Domain Privacy is an optional service that provides an additional layer of privacy for eligible domain names by replacing registrant information with Webnames Privacy Service information and managing communications intended for the registrant.
This article explains how Domain Privacy works, how to manage it, and how it relates to modern Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP) publication requirements and privacy protections applied by Webnames.
Understanding Public Domain Registration Data
When a domain name is registered, certain registration information is collected by the registrar and may be published through public Registration Data Directory Services (RDDS), commonly accessed using the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP).
Historically, this information was published through the WHOIS system. The domain industry has largely transitioned from WHOIS to RDAP, which is the modern standards-based method for accessing domain registration information.
Webnames supports two registrant classifications:
Individual Registrants
Organizational Registrants
For Individual Registrants, personal information is redacted from public RDAP responses and replaced with a contact mechanism that allows third parties to communicate with the registrant without disclosing registrant information.
For Organizational Registrants, organizational registration information may be published through RDAP where publication is appropriate and permitted.
Depending on the registrant type and applicable privacy requirements, publicly available registration data may include information such as:
Domain name
Domain status
Registration and expiry dates
Name servers
Registrar information
Registrar abuse contact information
Organizational registration information where publication is permitted
Contact mechanisms that facilitate communication with the registrant
What Is Domain Privacy?
Domain Privacy is an optional service that provides enhanced privacy protection beyond the standard privacy protections applied to Individual Registrants.
For eligible domain extensions, Domain Privacy:
Replaces registrant information with Webnames Privacy Service information in registry and RDAP records.
Prevents publication of registrant identity and contact information.
Replaces publicly visible contact methods with a Privacy Registrant Contact Form.
Helps reduce spam, solicitation, automated harvesting, and unwanted communications.
Provides additional privacy controls and registrant shielding.
Standard Privacy Protection vs. Domain Privacy
It is important to understand that there are two separate privacy mechanisms.
Standard Privacy Protections
Individual Registrants automatically receive privacy protections that prevent personal information from being published through RDAP.
For Individual Registrants:
Registrant name is redacted.
Address information is redacted.
Telephone numbers are redacted.
Email addresses are not published.
A Registrant Contact Form is provided to facilitate communication without disclosing registrant information.
These protections are applied automatically and do not require the purchase of Domain Privacy.
Domain Privacy Service
Domain Privacy is a separate add-on service that provides additional protection beyond standard redaction.
Where supported by the applicable registry and domain extension, Domain Privacy:
Replaces registrant information with Webnames Privacy Service information.
Uses Webnames Privacy Service information in registry and RDAP records.
Replaces normal contact methods with a Privacy Registrant Contact Form.
Provides additional protection against abuse, spam, and unwanted communications.
How Registration Type Affects RDAP Publication
Individual Registrants
Domains registered to an Individual Registrant receive privacy protections designed to prevent public disclosure of personal information.
Personal registration information is redacted from RDAP output and replaced with a Registrant Contact Form where applicable.
Organizational Registrants
Domains registered to an Organizational Registrant may publish organizational registration information through RDAP, including the registrant email address, where publication is permitted and appropriate.
Domain Privacy
Where Domain Privacy is enabled, Webnames Privacy Service information is substituted for registrant information, and communications are managed through the Privacy Registrant Contact Form.
Managing Domain Privacy Settings
Enable Domain Privacy
To enable Domain Privacy:
Log in to your Webnames.ca account.
Navigate to Domains.
Select the domain you wish to protect.
Choose Domain Privacy.
Complete the purchase and activation process.
Disable Domain Privacy
Domain Privacy is applied at the registrant level rather than individually for each domain.
If Domain Privacy is enabled for a registrant profile, all eligible domains assigned to that registrant will include the privacy service.
To remove Domain Privacy:
Option 1: Disable Privacy on the Existing Registrant
Update the registrant settings within your Webnames account.
Disable Domain Privacy for that registrant.
Any future registrations, transfers, or renewals associated with that registrant will no longer include the privacy service.
Option 2: Use a Different Registrant
Create a new registrant profile without Domain Privacy enabled.
Assign the domain to the new registrant.
Future registrations and renewals using that registrant will not include the privacy service.
Domain Privacy and Renewals
If all domains associated with a registrant have Domain Privacy enabled, the privacy service will normally be included when those domains are renewed.
To renew a domain without Domain Privacy:
Disable Domain Privacy for the registrant before renewal; or
Move the domain to a different registrant profile that does not have Domain Privacy enabled.
Contacting a Registrant
ICANN policy requires registrars to provide a mechanism through which interested parties can communicate with domain registrants.
Registrant Contact Form
Where registrant email addresses are not publicly displayed, Webnames provides a Registrant Contact Form.
Messages submitted through the Registrant Contact Form are automatically forwarded to the registrant's email address without disclosing the registrant's personal information.
No Webnames account is required to use this form.
Privacy Registrant Contact Form
Domains protected by Webnames Domain Privacy use a Privacy Registrant Contact Form.
The Privacy Registrant Contact Form is designed to promote sender accountability and discourage abuse by requiring:
Creation of a Webnames account; and
A nominal verification charge before the message is forwarded.
Messages are forwarded to the registrant without disclosing the registrant's personal contact information.
Webnames does not disclose registrant information through either contact mechanism.
Domain Extension Availability
Domain Privacy is available only for supported domain extensions and may not be available for all TLDs due to registry policies or technical restrictions.
If Domain Privacy is not available for a particular extension, Individual Registrants may still receive privacy protections that prevent personal information from being published through RDAP. Organizational registration information may continue to be published where appropriate and permitted.