Web Desk: GoDaddy, the world’s largest internet domain registrar, is challenging a landmark Indian court order aimed at curbing fraudulent websites, arguing that the measures could undermine online privacy, disrupt legitimate businesses and reshape internet governance far beyond India’s borders.
The U.S.-based company has appealed the December ruling before a larger bench of the Delhi High Court, according to court filings reviewed by Reuters. The case is scheduled to be heard on July 16. Reuters first reported details of the appeal and the arguments raised by GoDaddy.
The legal battle comes as India intensifies efforts to combat cyber fraud amid a surge in internet and smartphone use.
Government data show authorities received about 2.4 million cybercrime complaints in 2024 involving alleged losses totaling roughly $2.4 billion, making online fraud an increasingly significant public policy challenge.
The dispute originated after more than 20 multinational and Indian companies, including Amazon, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Xiaomi and Colgate-Palmolive, sought judicial intervention against websites accused of impersonating their brands to deceive consumers.
In December, the Delhi High Court ordered the blocking of more than 1,100 allegedly fraudulent websites and introduced broader directives aimed at preventing future abuse.
Beyond ordering website blocks, the court directed domain registrars to stop offering privacy protection by default for domain registrations.
It also required companies to disclose domain registration information within 72 hours to individuals demonstrating a “legitimate interest” and instructed registrars to prevent registration of website addresses resembling protected trademarks.
The court described fraudulent websites as “engines for large-scale deception” and said greater transparency was necessary to combat online scams.
GoDaddy argues the measures extend well beyond tackling fraudulent operators and could expose millions of legitimate website owners to privacy and security risks.
According to its appeal, removing default privacy protections would make personal information including names, home addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses more readily accessible, potentially increasing risks such as harassment, stalking and phishing.
The company also contends that domain registrars are not equipped to determine who qualifies as having a “legitimate interest” when requesting customer information.
Because domain registrations operate globally rather than country by country, GoDaddy says compliance with the Indian ruling could have consequences for its worldwide operations.
The company, which manages roughly 80 million domain names for more than 20 million customers and generates annual revenue of about $5 billion, has identified India as one of its fastest-growing emerging markets.
Industry joins legal challenge
GoDaddy is not alone in contesting the ruling.
Court records indicate that domain service providers Namecheap and Hosting Concepts have also filed appeals, although details of their legal arguments have not been made public.
Farzaneh Badii, a researcher specializing in internet governance, said weakening privacy protections could disproportionately affect journalists, activists, entrepreneurs and private citizens while doing little to deter sophisticated cybercriminals.
She noted that many jurisdictions, including those governed by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), have adopted privacy-by-default principles specifically to reduce risks associated with public disclosure of personal data.
Indian authorities have consistently identified cybercrime as one of the country’s fastest-growing security challenges.
Home Minister Amit Shah said earlier this year that a cybercrime victim is reported every 37 seconds and warned that inadequate action could allow the problem to develop into a national crisis.
Court documents reviewed by Reuters also show that India’s Information Technology Ministry previously expressed concern over domain name abuse and insufficient verification of website registrations, while the Home Ministry argued that registration details should be readily available for investigations.
The case reflects a broader global debate over balancing consumer protection, online privacy and internet governance.
Supporters of stricter oversight argue stronger verification requirements are essential to combat increasingly sophisticated online fraud.
Critics, however, warn that weakening privacy protections could expose legitimate internet users while placing significant compliance burdens on companies operating across multiple jurisdictions.
The Delhi High Court is expected to hear the appeals on July 16, in a closely watched case that could influence future regulation of domain registration services both in India and internationally.
Reference: Reuters, “GoDaddy warns India court’s fake websites crackdown will make internet less safe,” reported July 2026.
