Internet domain name "insider trading" investigated

The Internet's main oversight agency is looking into allegations that insider information is being used to purchase the domain names before they're registered by an individual or business.


The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers says they will be investigating suspicions that someone who has access to domain name search requests has been using the query information to gauge interest in those addresses and profit from it.


ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee, "observes that there does not appear to be a strong set of standards and practices to conclude whether monitoring availability checks is an acceptable or unacceptable practice"

So far, no one has been accused or charged with "domain name front running" but the agency said it wants to prevent "perception from evolving to accepted wisdom."

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