Technology

‘Chilling?’ Feds Can Seize Any Foreign .Com Run by a Company on US Soil

If a website violates U.S. Federal or a state law, the government has the ability to have that site taken down. It can do this with any .com, .org., .net, .you-name-it. Although this capability may not be anything new, EasyDNS — an Internet infrastructure company – says the “ramifications of this are no less than chilling.”

Federal Government Can Order Foreign Websites With Domain Names Run by U.S. Companies to Be Taken Down

A federal warrant filed in the state of Maryland ordered a U.S. company hosting a Canadian site with a .com domain to take down the site for violating laws in the U.S. (Image: EasyDNS)

That statement comes as,  just last week, the Canadian-based gambling site Bodog.com was shutdown due to violations of U.S. gambling laws. So, as Wired’s Threat Level explains, many domain names are not safe — even those of foreign websites — if “the companies that have the contracts to administer them are based on United States soil.” Wired reports that many .com et al domain names are held in contracts with a U.S.-based company called Verisign. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman, Nicole Navas, told Wired that in cases where websites are selling counterfeit products or streaming music or movies illegally, the government would serve Verisign with a court order to remove the website. Seizures such as this have taken place about 750 times under Operation in Our Sites, which seeks to preserve intellectual property rights and protect consumers.

Here’s what Verisign had to say about this situation to Wired:

“VeriSign responds to lawful court orders subject to its technical capabilities,” the company said in a statement. “When law enforcement presents us with such lawful orders impacting domain names within our registries, we respond within our technical capabilities.”

VeriSign declined to entertain questions about how many times it has done this. It often complies with U.S. court orders by redirecting the DNS (Domain Name System) of a domain to a U.S. government IP address that informs online visitors that the site has been seized (for example, ninjavideo.net.)

“Beyond that, further questions should be directed to the appropriate U.S. federal government agency responsible for the domain name seizure,” the company said.

EasyDNS explains further that this type of seizure is what has many concerned about Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA):

Even though SOPA is currently in limbo, the reality that US law can now be asserted over all domains registered under .com, .net, org, .biz and maybe .info (Afilias, [ which operates .info domains,] is headquartered in Ireland by operates out of the US).

This is no longer a doom-and-gloom theory by some guy in a tin foil hat. It just happened.

The ramifications of this are no less than chilling and every single organization branded or operating under .com, .net, .org, .biz etc needs to ask themselves about their vulnerability to the whims of US federal and state lawmakers (not exactly known their cluefulness nor even-handedness, especially with regard to matters of the internet).

(Related: ‘China-esq’: Beck explains why you should be worried about SOPA and PIPA)

Wired states that since SOPA and PIPA are on hold and therefore the U.S. government does not have a means to prevent Americans from visiting websites under domains that are not operated within the U.S., some sites are switching over. For example, the file sharing site The Pirate Bay recently switched from a .org, which is run by a U.S. company, to a .se, which is a Swedish host.

In a separate blog post, EasyDNS explains that the Internet is at a tipping point when it comes to the government seeking to control some aspects of the Web and other sites pushing privacy boundaries:

“between government initiatives to impose control on the Internet and the larger behemoths within it (Google, Facebook, Twitter) unveiling new (anti)privacy policies to play ball, we seem to be headed into that crucial inflection point where we, as a society decide if the internet will continue to be the great liberator, empowerment tool, and economic elixir that is has been thus far, or if it will become the ultimate surveillance machine. I doubt it can be both.”

Comments (24)

  • phunkejay
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 8:43pm

    The Revolution Will Not be Televised, Will Not Be Televised, Will Not Be Televised -

    There will be no pictures on the news at 11:00
    There will be no re-runs or instant replays
    There will be no message from our sponsors
    There will be no updates to download
    or blue-ray discs to insert into your xbox or wii
    You will not need HDMI cables for a clearer picture in High Definition
    The Voice will be silent
    There will be no American Idol
    You will not be able to text-to-vote for your favorite contestant, because

    The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

    THE REVOLUTION WILL BE LIVE!!!!

    Report Post » phunkejay  
  • korbin
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:08am

    You want to make a difference?? are you to busy working to get involved, here is a real easy way to do your part……… oath keepers.org oath keepers.org oath keepers.org

    It is our only hope aside from GOD’s Devine Intervention. especially if you are military,former, current, police, FBI I know you are monitoring so you might as well join up now as if you don’t you may find your fellow soldier or marine already has.

    Report Post »  
  • Lonescrapper
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 3:22pm

    Thank you Government for giving corporations yet another reason to go overseas.

    Report Post » Lonescrapper  
  • Dymphna Gates
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 1:59pm

    The EU’s “Constitution” is way ahead of us on this. They can prosecute any EU citizen for what he may say on a website anywhere in the world. Their definition of “hate speech” is harsh. And successful prosecution means loss of job, benefits, etc. One becomes a non-person in some cases.

    Here, good ol’ Hillary is working hand-in-glove w/ the OIC to “shame and shun” sites like your and like ours. In fact. Gates of Vienna was named as a “hate site” in the 2010 OIC annual report. Even before Breivik pointed us out. So if Obama gets re-elected, the OIC has big plans for you and me.

    Report Post »  
  • kspatriot
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 1:24pm

    America is UNDER SIEGE! Time to wake up folks. http://youtu.be/ZyefXVZ7rZc

    Report Post » kspatriot  
  • BarackStalin
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:54pm

    Well it doesn’t take a genius to open a company that competes with Verisign somewhere in Costa Rica.

    They are just chasing good money to foreign business interests.

    They just can‘t stand that anything isn’t under the boot of their control.

    Report Post » BarackStalin  
  • HKS
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:21pm

    And it’s cause da Furor said so.

    Report Post » HKS  
  • neverending
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:42am

    Just more fulfillment of the sorry sob’s plan. We better get it together and make sure this bastard is gone in November.

    Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:00am

      Subscribe To The Russian Meridian Satillite Network

      Lets see if Putin lets Homeland shut down his browsers?

      Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:24am

      Terrorism Is A Act Of Government: Oxford English Dictionary

      Note: it may be time to begin cleaning rifles and polishing cartridges.

      1. Government by intimidation as directed and carried out by the party in power in France during the Revolution of 1789–94; the system of the ‘Terror’ (1793–4): see terror n. 3. Now hist.

      2. a. gen. The unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims; (originally) such practices used by a government or ruling group (freq. through paramilitary or informal armed groups) in order to maintain its control over a population; (now usually) such practices used by a clandestine or expatriate organization as a means of furthering its aims. Cf. terrorist n. 1b.

      The more the American people affirm their freedom and liberty under the US Constitution, the more terroristic the Federal Government becomes. Russia, China, Iran are not attempting to subjugate us, its our own government.

      Report Post »  
    • phunkejay
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 8:26pm

      the revolution will not be televised

      Report Post » phunkejay  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:38am

    just crazy. another play by the feds for control. its all the things we don’t know that “chill” me. this has been the running theme control control control. suffocating.

    Report Post »  
  • cuinsong
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:31am

    Sounds like the end times prophecies to me! Edger Casey strikes again!
    “The End Times” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10381143

    Report Post » cuinsong  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:23am

    I recall when AT&T had total control. LOL…Google aka part of Team O is watching you…jimho. I wanna know how much private data has been turned over to the FEDS. Keep it up and ah never mind….prob get a knock at the door by the SS…

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:59am

    One more step in the isolation of American citizens from the world, so that Obama will have a free hand in systematic crushing of the nation and the last of our freedoms. If this madness continues when he unleashes the blood bath, we are finished as a nation.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • marthasusan40
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:55am

    I can just hear Nancy Pelosi,”We’re moving on many fronts, any front we have,” she said. “If we go through the gate and the gate’s closed, we’ll go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we’ll pole vault in. If that doesn‘t work we’ll parachute in. We’re going to get health care reform passed for the American people.” This is how the Obama Administration works….until they get what they want, complete control.

    Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:54am

    The federal government has descended to a tyranny. They have turned the nation into a socialistic dictatorship. They have become a group of little demi-gods and unelected czars who intervene into our lives at an alarming rate. We…the people….know what must be done. We must get off of our sofas and accost Washington d.c. Our forefathers would do no less.

    Report Post »  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:28am

    We are becoming Red China

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • oldguy49
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:34am

      remember the song….“we are the world”………..buckle up americans

      Report Post »  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:48am

      The Marxist heathen‘s regime is totalitarian indeed and it always amazes me when people say he’s been in congress 30 years and done nothing,they somehow equate making new laws and regulations increase our liberty and freedom from government.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 9:52am

      Hear that? Those are the new jobs being created in countries that are FRIENDLY to business!!
      If you have no idea what wacko govt agency is going to decide to create law through policy, shutting down your website, WHY would you use ANY American company to host your site? It would be impossible to justify it to your investors. Nope, better business to use NON-American hosts. They aren’t creating a track record of disregard for the rule if law, and for their Constitution.
      Thanks, obama. On, and thank your DOJ eric holder, too. He’s proven the rule of law only applies to the little people. Make that the little, conservative, white, male people.
      After all, they didn’t vote for you, so you don’t have to protect them or their rights.
      As you have taught us so well, Mr. President, the law is nothing more than a blunt weapon for you and your intellectual elitist communist buddies to wield as you see fit. You are, after all, “ENLIGHTENED” unlike us little, conservative, white, male people. And, as you have taught us, what matters us NOT the “CONTENT OF OUR CHARACTER”, but, rather, “THE COLOR IF OUR SKIN,” our GENDER, and all the other things we UNenlightened people so ignorantly seem to absolutely disregard.

      Apologies, I was on a roll/soapbox. LOL

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:19am

      You’ve actually shopped at WallyWord, eh? We are the consumers that keep China chugging along.

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  

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