Icann plan to end website anonymity 'could lead to swatting attacks'

Coalition of free-speech and anti-harassment campaigners, the Online Abuse Prevention Initiative, calls for internet governing body not to enact proposal

A coalition of anti-harassment initiatives and digital rights organisations is fighting a proposal from the internet's governing body, Icann, to strip anonymity from website owners.

Icann's plan is to require all website owners who use their domains for commercial purposes to provide a direct contact address for their registration records, known as the Whois record. At the moment many use privacy-protecting services, where often the domain name registration company's details are given instead. If implemented, the proposal would effectively end the ability to run a commercial website without revealing significant personal information such as business address and real name.