ICANN clarifies how registrars can use web forms in domain registration data services
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has issued new guidance clarifying when web forms used by domain registrars comply with requirements to facilitate communication with domain name registrants.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has published an advisory clarifying how accredited registrars may use web forms instead of email addresses in public domain registration data services.
The guidance concerns obligations under ICANN’s Registration Data Policy and Registrar Accreditation Agreement, which require registrars to facilitate communication between third parties and domain name registrants through Registration Data Directory Services (RDDS).
Since August 2025, registrars have been allowed to replace publicly displayed email addresses with pseudonymised contact details or web forms as part of broader alignment with global data protection requirements.
The issue emerged after at least one registrar implemented a web form that did not allow users to send their own message directly to a registrant. Instead, the system generated an automated notification informing the registrant that someone was attempting to make contact.
According to ICANN, this raised concerns within the community over whether such systems genuinely “facilitate communication” as required under existing rules.
The new advisory explains how ICANN currently interprets compliance obligations in these situations and under what conditions web forms may satisfy RDDS communication requirements.
