GoDaddy, which manages 80 million domains, challenged a Delhi High Court order to publicly list all domain owners. The December 2025 ruling by Justice Prathiba M. Singh removes privacy-by-default, demanding e-KYC and 72-hour disclosures to fight fraud. This sets up a clash between Indian jurisdiction and global internet policy, potentially exposing legitimate website owners to harassment.
How We Got Here
The court's December 24, 2025 judgment in Dabur India v. Ashok Kumar issued 14 directions targeting fraudulent websites. GoDaddy's appeal to a larger bench, filed after Namecheap and Hosting Concepts also challenged, now contests three key directions.
The Numbers
- GoDaddy's appeal, reported by Reuters from non-public filings, spans over 5,000 pages.
- The challenged order mandates e-KYC for all domain registrations and periodic re-verification.
- GoDaddy contests the 72-hour disclosure requirement, arguing it cannot determine "legitimate interest" of requesters.
- The High Court previously issued a conflicting DPDP Act interpretation in a right-to-be-forgotten case involving Google.
What Happens Next
🇮🇳 Why This Matters for India
For Bangalore startup founders registering new domains, the ruling could mean their personal details become public by default, risking harassment.
The Take
The High Court ruling sets Indian jurisdiction on a collision course with global internet governance standards for domain registrars. Expect this appeal to test India’s reach over fundamental internet infrastructure, with potential ripple effects far beyond local fraud cases.
Source:
MediaNama ↗