Nominet opens up domain closure consultation

Domain name

Nominet has opened up a debate on whether it should be obliged to cut off websites connected with illegal activity.

Under current terms and conditions, Nominet has no such obligation but the registrar is looking for input on whether it should be forced to suspend illicit websites.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) put in a request to Nominet last year to bring about the change.

Nominet subsequently announced an issue group to discuss a possible change to its terms and conditions, and stakeholders showed plenty of interest in taking part.

Anyone wanting to participate now has until 23 February to apply and it is expected that the issue group will be selected by 2 March.

The group will then meet later that month after members have been sent an independent summary covering the issue.

Elsewhere, Nominet said it is looking for input over what to do with expired domains.

People wishing to comment on the topic have until 2 March to do so.

"We'd encourage anyone that wants to be involved in the process to get in touch and have their say," said Eleanor Bradley, director of operations at Nominet.

"We want to gather the broadest range of feedback possible across all matters of .uk policy and feed it into our policy development process."

Tom Brewster

Tom Brewster is currently an associate editor at Forbes and an award-winning journalist who covers cyber security, surveillance, and privacy. Starting his career at ITPro as a staff writer and working up to a senior staff writer role, Tom has been covering the tech industry for more than ten years and is considered one of the leading journalists in his specialism.

He is a proud alum of the University of Sheffield where he secured an undergraduate degree in English Literature before undertaking a certification from General Assembly in web development.