ICANN, the governing body of domain names, is giving serious consideration to a plan that would severely limit your right to maintain privacy. The plan is spearheaded by the same entities who backed SOPA and is another attack on the rights we believe everyone should have to maintain their privacy when registering domains.

Under the proposed plan, registrars such as ourselves would be required to lift WHOIS privacy for any domain engaged in “commercial activity” upon request. This would be done without a court order or proof of wrongdoing of any kind. This would of course have far-reaching impacts to many people, companies and organizations not involved in wrongdoing of any kind. We find this to be more than just a slippery slope, but an outright attack on the privacy of anybody who registers a domain.

It seems clear that the entities spearheading this plan are attempting to side-step due process for their own convenience with no regard for the importance of maintaining privacy online. We of course do not want our privacy services used in the furtherance of illegal activity, but the vast majority of our customers are not engaged in criminal activity of any kind and simply prefer for their information to remain private. People should have the right to utilize the Internet for free speech and legal activity without the threat of exposing sensitive personal information.

You can read the complete proposal at https://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/raa/ppsai-initial-05may15-en.pdf.