Iceland to Tighten .is Domain Registration Rules Amid Criminal Site Concerns

The Icelandic Ministry of Infrastructure is preparing a legislative amendment to tighten the rules governing the country‑code top‑level domain “.is”. The move follows several recent incidents in which criminal websites have been hosted under the .is domain.

The ministry says the changes aim to improve security, efficiency and cost‑effectiveness of domain management. Currently, the .is domain is administered solely by Internet Iceland hf. (ISNIC), a private monopoly that also sets pricing and registration terms. The existing 2021 law is considered too permissive, lacking clear criteria for legitimate registration, price benchmarks, and safeguards against fraudulent registrations where the listed registrant is not the actual operator.

Proposed reforms would introduce stricter eligibility requirements, clearer pricing guidelines, and stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent misuse of the .is namespace and protect internet users in Iceland.