Accuracy in contact information for website registrations

Abstract

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) coordinates web address identifiers worldwide. Any individual, business, or organization that registers a domain name must provide names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers for the registration service called WHOIS. This data is managed by 'registries', which are under contract with ICANN to operate top level domains like.com,.org, or new ones now in operation (.consult, for example). Anyone can use WHOIS to search and identify the registered name holder of a domain name. The WHOIS Accuracy Reporting System (ARS) is a formal examination of the accuracy of contact information provided to registries and registrars. This project examines syntax (does the email contain an '@' symbol; does the phone number have the correct number of digits; does the mailing address have the required fields?) and operability (does the email bounce; does the phone number connect; is the postal address deliverable?) accuracy. This paper will provide statistics on Internet domains worldwide as well as the accuracy of domain contact information based on four studies over two years.