GDPR - WHOIS is still needed for PBNs?

[Mebn]

So I am buying auction domains for PBNs on Godaddy. Is buying WHOIS privacy now necessary for PBN as the details are hidden? Is it a footprint for Google?

WHOIS privacy isn't very pricey, but when almost all of the registrars provide it for free, on GoDaddy you have to pay for it(along with crazy high domain registration cost...).

 

[bartosimpsonio]

Whois privacy is a must regardless. It doesn't hurt your rankings at all. In fact I had one site boost up 500% number of indexed kw's after I took it private. No correlation of course but it means it doesn't hurt.

 

[Mebn]

Whois privacy is a must regardless. It doesn't hurt your rankings at all. In fact I had one site boost up 500% number of indexed kw's after I took it private. No correlation of course but it means it doesn't hurt.

I was also buying WHOIS privacy for my domains, but now as the details in WHOIS are hidden I wonder whether Google can in anyway detect who is owner. If so, it is definitely a footprint.

But if they can't it could save some money especially if you buy quite a few domains.

@Nargil What do you think?

 

[janist]

Avoid GoDaddy if possible. As you alreaddy mentioned, a lot of registrars offer free whois now that GDPR is in full effect. Just make use of it.

 

[michiosha1]

Avoid GoDaddy if possible. As you alreaddy mentioned, a lot of registrars offer free whois now that GDPR is in full effect. Just make use of it.

GPDR works only for EU, so maybe GoDaddy has disclaimer that it doesn't offer service to EU users and doesn't have to comply, or something like that ... Anyway it's better to go with EU-based companies for it

 

[bartosimpsonio]

I was also buying WHOIS privacy for my domains, but now as the details in WHOIS are hidden I wonder whether Google can in anyway detect who is owner. If so, it is definitely a footprint.

But if they can't it could save some money especially if you buy quite a few domains.

@Nargil What do you think?

Google themselves are a ICANN registrar. They can see the complete WHOIS data.

 

[Nargil]

I was also buying WHOIS privacy for my domains, but now as the details in WHOIS are hidden I wonder whether Google can in anyway detect who is owner. If so, it is definitely a footprint.

But if they can't it could save some money especially if you buy quite a few domains.

@Nargil What do you think?

Whois details are hidden only if you aren't a business entity. Business entities have their names visible regardless of GDPR, unless they have a privacy on of course.

 

[ALdelta1]

Google themselves are a ICANN registrar. They can see the complete WHOIS data.

In that case how does someone edit data on WhoIs to avoid a footprint for Google?

 

[Mr Positive]

Whois, GDPR, CCPA all don’t hurt fine to have it

 

[bartosimpsonio]

In that case how does someone edit data on WhoIs to avoid a footprint for Google?

You don't.

Google is spying on everything.

Can't fool them using whois.

 

[ALdelta1]

You don't.

Google is spying on everything.

Can't fool them using whois.

What, so no way around this?
Once on whois, forever on whois?

 

[bartosimpsonio]

What, so no way around this?
Once on whois, forever on whois?

Well that's the idea behind whois. The registrars want to know who owns things. Can't have anonymous holdings in theory.

 

[SellHealthG]

I've found IP blocks to be a bigger deal than WHOIS. Always get the privacy.

If someone starts digging in Domain Tools to find the WHOIS history, then it could be an issue - but having privacy won't be the cause for giving up the network footprint.