Limits public access to personal information except under extraordinary circumstances or through explicit consent of the registrant.

CIRA, The Canadian Internet Registration Authority, announced today that it has launched a new privacy policy and WHOIS search tool to protect the privacy of dot-ca domain name registrants. The new policy limits public access to personal information except under extraordinary circumstances or through explicit consent of the registrant.

Under the new policy the personal information of individual domain name registrants, including registrant name, home address, phone number and e-mail address, will now be automatically protected as private. Full registration information for corporate domain name holders will continue to be accessible and individual registrants may choose to make their information accessible.

Under specific, limited circumstances certain registrant contact information may be disclosed in situations arising from child endangerment offenses, intellectual property disputes, threats to the Internet, and identity theft.

"The new dot-ca WHOIS Policy puts Registrants first by restricting access to the private information of individual dot-ca while providing timely mechanisms for legitimate information requests," says Byron Holland, President and CEO, Canadian Internet Registration Authority.