modded this crap up? Read the FUCKING article. Real people are *hiding their private information* by putting up fake information -- The snail mail addresses of known spammers.