Australia proposes new .au domain rules to curb AI-driven domain spam

Proposed rule changes for Australia’s .au domain aim to restrict domain registration to prevent the proliferation of low-quality, monetized domains. The recommendations, stemming from a yearlong Policy Advisory Panel review, suggest that registrants in the .com.au and .net.au namespaces be limited to names that match their actual name, business name, or trademark.

This move seeks to close a loophole that currently allows individuals to register domains for any purpose, a practice the panel noted may disproportionately benefit domain investors and weaken trust in the allocation framework. The crackdown is specifically targeted at combating the rise of low-quality, pay-per-click websites made easier by advances in generative artificial intelligence.

While the panel unanimously rejected a total ban on domain monetization, it concluded that using monetization to satisfy allocation rules causes consumer harm. The registry auDA has approved the recommendations and plans to publish an implementation plan for public consultation before the changes take effect.