January 09, 2004
Whois google.com?

Ev notes that Google now offers WHOIS lookups. Type "whois google.com" into a Google searchbox, and the first result is an offer to show you the WHOIS data for the domain name registration.

Two questions:

  1. If you registered a domain name, did you know your personal information would be made so publicly accessible, or would you prefer to be able to register without giving out a home address and phone number?
  2. Why doesn't Google have a WHOIS provider that knows that NetSol is no longer the source for .ORG data? (See e.g. whois seltzer.org)
  3. ok, 3: Why does NetSol get to limit provision of WHOIS data by quantity requested, but not to help people keep their addresses private?
    The IP address from which you have visited the Network Solutions Registrar WHOIS database is contained within a list of IP addresses that may have failed to abide by Network Solutions' WHOIS policy. Failure to abide by this policy can adversely impact our systems and servers, preventing the processing of other WHOIS requests.

If you're unhappy about WHOIS and privacy or research, please help me add your thoughts to the ongoing ICANN task forces' consideration.

Posted by Wendy at 07:11 AM