Every year, many of our clients get an email that looks a little scary. It often says something like:
“ICANN regulations require certain domain registration details to be publicly displayed in the Registration Data Directory Services (formerly WHOIS) database.”
If your eyes glazed over after the word ICANN, you’re not alone. Let’s break it down.
What is ICANN?
ICANN (short for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the international organization that keeps the internet running smoothly. They oversee domain names (like yourbusiness.com) to make sure no two people register the same one and that the whole system is safe and consistent worldwide.
What is the WHOIS (now called Registration Data Directory Services)?
Think of WHOIS as the phone book of the internet. When you register a domain, your details (name, email, phone, and address) are attached to that domain. By rule, these details go into a public directory so that people can see who owns what domain.
- This is why, if you’ve ever looked up a domain, you might see a company’s information (or sometimes a privacy protection shield instead).
- The purpose is accountability. It stops people from hiding behind fake websites and makes it easier to contact the rightful owner if there’s a dispute or problem.
Why am I being asked to confirm my details?
ICANN requires every domain owner to verify their contact information once a year. This helps make sure your records are accurate and up to date. If your email or phone number changes but your domain registration doesn’t, you could miss critical notices about your website or domain name.
Registrars (like GoDaddy, NameCheap, Bluehost, etc.) are also required to send reminders to domain owners before their renewal dates — typically about one month and again one week prior to the expiration of a domain name. These reminders often include the request to confirm your registration details so that nothing is missed when it comes time to renew. 
If you ignore the verification request, your domain could be suspended — which means your website and email could go offline until it’s fixed.
What do I need to do with this Action Required email from ICANN?
- Read the email carefully. It should come from your domain registrar or website hosting service (like GoDaddy, Google Domains, SiteGround, etc.).
- Log into your account. The message will direct you to your hosting/registrar login page — that’s where you’ll confirm your details.
- Review each contact type. You’ll see four categories:
- Registrant (main owner contact) – this should be you or your business.
- Administrative contact – usually whoever manages decisions about the domain.
- Technical contact – the person or team who handles the website/IT.
- Billing contact – whoever pays the bills for the domain.
- Update if needed. If your email, phone, or address has changed, update it now.
👉 Pro tip: If you’re a small business and you are all four contacts, that’s perfectly fine — just make sure your details are correct.
Why does ICANN matter to your business?
- Keeps your website safe and online.
- Protects your right to your domain (so nobody else can claim it).
- Makes sure you don’t miss urgent messages about renewals, transfers, or legal notices.
✅ Quick tip from SRM: If you ever get an email you’re unsure about, forward it to us before clicking any links. There are lots of phishing scams pretending to be “ICANN” or registrars. We’ll help you spot the difference and make sure your domain stays secure.