[dns-operations] DHS siezes dynamic DNS domain: mooo.com

[Jeff Chan]

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/02/17/dhs-erroneously-seiz.html

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   DHS  erroneously  seizes  84,000  domains,  falsely  accuses  them  of
   trafficking in child porn

   Cory Doctorow at 9:14 AM Thursday, Feb 17, 2011

   The  DHS's  Immigration  and Customs Enforcement department has lately
   claimed for itself the right to seize and shutter domain names without
   substantial  due  process.  Unsurprisingly, it is now making enormous,
   crushing errors as it exercises its self-appointed role as domain cop.
   The  latest  bungle?  Erroneously  shutting  down  84,000  domains and
   replacing  their  content  with  a  warning  accusing  them  and their
   visitors of trafficking in child porn.

     [C3_Banner_2011_02.jpg]
     The  domain  in  question  is  mooo.com,  which  belongs to the DNS
     provider   FreeDNS.  It  is  the  most  popular  shared  domain  at
     afraid.org  and  as  a result of the authorities' actions a massive
     84,000  subdomains  were  wrongfully seized as well. All sites were
     redirected to the banner below.

     The  FreeDNS  owner  was taken by surprise and quickly released the
     following statement on their website. "Freedns.afraid.org has never
     allowed  this  type  of abuse of its DNS service. We are working to
     get the issue sorted as quickly as possible."

     Eventually,  on  Sunday  the  domain  seizure  was reverted and the
     subdomains  slowly  started to point to the old sites again instead
     of  the  accusatory  banner. However, since the DNS entries have to
[...]




Jeff C.
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Jeff Chan
mailto:jeffc at surbl.org
http://www.surbl.org/