Indian Court Ruling on WHOIS Privacy Draws Pushback From GoDaddy and Other Registrars
The ruling pits India's effort to curb a $2.4 billion cyber fraud problem against the global domain industry's privacy and operational norms, with a court hearing that could set a precedent for how registrars handle registrant data worldwide.
Reporting from 1 source: GIGAZINE.
An Indian court has ordered domain registrars to limit WHOIS privacy protection and disclose registrant information within 72 hours to combat fake sites. GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Hosting Concepts have challenged the ruling, arguing it could endanger legitimate site operators and is practically unworkable. A hearing is set for July 16, 2026.
An Indian court has ordered domain registrars to stop offering WHOIS privacy protection as a free standard feature and to disclose registrant information within 72 hours upon request from a party with a legitimate interest. The December 2025 ruling, which also blocked over 1,100 websites, targets fake sites that have caused an estimated $2.4 billion in damages from 2.4 million cyber fraud complaints in 2025. GoDaddy, the world's largest domain registrar, along with Namecheap and Hosting Concepts, has pushed back, arguing the order could expose legitimate website owners to stalking and harassment and is practically impossible to implement. The court views privacy protection as a veil for fraudsters, but registrars say the 72-hour response requirement lacks a clear standard for verifying legitimate interest. A hearing is scheduled for July 16, 2026.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.