The Canadian Internet Registration Authority has proposed a new WHOIS policy. Information on owners of domain names is now readily available using a whois search. CIRA’s proposal would limit the amount of information publicly available on individual registrants. Privacy concerns are one of the drivers.

CIRA is inviting comments on the proposed policy any time prior to January 15.

While I have not yet read the proposed policy in detail, one concern is the availablity of that information for legitimate purposes – such as locating an owner of an unused domain name for possible purchase, or finding the owner of sites that may violate the rights of others.

See the CIRA website for details.