Nominet Whois survey

[mojoco]

Just checked a Nominet whois record and was prompted to complete a whois survey...


"What was the main reason you used the WHOIS today? (select one)"

http://www.nominet.org.uk/whois-survey

 

[foz]

From this I hope they deem to list an email address for the Registrant.

 

[mojoco]

From this I hope they deem to list an email address for the Registrant.

Agreed, that was my very first thought.

 

[alex]

From this I hope they deem to list an email address for the Registrant.

If optional then maybe, but I wouldn't want mine on there. Or my phone number. Could do without adding the the spam mail and calls I already get. I do think addresses should be though with no opt out for individuals.

 

[Skinner]

"enter details to win an ipad", is this how Apples numbers stay up, everyone giving the things away. Must be the 10th one this month being given away by someone.

I think a pictorial (non scrapable) email or contact form link (via nom if opt out of showing email) should be on ALL whois

 

[jasman]

Why do people think an email address should be mandatory? Surely it's up to the registrant whether he wants any Tom, Dick or Harry to know his email address and be able to contact him.

 

[mojoco]

Why do people think an email address should be mandatory? Surely it's up to the registrant whether he wants any Tom, Dick or Harry to know his email address and be able to contact him.

It works perfectly well for .com whois records.

 

[alex]

It works perfectly well for .com whois records.

I disagree, in the past I set up a single email just for my WHOIS records and it got a load of spam, not to mention calls from people offering to transfer my domain to them for a good price when I had my number on there.

I don't like the idea of private records, I think all WHOIS records should be open, but I'd have thought that requiring name and address would be sufficient so that if someone actually wanted to contact someone they'd go to that extra effort. It's much easier for email addresses and phone numbers to start circulating in databases. I do think that limiting this in their WHOIS tool is one of the thing's Nominet has done well, they just need to remove the opt-out.

Just my thoughts mind, I do see why others would prefer email info being available, for all sorts of reasons.

 

[Skinner]

I would prefer an email address on my whois rather than my address. My email box is a barrier to the outside world, my virtual home.

I would rather an anonymous contact via nominet or something for opted out, and email address shown for opted in.

The modern internet still runs on email addresses, using a postal address is like using tipex on your laptop.

 

[jasman]

To my mind, if someone wishes to remain anonymous in an online system accessible to billions of people, he should have the right to. If you don't wish to have your address, phone number, email address or any details at all published why should you be forced to?

If any crime is committed using a domain, the police can still contact the registry and request details of its owner. Having public records for the whole world to peruse isn't necessary.

Admittedly anonymous whois records could make it hard for potential buyers to get in contact with the owner of a domain and make them an offer for a domain. But the owner may have no intention of selling his domains and wish to be private. Those who are interested in selling their domains can give their details in the whois, or else would set up forwarding for their domains to a sales page, or list them at sedo, or have their own tag with a URL resolving to their company site etc etc - if they wish. That's up to them, but why should it be mandatory?

 

[atlas]

To my mind, if someone wishes to remain anonymous in an online system accessible to billions of people, he should have the right to. If you don't wish to have your address, phone number, email address or any details at all published why should you be forced to?

FWIW, in Canada privacy laws have been interpreted to require that all whois information of the registrant be private if they are an individual, and an individual specifically has to opt out of that for even their name to be shown.