https://phys.org/news/2018-05-eu-privacy-law-looms-debate.html

The database will become largely private under the forthcoming General Data protection Regulation set to take effect May 25, since it contains protected personal information.

US government officials and some cybersecurity professionals fear that without the ability to easily find hackers and other malicious actors through WHOIS, the new rules could lead to a surge in cybercrime, spam and fraud.