GoDaddy violates ICANN whois rules and now makes it official

GoDaddy has been blocking whois access at Port 43 for years…

It returns the date related information of each domain name, nameserver info and the registrant name. It has been blocking address, telephone and email information for years.

Now GoDaddy makes it official. It will violate ICANN whois rules (that are very very poorly enforced) about providing machine whois access on port 43.

It seems that anything that doesn’t bring revenue to ICANN is very VERY poorly regulated and enforced. I bet that if they were getting 1 cent from each whois search they would have been all over it by now!

Now, beginning January 25, GoDaddy will also block the registrant name from whois on port 43. This move doesn’t seem to be spam relared as GoDaddy claims.

GoDaddy will continue to publish full WHOIS details to users of CAPTCHA-protected, web-based WHOIS system. That is until May…

In May they can start blaming the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) European Union regulation for all the blocking that has been going on for years and shut down all whois access.

GoDaddy provides an opt out procedure that is plain ridiculous. You need to call or email GoDaddy. They will then ask additional information for verification purposes using insecure email messages! What happens when you call? (I have already emailed GoDaddy and asked for an opt-out. Can’t wait to see what happens.)

Why don’t they simply provide an option in each GoDaddy account? GoFigure!

And now I have to ask. Will opting out of this “new” service release all my info that has been blocked from GoDaddy for years???

I have written about Neustar blocking whois and several comments were about GoDaddy. You can read there more info on whois and the ICANN whois rules for registries and registrars.

Here is the email sent by GoDaddy today:

We’re making improvements to protect you from spam.

WHOIS masking starts January 25.
This service will block some of your contact details through automated access points.

We’re always looking for ways to protect your information online. To help slow the flood of spam that can occur when you register a domain without privacy services, WHOIS masking of certain personal data will be turned on for all domains on January 25.

This service will limit a potential spammer’s ability to access your first name, last name, email and phone number through automated means (also known as Port 43 access). We’ll continue to publish full WHOIS details to users of our CAPTCHA-protected, web-based WHOIS system, as required.

Here’s how to opt out:

If you still want your information to be available via automated sources of public WHOIS data, you can opt out anytime using one of these options:

  • Call us at (480) 505-8877.
  • Send your request to port43@godaddy.com. We may ask for additional information for verification purposes.

Domain Privacy still matters.

While we hope this service will help cut down on spam calls and emails, because registration information is still made available publicly, Domain Privacy is still the best way to maintain anonymity online. WHOIS masking will only restrict spammers through automated bulk access sources.

To learn more, check out this help article.

Sold.Domains

About Konstantinos Zournas

I studied Computer Engineering and Computer Science in London, UK and I am now living in Athens, Greece. I went online in 1995, started coding in 1996 and began buying domain names and creating websites in 2000. I started the OnlineDomain.com blog in 2012.

14 comments

  1. Ironically most of the spam you get from a new registration comes when you register domains at Godaddy, at least in India.

    So while they might be blocking public whois info access via machine, the information is leaking somehow or the other.

  2. Hello Konstantinos,

    The Godaddy management team is totally negligent. We are boycotting both Google + Godaddy. Our followers have had it. Watch for cracks in Godaddys armour or you may fall into one. Exit Godaddy + Google for your own best interests. JAS

    Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Intelligence Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master )http://www.UseBiz.com

  3. Which part of the RAA is GoDaddy violating?

  4. Hello Konstantinos,

    Everyone who wants to know whats really happening with GoDaddy will want to read our article on LinkedIn :

    ( The Google/Godaddy Duopoly Trillion $ ShakeDown of U.S. Online Businesses.) JAS

    Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Intelligence Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master )http://www.UseBiz.com

    • We will see how many Blogs are still Fanboys of GoDaddy, when it becomes apparent that to be a Fanboy of GoDaddy is UNPATRIOTIC. JAS

      Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Intelligence Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master )http://www.UseBiz.com

      • We will see how many Blogs are still Fanboys of Google/Alphabet when it becomes apparent ,that to be a Google/Alphabet Fanboy is UNPATRIOTIC
        JAS

        Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Intelligence Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master )http://www.UseBiz.com

    • Google/Alphabets ALGOS Target ( .COM Equimoditty Platform Assets ) for Traffic Stealing Purposes. JAS

      Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Intelligence Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master )http://www.UseBiz.com

      • The Google/Godaddy Duopoly is destroying, Online Business Expansion in the U.S. JAS

        Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Intelligence Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master )http://www.UseBiz.com

      • It is becoming more and more evident that Code Manipulation and expert Online Marketing of a Strategic nature differ immensely. Online Google /SEM Centric Marketing is counterproductive and Counter Expansionary in nature.
        There is a coming reckoning for so-called professional On-line Marketing Companies, who push SEM online Marketing Tactics. SEM = (Very Bad Deal for aspiring Online start-ups + .COM owners and operators ) The fallout will crush reputations and Corporations. Google/Alphabet will have lots of Mud on their faces, because the truth always eventually comes out. Many Many whistleblowers will come out of hiding. Those who opologize NOW will survive. Those who don’t BAD KARMA to say the least. JAS

        Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Intelligence Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master )http://www.UseBiz.com

  5. Hello Konstantinos,

    We have supported Jen Sale, in the past, but what words come out of her mouth (The Beauty that she is ) will determine her value as a Truthful onstage Puppet , should be interesting to see where the money lies. JAS

    Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger) (Former Rockefeller IBEC Marketing Intelligence Analyst/Strategist) (Licensed CBOE Commodity Hedge Strategist) (Domain Master )http://www.UseBiz.com

  6. Oh man, thought I was going to die laughing from Elliot’s one comment alone today, but this may do it, K…

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