ICANN's .name Domain Decision Impacts Thousands of Users
25 years of digital identities at risk: Controversial move by Verisign and ICANN.
125 Years of Digital Legacy Under Threat
Thousands of users like Neil Fraser are about to lose their .name domains registered in early 2000s. These addresses served as critical infrastructure for personal websites, email servers and API connections. Emotionally significant addresses like beverly.fraser.name, registered when Fraser's daughter was born, will also be deleted.
2ICANN's Controversial Approval
Verisign proposed removing third-level domains from .name hierarchy in April 2026. ICANN approved this radical change in July 2026. Decision was communicated to users only via email. Misleading information in Verisign's proposal reminded the company's history of trust issues.
3What Are Third-Level Domains?
Normally second-level domains like example.co.uk operate under country codes. But .name extension was specifically designed for third-level structures like neil.fraser.name. This ICANN-recognized system offered official infrastructure completely different from shady domain sellers. Each domain had full WHOIS records.
4Digital Identities Being Erased
Addresses like neil.fraser.name will be completely removed in February 2027. Even if users paid until 2040, access will terminate. Personal email addresses will stop working, IoT devices operating through these domains will become unusable. 25 years of digital presence will disappear overnight.
5Growing Security Threat
After third-level domains are removed, second-level addresses like fraser.name will go to auction. If malicious actors acquire these domains, they could hijack original owners' online accounts. Everything from GitHub commits to smart home systems would be at risk.
622,000 Users Affected
Not just Fraser but 22,000 .name users share the same fate. Most use these addresses for professional and personal communication. Although legal processes have started, ICANN is unlikely to reverse its decision. Users are seeking alternatives but migrating 25 years of digital footprint isn't easy.
7Verisign's Control Problem
The fate of .name domains changed when Verisign acquired Global Name Registry in 2004. The company is infamous for decisions like Site Finder that disregarded internet standards. Experts believe the decision was driven more by commercial concerns than technical necessities.
8Turning Point in Internet Governance
This decision raises questions about ICANN's unilateral authority. Issues like privacy protection in global internet infrastructure and sustainability of digital legacies are being debated anew. Experts warn similar domain extensions might also be at risk.
Original article: Hacker News — ICANN'in .name Alan Adı Kararı Binlerce Kullanıcıyı Etkileyecek