Navigating the Danish part of the internet should be safe and transparent. As the administrator of all .dk domain names, Punktum dk has now taken another step in the fight against digital fraud and abuse. While WHOIS lookups have previously shown who owns a domain name, the database now also displays the specific method used to validate the registrant’s identity.
For Danish citizens and businesses, validation continues to occur automatically via MitID. This means the vast majority of registrants will display the status: "ID verified with electronic ID".
For other types of registrants, three alternative status labels will appear going forward:
- "ID verified by submitting documentation": Used for foreign registrants where Punktum dk has requested and manually approved documentation.
- "Registrant accepted following risk assessment": Used for foreign registrants where a risk assessment indicated that manual documentation was not necessary.
- "ID verified by registrar": Used when accredited registrars have handled the identity verification in accordance with the rules of the new NIS2 directive.
Transparency eliminates the shadows where fraudsters hide
The implementation of this measure stems from a public consultation where DIFO and Punktum dk discussed new anti-cybercrime initiatives with the internet community.
"The foundation of a safe internet is knowing who we are communicating and doing business with. .dk is already one of the world's most secure domain zones because we require ID verification. By making the validation method itself visible to everyone, we are providing users with extra peace of mind and removing the shadows that cybercriminals prefer to operate in," says Jakob Bring Truelsen, CEO of Punktum dk.
The only registrants exempt from publicly visible ownership details remain private individuals who have name and address protection registered in the Danish Civil Registration System (CPR).
Registrants who believe the information displayed for their .dk domain name is incorrect can contact Punktum dk's customer service.
Anyone can freely look up a domain name in the WHOIS database at www.punktum.dk.