The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) has announced its proposed policy to provide all dot-ca domain name holders with increased privacy safeguards, bringing it in line with recently-enacted Canadian privacy laws.

The new proposed WHOIS policy—which is the subject of a broad public consultation—would see CIRA continue to collect detailed information from dot-ca domain name registrants, but make only a small amount of the information accessible to the general public in its web-based WHOIS look up directory. The move will ensure greater privacy protections under the dot-ca regime than are currently available with many other Internet domains, such as dot-com.

“This is all about safeguarding people’s basic right to privacy in an electronic world,” said Bernard Turcotte, President and CEO of CIRA. “The Internet is a wonderful, transformative force. But like all dramatic transformations, great care must be taken to ensure it serves people—not the other way around. That’s why we’re very proud of the privacy initiative we’re taking and of the fact that it sets a new standard among Internet domains.”

Under CIRA’s proposed new WHOIS policy:

• For individuals who register a dot-ca domain name, only the domain name, the name of the Registrar, the registration date, the “last change” date, notice regarding changes in status of the domain name and server IP numbers/names will be available through WHOIS. Individual dot-ca domain owners will have the option of making additional information accessible to the general public.
• The policy for organizations—private and public—with dot-ca designations will not change; the same data will continue to be available through WHOIS. Organizations will be able to request that some of their information be kept private.
• CIRA will continue to ensure all registration data—including information not made public under the new policy—is available to law enforcement agencies.

A summary of the policy and comment form are available at www.cira.ca.