It's called domain name front running. GoDaddy in particular has been accused of this in the past here on HN and have responded to it[0].
Use a trustworthy registrar when you can, avoid GoDaddy or Namecheap.
Use a trustworthy registrar when you can, avoid GoDaddy or Namecheap.
There are posts all the way back to 2011[2] and probably further showing GoDaddy doing this for some time, and even I spotted it when using Network Solutions back in the day [3].
ICANN introduced charges (from the Wiki article) to try and reduce the Domain Tasting element, so I a guessing it is better now), but I (my personal opinion) think that it is still out there, just not as obvious as it once was!
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_name_front_running
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_tasting
Do a WHOIS the next time you come across a phishing website or receive an SMS with an odd link. And then disappoint yourself with the complete lack of care when trying to report it to Namecheap's support.
Their CTO or whoever considers this form of enabling crime to be 'free speech' or suggesting registrars shouldn't 'police' or something equally as stupid when it was raised on HN a few times.
Blocking actual exploitative malware is a legal obligation, not "censorship." If they had a TOS that says "do whatever you want" then sure, but in this case they're just violating their TOS too.
[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30504812
[1] https://twitter.com/Namecheap/status/1489485337885921284
[2] https://twitter.com/Namecheap/status/1489504958596714499
Refusing to police does not mean "they go out of their way to protect blackhats", it means they sell domains and know their place.
Knowingly taking money from criminals, likely stolen, is almost certainly a criminal offence.
Don't assume what I want them to do. They have been spoonfed the information and their Eastern European support staff/legal department doesn't care. Then their C-levels come on here and claim nonsense about free speech when quizzed about it.