ICANN Plan to Release Private WHOIS Information.

Hi Fellow WA Members,

I like probably many others kindly received a newsletter today from Namecheap with the following.....

Hello Darwyn,

Did you know that your privacy rights are currently under threat? ICANN is considering introducing a rule that would impact all netizens. If you care about your online privacy, this is a big deal.

Under new guidelines proposed by MarkMonitor and other organizations who represent the same industries that backed SOPA, domain holders with sites associated to "commercial activity" will no longer be able to protect their private information with WHOIS protection services. "Commercial activity" casts a wide net, which means a vast number of domain holders will be affected. Your privacy provider could be forced to publish your contact data in WHOIS or give it out to anyone who complains about your website, without due process. Why should a small business owner have to publicize her home address just to have a website?

We think your privacy should be protected, regardless of whether your website is personal or commercial, and your confidential info should not be revealed without due process. If you agree, please contact ICANN right away and demand your right to privacy and due process. Let them know you object to any release of info without a court order. There's no time to waste -- the close date for comments is July 7, 2015.

Visit our new site RespectOurPrivacy.com and we'll guide you through the process of calling or emailing ICANN. Thanks!

Now I don't know about you guys but I personally find this quite alarming? To think that you may have payed for this service or even if you received it free with your domain for 1 year, I totally disagree with their whole approach?

I would also like to add that I haven't acted on this until I receive some further advice from you guys. Really like to hear your views on this. The letter was titled.....

URGENT ACTION NEEDED.

Thanks

Darwyn