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ICANN Seeks Comment On Limiting Anonymized Domain Registration

Posted by Soulskill on from the your-computer-is-broadcasting-an-ip-address dept.

angry tapir writes: Privacy advocates are sounding the alarm over a potential policy change (PDF) that would prevent some people from registering website addresses without revealing their personal information. ICANN, the regulatory body that oversees domain names, has asked for public comment on whether it should prohibit the private registration of domains which are "associated with commercial activities and which are used for online financial transactions."

3 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. Why would they start caring now? by damn_registrars · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ICANN has been pro-profit for some time now. They make more money by allowing registrars to sell anonymized domains than if they do not. The privacy question is just window dressing.

    In the end, though, it doesn't make much of a difference. I used to take the time to do WHOIS lookups on particularly egregious spamvertised domains (specifically ones selling counterfeit or contraband products) and contact their registrars and hosting providers. Did it make a difference? No. I even found that specific registrars were notably complacent and willing to do business with the characters behind such operations, so I reported said registrars to ICANN. Did ICANN do anything? No.

    I also pointed out to ICANN that selling gTLDs would be a bad idea as it opened the floodgates to more such doings. Did they care? No.

    In other words, if you are concerned that ICANN might start to prohibit anonymized registration, don't be. They are just trying to drum up some PR to make it look like they care about more than their bottom line. It will all pass soon.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  2. This was agreed at the Bilderberg meetings by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    This was agreed at the Bilderberg meetings a couple of years ago to remove anonimity in the internet.

    I think it is taking slower than they originally planned, now they are using ICANN to force it. Globally. Very effective I must admit.

    I won't be purchasing a domain name any time soon, if at all.

    Time to form a new internet. Fragment it. We are too controlled by ICANN and the the US and UK cronies anyway.

  3. Re:hmmm by IamTheRealMike · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Probably would have prevented Satoshi being anonymous when he launched bitcoin.org, and thus might have led to Bitcoin never existing at all.