NiRA Introduces Privacy Feature To Protect Website Owners

The Nigerian Internet Registration Association has announced the launch of a new privacy feature designed to protect the personal information of individuals and organisations that own websites in Nigeria.

The initiative, known as WHOIS Privacy Redaction, aims to enhance digital trust and data protection by allowing website registrants to conceal their personal details, such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, and physical addresses, from public access in the WHOIS database.

The disclosure was made in a statement on Monday, following the recent election of new directors to NiRA’s Executive Board.

The Association is the official registry for Nigeria’s country code top-level domain and is responsible for the management of Nigeria’s web space

According to the regulator, the new service is now live and will replace sensitive information with the label “Data Redacted” in the WHOIS record of each registered domain.

The service will be provided free of charge.

President of NiRA, Adesola Akinsanya, said the move reflects the Association’s commitment to data protection and aligns with global best practices in internet governance.

“The introduction of WHOIS Privacy Redaction is a pivotal development for Nigeria’s internet ecosystem,” Akinsanya stated.

He added, “At NiRA, we are committed to safeguarding the privacy of our registrants and fostering a secure online environment. This free service reflects our dedication to public trust and the continued growth of the Nigerian digital space.”

While personal contact details will be hidden from public view, key technical information such as domain status, registration dates, and nameservers will remain visible to ensure the operational integrity and transparency of Nigeria’s internet infrastructure.

NiRA noted that mechanisms have been established to allow legitimate access to redacted information, especially by law enforcement agencies. Such requests will be channeled through registrars and processed using strict procedures to protect users’ identities.

The new privacy service follows a series of stakeholder engagements and a formal recommendation by NiRA’s Domain Name Policy Committee. The proposal was unanimously approved by the Executive Board after deliberations at the NiRA Registrars Forum held on 30 October 2024.

The company also explained that the technical framework for the redaction process is built upon existing infrastructure that already supports data protection compliance for European Union citizens. This ensures alignment with Nigeria’s Data Protection Act and reinforces NiRA’s collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.

“This is not just about redacting data; it is about creating a safer digital environment and encouraging more people to confidently register and manage their websites,” the association stated.