whois anonymity for uk domains

[tifosi]

If I wanted to start a site which was in some way controversial and potentially offensive - with that offense being an irrational response based on superstitious/religious affiliations than how could I set the domain up so that my anonymity / privacy is protected.

I seems that since Nominet's blitz on registrant details it has become more difficult to do this, and stay within their rules.

I can protect my address as an individual only, though the registrant name has to be accurate, so that can be tracked down relatively easily unless I'm called John Smith.

As a sole trader I have a trading name as well as personal name and address, so worst of all solutions.

As a limited company my accounts and directorships are freely available.

Is there a valid way round this? Is this something Nominet need to look at in the light of current sensibilities?

Should there be a solution where registrant privacy is an option?

S

 

[Skinner]

Daily, Host Europe and some others offer a complete privacy service, where not even your name is on the registrant details.

 

[tifosi]

Daily, Host Europe and some others offer a complete privacy service, where not even your name is on the registrant details.

For the uk whois which can be seen by a search on the Nominet web site? How does that work?

 

[Skinner]

I wouldn't have a clue, but since its a HEG company, nominet will allow it either way.

Here's how they show up check the whois on materates.co.uk (no idea who owns this).

 

[invincible]

If it's not you listed as the Registrant, whoever it (or whatever entity is) becomes the legal registrant of the domain name. Perhaps ask a solicitor if they will act as the proxy.

 

[DLOE]

Why not save yourself the hassle and go for a .com or .net?

You can use whois protection and even order domains with bitcoins to make sure nothing can be traced back to you.

 

[tifosi]

Why not save yourself the hassle and go for a .com or .net?

You can use whois protection and even order domains with bitcoins to make sure nothing can be traced back to you.

Because this question is about uk domains, specifically .uk.

If it's not you listed as the Registrant, whoever it (or whatever entity is) becomes the legal registrant of the domain name. Perhaps ask a solicitor if they will act as the proxy.

That's how identity protect works. It's not ideal, and imo an unsuitable way of working, particularly if you're at the mercy of their t&c's and not Nominet's.

Nominet have missed a trick here I think when they went through their registrant data purge.

I'll log this as a question to be asked/answered at the registrar conference. Will no doubt get little traction unless asked by a top 10 registrar.

 

[UncleBob]

If I wanted to start a site which was in some way controversial and potentially offensive - with that offense being an irrational response based on superstitious/religious affiliations than how could I set the domain up so that my anonymity / privacy is protected.

Because this question is about uk domains, specifically .uk.

i get the feeling or sense - and if i am wrong here sorry - that you might have bagged the .uk version of a well known .co.uk, looking at the way you have this worded?

if i am right in this, whatever you have in mind is likely to become a tester for what you can do with a .uk for a well known .co.uk. if so, and you expect it to cause a stir or be controversial, i would suspect you will have a very hard time keeping it anonymous.

not for me or anyone else to say what you should or should not do, but what info you've given suggests its something that will attract attention and will likely see someone wanting to find out who is behind it.

 

[tifosi]

No, but I'd be curious to know which one you mean. PM me if you like.

It's actually an old domain I've had for a few years.

But the question is equally generic as a registrar acting for clients. Think it's something Nominet need to address better.

 

[redbird]

Here's how they show up check the whois on materates.co.uk (no idea who owns this).

If you wanted to sell/transfer such a protected name how would you do the transfer as I assume the "owner" would not have it in their Nominet account?

 

[Skinner]

I have no idea at all. Presumably it would work much like the .com transfers. Given its accredited registrars, maybe they handle the transfer ?

If you wanted to sell/transfer such a protected name how would you do the transfer as I assume the "owner" would not have it in their Nominet account?

 

[tifosi]

They would first have to undo the domain details i.e. reverse the registrant transfer and then the registrant would be able to do what's needed.

As I said, not ideal and not particularly acceptable.

 

[UncleBob]

No, but I'd be curious to know which one you mean. PM me if you like.

It's actually an old domain I've had for a few years.

But the question is equally generic as a registrar acting for clients. Think it's something Nominet need to address better.

sorry, didn't have a specific one in mind in that sense, more saying i was guessing it was what you said, seeing what happens when you run a .uk as a new site from an existing .co.uk

yeah, there are implications here for handling the registration. best of luck with it, and i hope you stay out of trouble

 

[namealot]

Many would just make up registrant details….

 

[Skinner]

This wouldn't work within the nature of this exercise.

You would either be throwing an innocent party to the wolves assuming it was religious, you could end up having an innocent persons house / life ruined, f you used a real address. If the address didn't check out, one of the aggrieved parties would report the name and it would fail DQ.

Many would just make up registrant details….

 

[namealot]

This wouldn't work within the nature of this exercise.

You would either be throwing an innocent party to the wolves assuming it was religious, you could end up having an innocent persons house / life ruined, f you used a real address. If the address didn't check out, one of the aggrieved parties would report the name and it would fail DQ.

Do you think religious fanatics would be going through nominet to close you down? If you want to spend you can hide all offshore behind straw companies, looping mail services etc
Or use a postcode that would already have strict security e.g. a prison, name “Johnny Foreigner” etc

Or abroad e.g., A, Nother, The House Bongo Bongoland, After it leaves UK down to destination P.O to find it which they won’t? Many places pretty much guaranteed mail won’t return as someone would nick it? So harder for them to verify address is fake or real?

 

[invincible]

Do you think religious fanatics would be going through nominet to close you down? If you want to spend you can hide all offshore behind straw companies, looping mail services etc
Or use a postcode that would already have strict security e.g. a prison, name “Johnny Foreigner” etc

Or abroad e.g., A, Nother, The House Bongo Bongoland, After it leaves UK down to destination P.O to find it which they won’t? Many places pretty much guaranteed mail won’t return as someone would nick it? So harder for them to verify address is fake or real?

You almost come across like you're an expert in respect of this. ;-)

(from Note 3)

 

[tifosi]

Question is then, if I had a fake registrant name but a valid uk address - which is proactively opted-out - would that pass validation? How do Nominet validate? Is it solely by the address being validated or is it through deeper resolution of the name / address e.g via credit reports / electoral roll?

If I created an account at a uk registrar and registered/transferred the domain to that account would it have to be the same as the fake registrant? That has implications for payment processes.

Still not satisfactorily answered and Nominet are failing to provide adequate privacy for registrants.

S

 

[Skinner]

Indeed religious fanatics are now online and getting computer savvy, so there will be one or two who would go to nominet.

The A Nother, Bongoland has potential. Nominet do ask for proof of address should it be challenged again, even with foreign ones.

Perhaps a combination, use a bongoland address, with the privacy service I mentioned, nominet never see the bongoland address, and the privacy service is already validated.

Do you think religious fanatics would be going through nominet to close you down? If you want to spend you can hide all offshore behind straw companies, looping mail services etc
Or use a postcode that would already have strict security e.g. a prison, name “Johnny Foreigner” etc

Or abroad e.g., A, Nother, The House Bongo Bongoland, After it leaves UK down to destination P.O to find it which they won’t? Many places pretty much guaranteed mail won’t return as someone would nick it? So harder for them to verify address is fake or real?

 

[Retired_Member38]

Question is then, if I had a fake registrant name but a valid uk address - which is proactively opted-out - would that pass validation? How do Nominet validate? Is it solely by the address being validated or is it through deeper resolution of the name / address e.g via credit reports / electoral roll?

If I created an account at a uk registrar and registered/transferred the domain to that account would it have to be the same as the fake registrant? That has implications for payment processes.

Still not satisfactorily answered and Nominet are failing to provide adequate privacy for registrants.

S

Completely fake name and a genuine address with no real link to anyone of that name, will pass validation.