4 ms·

Seize the means of registration. Seriously, why on earth are the domain registries of the world not in the hands of the people? This stuff is far to important t

Seize the means of registration. Seriously, why on earth are the domain registries of the world not in the hands of the people? This stuff is far to important to be under the control of cooperations.

input_sh 7y ago
You may want to look into OpenNIC, in which anyone with the know-how can operate a TLD. They have domains like .geek, .cyb, .null, .libre, .oss, and you use them by simply switching your DNS server to one of OpenNIC's mirrors. They also support TLDs for "emerging nations" like .ku for Kurdish people, .uu for Uigurs, .ti for Tibet. Though I'm not sure what would happen if ICANN decides to sell one of those domains one day.
- plange 7y ago
  Already happened. OpenNIC had to move the users from .free over to .libre
- jandrese 7y ago
  > .uu for Uigurs, .ti for Tibet. Well, I guess mainland Chinese people won't be using this.
  - DarthGhandi 7y ago
    Most of them live in a very different digital world anyway.
pjc50 7y ago
Which people? There's no "world government" representing us, and having it annexed by the US isn't a great substitute.
- syshum 7y ago
  Having the US Dept of Commerce over it is the least bad option right now though
- Synaesthesia 7y ago
  You could have a council which is voted for and whose positions are immediately revocable by popular demand.
  - peterwwillis 7y ago
    This doesn't really work. There are other stakeholders than just "the public", so need to add more to it, and because of this inherent complexity it ends up sucking. (see Athenian Democracy)
- strbean 7y ago
  The UN? It has its problems (the Security Council), but it's the closest thing we have.
rasengan 7y ago
That’s exactly what Handshake [1] is doing - giving the rootzone to the people. [1] https://www.handshake.org https://www.handshake.org
rebuilder 7y ago
Did you have a model of governance in mind? I'm at a loss to think of one that I would prefer to the current one, as bad as it is.
- willis936 7y ago
  Keep it as is but have it owned by the fed.
  - Ajedi32 7y ago
    Which fed? ICANN is an international organization. They used to be overseen by the US Department of Commerce, but that relationship ended (with some controversy) a few years ago.
    - willis936 7y ago
      Any fed of sufficient size and diplomacy. US, EU, whatever. Anyone who has an iota of accountability, internal or external, would be better than the current owner.
dpau 7y ago
As someone noted in a previous discussion, if governments get involved things will get messy, as just one example imagine China objecting to issuing/renewing a domain for a Taiwanese or Hong Kong NGO..

Seize the means of registration. Seriously, why on earth are the domain registries of the world not in the hands of the people? This stuff is far to important to be under the control of cooperations.

input_sh 7y ago

You may want to look into OpenNIC, in which anyone with the know-how can operate a TLD. They have domains like .geek, .cyb, .null, .libre, .oss, and you use them by simply switching your DNS server to one of OpenNIC's mirrors. They also support TLDs for "emerging nations" like .ku for Kurdish people, .uu for Uigurs, .ti for Tibet. Though I'm not sure what would happen if ICANN decides to sell one of those domains one day.

plange 7y ago
Already happened. OpenNIC had to move the users from .free over to .libre
jandrese 7y ago
> .uu for Uigurs, .ti for Tibet. Well, I guess mainland Chinese people won't be using this.
- DarthGhandi 7y ago
  Most of them live in a very different digital world anyway.

pjc50 7y ago

Which people? There's no "world government" representing us, and having it annexed by the US isn't a great substitute.

syshum 7y ago
Having the US Dept of Commerce over it is the least bad option right now though
Synaesthesia 7y ago
You could have a council which is voted for and whose positions are immediately revocable by popular demand.
- peterwwillis 7y ago
  This doesn't really work. There are other stakeholders than just "the public", so need to add more to it, and because of this inherent complexity it ends up sucking. (see Athenian Democracy)
strbean 7y ago
The UN? It has its problems (the Security Council), but it's the closest thing we have.

rasengan 7y ago

That’s exactly what Handshake [1] is doing - giving the rootzone to the people. [1] https://www.handshake.org https://www.handshake.org

rebuilder 7y ago

Did you have a model of governance in mind? I'm at a loss to think of one that I would prefer to the current one, as bad as it is.

willis936 7y ago
Keep it as is but have it owned by the fed.
- Ajedi32 7y ago
  Which fed? ICANN is an international organization. They used to be overseen by the US Department of Commerce, but that relationship ended (with some controversy) a few years ago.
  - willis936 7y ago
    Any fed of sufficient size and diplomacy. US, EU, whatever. Anyone who has an iota of accountability, internal or external, would be better than the current owner.

dpau 7y ago

As someone noted in a previous discussion, if governments get involved things will get messy, as just one example imagine China objecting to issuing/renewing a domain for a Taiwanese or Hong Kong NGO..