Special Issue: connecting the dots between the Domain Name System and today’s cyber reality
In a digital age where the Domain Name System (DNS) quietly shapes our cyber landscape, the Journal of Cyber Policy proudly unveils a special issue on this pivotal connection. Everything that happens online relies on the DNS and IP addressing, yet their relevance and connections to today’s cyber policy issues are not always recognised by academic and policy audiences. While there are active multistakeholder communities involved in open internet governance and technical standards processes, the linkages between those processes and contemporary policy debates are sometimes difficult to understand. Our focus is on the global impact of DNS resources, exploring how they influence cybersecurity, privacy, disinformation, consumer protection and internet governance.
Volume 8, Number 2 of the Journal of Cyber Policy aims to shed light on the important role that the DNS plays in cyber policy and Internet governance conversations by addressing various aspects of the DNS and its intersection with broader geopolitical, technological and regulatory issues.
Dr James Burrell's guest editorial
The issue opens with a guest editorial by Dr James Burrell Special issue on domain name system (DNS), setting the stage for a deep dive into the intricate world of DNS. The guest editorial is followed by six diverse articles authored by academics, practitioners and technologists. The articles cover topics ranging from the digital geography of Indian Ocean territories to combating health-related abuse on the DNS, the European Commission's DNS4EU initiative, blockchain domain names, global ‘private ordering’ in domain name disputes, and consolidation in the Top-level Domain sector.
The editorial team is delighted to partner with the DNS Research Federation on producing this open access special issue.
Mapping use and misuse: internet domains and Indian Ocean territories
James Mortensen and Samuel Bashfield
This article explores the digital geography of Indian Ocean overseas territories and finds divides in ccTLD management between countries with historic, colonial ties to Anglophone and Francophone states. It argues that these differences offer a window into understanding levels of national involvement in internet administration and which stakeholders benefit from domain sale profits, among other dynamics.
The need for evidence-based guidelines to combat health-related abuse on the DNS
Mark Datysgeld
In this article, the author proposes that the DNS can serve as an avenue for curbing the sale of health-related products online by malicious actors, noting the threat to human safety posed by this sale. The core proposal is the establishment of ‘baseline criteria’ for doing so through Trusted Notifiers. The article concludes with a set of targeted recommendations with suggested requirements for acting upon said websites using DNS.
DNS4EU: a step change in EU’s strategic autonomy?
Roxana Radu
Diving into the European Commission’s launch of the DNS4EU initiative, this piece provides expert contextualisation of the initiative and its implications for various stakeholders in the EU’s DNS landscape. Building on this, the author offers comprehensive analysis of the initiative’s strengths and limitations. The article concludes by looking ahead to the potential future(s) of DNS resolution.
Web 3 disruption and the Domain Name System: understanding the trends of blockchain domain names and the policy implications.
Georgia Osborn and Nathan Alan
In this article, the authors recognise the likely disruption blockchain or web3 technology will have on tomorrow’s internet. Collecting data on the registration and use of blockchain domain names, they explore dynamics behind the rising trend in this type of alternative DNS rooting. The article calls for a ‘pragmatic response’ to this trend and includes a set of recommendations to address potential challenges posed.
Towards an understanding of global ‘private ordering’ by text mining 23 Years of the ICANN Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)
Derrick Cogburn, Theodore Ochieng and Haiman Wong
Embarking on a historical survey of ICANN’s Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDPR), this article analyses textual data from UDRP complaints to determine changes to topics over time, the role of the UDRP process between resolution bodies and prevalent themes. On the whole, the analysis suggests evidence for the ‘ongoing stability’ of the UDRP.
The long tail and the unfolding of consolidation and concentration in the Top-Level Domain sector
Carolina Aguerre
Analysing developments from the past decade in the TLD sector, this article argues that technology and business changes to said market can be characterised as part of a ‘long tail effect’. The author notes that this perspective sheds light on 10-year trends in the market’s dynamics of concentration and consolidation and contends that the market’s increased consolidation may pose a threat to geographic and linguistic diversity.
Correction Statement
This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.