Enhancing Your Domain Privacy: Understanding the New ICANN WHOIS Policy Update

At Seniia, our goal is to not only boost your digital marketing performance but also to safeguard your online presence. This guide explains a key privacy update from ICANN and how we’re ensuring your business is protected.

Effective immediately, we are updating our domain registration process for all generic top-level domains (gTLDs) like .com, .net, and .org to align with this new, privacy-focused policy from ICANN.

What is WHOIS and Why Does This Matter?

Whenever a domain name is registered, the owner’s contact information is stored in a public database called WHOIS. Historically, this database was accessible to anyone, which unfortunately led to spam emails, unsolicited sales calls, and potential data privacy risks for business owners.

This new policy update from ICANN is a major step forward in protecting that information and giving you more control over your data.

A Breakdown of the Key Changes

Here is a simple overview of what is changing to better protect your information:

1. Organisation Information is Now Private by Default

• Previously: If your domain was registered under a company or organisation name, that name was publicly visible in WHOIS lookups.
• Now: This information will no longer be visible in the public WHOIS/RDDS lookup, unless you have specifically chosen to display it. This is a significant win for business privacy.

2. Streamlined Contact Data Collection

• Previously: Domain registration often required contact details for multiple roles (Registrant, Admin, Technical, etc.).
• Now: We will only collect the minimum contact data required by each domain registry. For most gTLDs, this will only be the primary registrant contact. This principle of “data minimisation” simplifies the process and reduces the amount of your personal data being stored.
• Note: Some country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) may still have unique requirements.

3. Automatic Deletion of Redundant Data

• In line with the new policy, any contact information stored in our system that is no longer required by the registry (such as former administrative or technical contacts) will be automatically deleted.

What This Means For You and Your Business

These changes are overwhelmingly positive and designed to benefit you directly:

• Increased Privacy and Security: With less of your information publicly available, you can expect a significant reduction in spam and a lower risk of your data being targeted for phishing or other malicious activities.
• Simplified Management: Managing your domain contact information will be simpler and more straightforward.
• Peace of Mind (No Action Needed): Best of all, you do not need to take any action. These changes will be implemented automatically across all relevant domains we manage.

Our Commitment to Your Digital Security

At Seniia, we stay ahead of industry changes to ensure your digital assets are always protected. We see ourselves as your partner in navigating the complexities of the online world, from marketing strategy to the technical details of domain management.

If you have any questions about your domain, website security, or your overall digital strategy, our team is here to help. Contact us today for a consultation!

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