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

[robogun]

What I really hate about having all this information public is I get a lot of spam...

That's the thing, all right. I'll change my domain's address from AL Ralsky's residence when they crack down on WHOIS spamming.

Not sure if it's a good idea

[Mustang Matt]

But if you really want to make sure you don't get snail mail use your address line 2 with a phrase that will make the mail get destroyed such as: "THIS MAIL MAY CONTAIN A BIOLOGICAL VIRUS"

Not sure what the legal ramifications/consequences of doing so might be, so do it at your own risk.

Not quite...

[Dimensio]

You don't just turn off the domain instantly. Attempt to contact the domain holder (they have to have *some* kind of valid contact known to the registrar). If calls/emails/letters are not answered, lock the domain. Tell the holder that if data isn't updated within a certain period of time, the domain registration is forfeit.

In the case of spammers' domains, take a few extra steps. First, lock the domain right away. Second, instead of attempting to inform the spammer that their domain is locked until the WHOIS data is updated, send an assasin to where they live to have them killed.