GoDaddy has challenged an Indian court ruling aimed at curbing fake websites impersonating well-known brands, warning the measures could undermine online privacy, disrupt legitimate businesses and have far-reaching consequences for internet governance.

India has been stepping up efforts to combat cyber fraud as smartphone and internet use surges. Government data shows authorities received 2.4 million complaints of alleged cyber fraud worth US$2.4 billion last year.

The dispute stems from lawsuits filed since 2019 by companies including Amazon and McDonald's against fraudulent websites using their names. In December, a New Delhi court ordered more than 1,100 such websites to be blocked.

The court also introduced broader measures requiring domain registrars to stop offering free privacy protection by default, disclose domain owners' details within 72 hours to anyone with a "legitimate interest," and prevent the registration of website addresses that are variations of protected brand names.

According to non-public court filings reviewed by Reuters, U.S.-based GoDaddy has appealed the ruling before a larger bench of the Delhi High Court, arguing the directives could expose legitimate website owners to privacy and security risks.

GoDaddy said removing privacy-by-default features would publicly disclose the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of legitimate domain owners, leaving them vulnerable to stalking, harassment and other threats.

In one appeal document, GoDaddy described the directives as "commercially destabilizing" and warned they could force domain registration companies to "exit India."

The court said fake websites had become "engines for large-scale deception" and ruled that privacy protection should become a paid service because it acts "as a cloak" hiding rogue operators.

The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear the appeals on July 16.

 
-Malaysia Sun