There are a couple of factual errors in this piece that I feel obligated to point out:
1. The root DNS server pool only hosts glue pointing TLDs to other pools of servers that administrate those TLDs. No amount of pressure on ICANN or the root server operators can debilitate a single non-TLD ___domain name.
2. Not all registrars and/or TLD operators exist in the US. All it would take is doing business with an international registrar that doesn't agree with the rules to circumvent DNS tampering laws.
3. In theory, ICANN already requires registrants to maintain accurate information in WHOIS. Registrants should be receiving annual notices from registrars to remind them of this fact. We can all see how well this is working. :p
The issue with providing "identity" to register a ___domain is that there's no portable, international way of doing so. What does an "identity" consist of? A name?
There's plenty of good discussion on this topic in the nymwars.
However, I do agree with SOPA being a red herring, and it's unfortunate that big. Players are still planning a blackout even though the legislature is already backpedaling on the worst bits of the language.
What if next month the DOPA (Decapitating Online Piracy Act) bill comes along and it's much worse. Would big sites be willing to continue shutting down their services for each crazy bill that comes around?
I feel like the endgame of the US futzing with the Internet will just result in other, international bodies taking on the operations of core infrastructure (a la The ORSN project; Vixie saw SOPA coming!), edging out US influence on this medium that the whole world enjoys.
The issue with providing "identity" to register a ___domain is that there's no portable, international way of doing so. What does an "identity" consist of? A name? There's plenty of good discussion on this topic in the nymwars.
However, I do agree with SOPA being a red herring, and it's unfortunate that big. Players are still planning a blackout even though the legislature is already backpedaling on the worst bits of the language. What if next month the DOPA (Decapitating Online Piracy Act) bill comes along and it's much worse. Would big sites be willing to continue shutting down their services for each crazy bill that comes around?
I feel like the endgame of the US futzing with the Internet will just result in other, international bodies taking on the operations of core infrastructure (a la The ORSN project; Vixie saw SOPA coming!), edging out US influence on this medium that the whole world enjoys.