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A comment on Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to European authorities. Parent comment

Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by ams6110 on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @09:43AM (#16858176)
One's address is a matter of public record anyway, so I'm not too concerned about my address appearing in a WHOIS. Phone number, at worst you get some spam calls, but I don't answer numbers I don't recognize so it's of low concern.
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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by jiveturkey on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @12:51PM (#16860047)
Why do people always over-personalize issues like this. It isn't about you. (It doesn't affect me either, but likewise it isn't about me.)

In many countries, one's address is in fact not a matter of public record. For example, in China.

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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by joejoebob on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @02:08PM (#16860821)
Wait, I thought everyone lived in the US?
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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by always_good on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @10:27AM (#16858606)
Lowering the bar of getting your name + address + phone number just lowers the bar for social engineering.

It does you zero favors.

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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by geofft on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @03:43PM (#16861645)
> One's address is a matter of public record anyway

Can you clarify what jurisdiction you mean? In the United States, this isn't true - there are certain (admittedly common) things that generate public records with your address, such as buying a house or (in some areas) registering to vote. (In other areas, voter registration databases are technically not public, but volunteers on any political campaign have access.)

However, if you're not registered to vote and you're renting an apartment, there isn't any real reason why your address would be a public record.

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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by Magnets on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @10:02AM (#16858359)
Personal addresses are not public record in the UK for the vast majority of people, and neither are phone numbers
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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by ams6110 on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @10:04AM (#16858375)
You don't have phone directories?
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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by nocobot on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @11:18AM (#16859100)
In Germany you can choose to not be listed in those, I assume it's the same in the UK .
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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by Angostura on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @03:42PM (#16861628)
YOu can opt out and many people do (ex-directory)
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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by return1 on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @01:51PM (#16860638)
you mean, in the US you can't opt out of them?
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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by ghaff on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @05:41PM (#16862558)
When everyone had landlines, I believe you could get an unlisted number for a fee. Very few did AFAIK.

There is no white pages for cellphones but I still get junk calls anyway.

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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by pjc50 on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @03:41PM (#16861625)
A majority of people are on the open electoral register.
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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by noja on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @03:45PM (#16861657)
Is that publicly searchable and re-indexed by third parties in other countries?
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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by pjc50 on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @04:44PM (#16862146)
It's not publicly searchable, but third parties can just buy a copy. https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/electoral-register/
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Re:Whois public database is in breach of GDPR, according to ... by noja on Tuesday April 17, 2018 @04:54PM (#16862228)
So that's not the same thing then is it?
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