A discussion about using domain suspensions to censor online speech.
Human rights organization Article 19 recently published a report titled “Damming a River to Catch a Fish” that examines how governments and other actors are increasingly using the Domain Name System (DNS) to restrict access to online content. The report documents methods and trends in DNS-based blocking, how those measures affect freedom of expression, and the practical consequences for organizations and individuals whose domains are targeted.
On today’s episode, Michaela Nakayama Shapiro from Article 19 outlines the report’s key findings and explains the pathways through which censorship at the DNS layer is implemented. She discusses common tactics—such as domain suspensions, registrar or registry interventions, and coercive pressure on DNS providers—and how these tactics can be applied with varying legal and technical justifications.
The conversation covers the broader implications for civil liberties and internet governance, including how DNS-based measures can have disproportionate effects on marginalized voices, independent journalists, and civil society organizations. Shapiro highlights the risks that arise when registries, registrars, and other infrastructure operators accede to demands that lack transparent legal process or adequate safeguards for due process and proportionality.
Article 19’s report also offers practical recommendations. For registries and registrars, the report urges clearer policies, stronger due process protections, and greater transparency about takedown requests. For ICANN and other governance bodies, the recommendations emphasize policy development that protects expression while balancing legitimate legal obligations. For governments, Article 19 calls for adherence to international human rights standards, requiring lawful basis, necessity, and proportionality before ordering DNS restrictions. The report includes guidance for organizations facing threats of censorship, advising on documentation, legal steps, and digital resilience measures.
Beyond the core topic of DNS censorship, the episode touches on related items in the domain industry: developments from the recent Bali meetings, trends in domain appraisals, changes affecting the .co namespace, and other market updates. These segments place the technical and policy discussion in the practical context of domain management and the business concerns of registrants and service providers.
Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:18 — 29.1MB)
Subscribe: Email | RSS
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts to listen to the Domain Name Wire podcast on your iPhone, or click play above or download the episode to begin listening. The episode provides a clear, practical primer for anyone interested in how DNS-level interventions are being used, what safeguards are missing, and what stakeholders can do to defend free expression online.