Abstract:
|
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) coordinates web address identifiers worldwide. Any individual, business, or organization who 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 (e.g., .CONSULT), as well as "registrars" (e.g., GoDaddy). 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 syntactical (e.g., 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 operational (e.g., does the email bounce; does the phone number connect; is the postal address deliverable?) accuracy. This presentation will provide statistics on Internet domains worldwide as well as the accuracy of domain contact information based on four studies over two years.
|