Companies like Escrow.com obviously hate increasing bureaucracy but are continuously forced to and this is only the beginning in my opinion. Registrars will most likely soon follow suit and it’s probably only a matter of time until you can kiss features such as whois privacy goodbye.
Love it or hate it (hate it, obviously), this is the trend.
We can discuss why this is happening all day but that would be be beyond the scope of a domaining-related blog post. As a domaining blogger however, I do have to make it clear that if you aren’t noticing this trend, you need a cup a coffee or two.
When traveling abroad, expect more and more invasive experiences.
At home, expect more and more cameras to be installed everywhere.
When conducting business online, expect more and more verification procedures.
Perhaps you think this is way too much. So do I but it doesn’t matter. Perhaps you feel it’s unfair to be treated like a criminal everywhere you go despite never committing a crime. So do I but again, it doesn’t matter. Since 9/11, the trend has been clear: a continuous reduction of privacy in the name of law enforcement.
What’s likely to happen next?
Well, I don’t know for sure but one can make educated guesses.
Requiring escrow services to request verification documents is only the beginning in my opinion.
I think it’s only a matter of time until GoDaddy and other registrars will be required to collect the same information. Hosting companies as well most likely.
Under such circumstances, how long do you think whois privacy can survive?
I for one seriously doubt the concept has much more life in it left.
Is all of this frustrating? Yes, it is.
But what can you do except acknowledge that this is how things stand and organize your life/business accordingly?
January 13th, 2017 at 6:56 am
On namepros there is doubt that this escrow.com move to get copies of ID’s and utility bills from everybody is due to escrow.com switching banks from Bank of America with whom escrow.com was for 16 years to Wells Fargo which has had legal troubles recently.
The legal stuff posted as justification by escrow.com concern banks and stock brokers and mutual funds NOT escrow services and those bank, stock broker, mutual fund regulations come into effect only in May 2018.
Some people are switching to Sedo which according to people does not require copies of ID’s and utility bills and has escrow only product charging only 3% and taking control of the domain meaning they send the money as soon as the domain is pushed to Sedo’s account and they have accounts at most registrars.
Someone posted on namepros that they contacted escrow.domains and they are looking into not requiring ID and utility bills from sellers and buyers in domains transactions under 3000 dollars.
January 13th, 2017 at 10:37 am
Bitcoin and Tor. and vote Libertarian Party. simple
January 13th, 2017 at 10:38 am
or another crypto currency like Dash. 😉
January 13th, 2017 at 12:26 pm
@escrow customer looking for alternatives: I really don’t think Escrow.com would implement such a change unless they absolutely had to. Since they’re the biggest player in the escrow space by far, it makes sense that they’re the first who implement changes whenever the legal landscape changes. And by legal landscape I don’t just mean laws, I’m also referring to procedures and what not. The smaller companies will inevitably end up doing the same or risk fines like the $50k fine EscrowHill received from Texas a while back if you recall
@anonymous: I love the idea behind bitcoin and the low fees but try explaining such a transaction to an end user who barely knows how to transfer a domain 🙂
January 13th, 2017 at 12:35 pm
@Andrei
People didn’t know how to use a debit card in days gone by so if they take the time to buy a trezor or ledger cold wallet to store the bulk of their coins and hide their private keys there will be no problem.
Also download the mycellium wallet for your phone, enable 2FA and just keep your spending money on your phone you should have no problem.
When $hit hits the fan, and it will people will be lining up at their banks trying to get money out that is not there. Happening right now in India, Greece, Venezuala, soon in Italy, Spain, and this side of the pond as well. When you see the news item on a Friday that says banks will be closed until Monday that will be the beginning of the end. Head to the hills and get some chickens. ;(
There are people creating systems to run blockchain on radio signals, etc. in-case they shut the net down. Word is it may happen this year. The AOL, etc outages were just a test…………
January 13th, 2017 at 12:50 pm
@anonymous: I for one would definitely be willing and able to use such a service. But based on my experience at least, a lot of the end users one interacts with are at a level of tech literacy at which they consider you a genius if you’re able to install an application on their phone 🙂
My best guess is that for end users to genuinely embrace such options, a solution like blockchain.info or coinbase.com is the best choice… or in other words, a brutally simplified platform. I realize this solution comes with its share of disadvantages, many of which conflict with the very essence of cryptocurrencies but it would be a start
January 13th, 2017 at 1:19 pm
@Andrei
Agreed, but if you remember many Grandma and Grandpa’s did not know how to send an email. The “net” was supposed to be a passing fad. My bet is cc’s are here to stay.
As will all things do not invest any money you cannot afford to lose but do you want to be in line at the bank when it all implodes? I don’t.
Cheers!
January 13th, 2017 at 1:25 pm
With identity theft and fraud on the rise online, I think that moves like this are inevitable in order to protect everyone from being scammed/robbed.
It’s no different than walking into a physical bank location and setting up an account or requesting to make a withdrawal. They ask for ID and take your fingerprint before you can complete the transaction.
January 13th, 2017 at 1:55 pm
When I see people complaint about a change for the good it leads me to believe that they either have something to hide or doing something illegal.
The good being that if it stops theft then I am all for it.
January 13th, 2017 at 1:56 pm
@Julio
Hermann Goering in 1947 at The Nuremberg Trials said
“Naturally, the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy”
“All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the Country to danger. It works the same way in any country”
Sound familiar?????
January 13th, 2017 at 3:00 pm
substitute the word “war” with “control” and here we are……….
pass the cool aid.