Unintended consequences of GDPR on privacy and Spam
On May 25, 2018 the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation will go into full effect. This means that privacy regulations will have a significant impact on how companies handle peoples personal data. General Data Protection Regulation is a regulation that is designed to protect privacy of EU citizens and its residents. What are some other consequences that the GDPR can have? It means that they can severely restrict access to technology for its EU residents and companies. So, what does this mean for the future of Whois? Well we have all heard about GDPR and its effect on Whois. I echo the sentiment by Neil Schwartzman that restricting Whois access would increase spam. Why? Antispam software relies on Whois data to detect spams. Spammers will be able to gain access to people’s contact information from everywhere on the web, including data warehouses, social media, and so many others. They will continue do what they have been doing for years so long as there are commercial incentives.