4 ms·

I'm very curious to know what Wikipedia's position on the sale is, esp. given they will be directly affected. Jimmy?

• iudqnolq 7y ago
  How will Wikipedia be directly affected? Do you mean they have a .org domain? Even if the cost goes up significantly, given their other expenses I doubt even a few thousand dollars a year would matter much to them.
  • nayuki 7y ago
    The article emphasized the problem of censorship, not price. Some relevant quotes: > Registries have the power to suspend domain names, or even transfer them to other Internet users, subject to their contracts with ICANN. When a domain name is suspended, all of the Internet resources that use that name are disrupted, including websites, email addresses, and apps. That power lets registries exert influence over speech on the Internet in much the same way that social networks, search engines, and other well-placed intermediaries can do. > As the new operator of .ORG, Ethos Capital would have the ability to engage in these and other forms of censorship. It could enforce any limitations on nonprofits’ speech, including selective enforcement of particular national laws. > Since many NGOs are engaged in speech that seeks to hold governments and industry to account, those powerful interests have every incentive to buy the cooperation of a well-placed intermediary, including an Ethos-owned PIR.
    • iudqnolq 7y ago
      Thank you. I didn't read the article, I made unwarranted assumptions from the previous postings on this subject and then made a mis-informed HN comment having not read the article. Mea culpa.
    • matheusmoreira 7y ago
      This is a very serious concern. Many web sites ended up censoring themselves at the whims of advertisers. All it takes is a little pressure from the people with money: "I don't like this .org web site and I can't associate with a registrar that allows it to exist".