Most domain names registered through a domain registrar require essential contact information to be collected, such as the name of the registrant, their phone number, mailing address, email address, and so on. In case a dispute happens regarding the domain name, this information of the registrant can be used. The global Whois system, also known as WHOIS, is where this information is often displayed.
The Whois database is used to identify the owner of a specific IP address or domain name. ICANN, or the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, requires that information about domain ownership to be made publicly available. This information includes the name of the domain owner, their address, email address, and phone number.
You can sign up for the Whois privacy service if you want to keep your contact information private for a domain. The Whois privacy service will replace all of the public information that you have provided with an unnamed proxy identity in the database of Whois. This includes having a proxy email address that will replace your email address and replacing your contact information and address with the information from an entity called “Whois Privacy Protection Service, Inc.”
With domain privacy, you will maintain full ownership and control of your domain site, and information that is personal won’t be made public. Domain privacy can help you prevent the sale of your personal information, unwanted spam, and identity theft. You don’t need to worry that third parties won’t be able to contact you because you can still be contacted by them without having to reveal your personal information to the public.
However, from our point of view, the answer to the question if you still need Whois privacy protection is no, you don’t need Whois privacy protection. Domains registered in the EU have the privacy protection by Whois added as default ever since the GDPR rules were introduced.
GDPR is the core of the digital privacy legislation in Europe, and it stands for General Data Protection Regulation. GDPR is a set of rules that were created to give citizens from the European Union more control over their personal information. Its aim is to simplify the regulatory environment for businesses so both businesses and citizens in the EU can take advantage of the digital economy.
Under the terms of GDPR, not only do companies have to ensure that the personal data they gather is gathered under strict conditions and completely legally, those who manage and collect the personal data are also obliged to protect it from exploitation and misuse. The data owners’ rights need to be respected, and if this isn’t done, they can face certain penalties.
Please contact us if you want to have Whois protection enabled or if your domain name is showing details instead of “REDACTED FOR PRIVACY.”