> The people who own `.` can simply issue public orders to the people who own `org.`. They can set policies, demand payment, demand the removal of hosts, and so on.
Maybe i've missed a few episodes in the DNS wars saga. Do you have a few links on this topic? I wasn't aware that ICANN felt powerful enough to threaten to take entire TLDs off the root zone.
> I'm talking about what the technological function of the DNS root is.
I somewhat agree with that argument, i'd be much happier with a public-key delegation process like in the GNU Name System. But to be fair, given the technical constraints of the time, i would argue DNS is as close as you can get to an anarchist protocol: it appears centralized on the outside, but when you dig into the technical details it was explicitly designed to decentralize powers from the hands of the hosts file maintainers.
> Of course, they're not going to remove `org.` -- and `org.` isn't going to defy their rules.
Do you have examples of .org being ordered by ICANN to take certain actions? Or .org domains being seized? wikileaks.org and thepiratebay.org, which arguably a lot of people have tried to take down over the years are still around and well.
> i would argue DNS is as close as you can get to an anarchist protocol: it appears centralized on the outside, but when you dig into the technical details it was explicitly designed to decentralize powers from the hands of the hosts file maintainers
_Powers_ aren't decentralized at all. Only administration and hosting is decentralized. Every single power has to be delegated from above, and continuously renewed. That is what makes it possible to cut people off for non-payment.
> Do you have examples of .org being ordered by ICANN to take certain actions?
ICANN's "Registrar Compliance Program" has helpfully published this powerpoint-style summary of their compliance requirements:
Maybe i've missed a few episodes in the DNS wars saga. Do you have a few links on this topic? I wasn't aware that ICANN felt powerful enough to threaten to take entire TLDs off the root zone.