10,000 Domain Names Lost

First published: 31^st January 2007

The China International Network Information Centre is reported claiming that about ten thousand domain names were lost because users “were unable to update them or failed to re-register them on their expiry” due to the Taiwan earthquake.

An interesting perspective on the quake and the internet in global news is provided by the list of “Top 10 articles last week” published 11th January on the South China Morning Post website:

1. Quake cuts internet links
2. Asia slowly recovers from telecom outage
3. Cyberspace chaos leaves region reeling
4. Internet disruption may last for week or longer
5. Asian Net slowly recovers
6. Two killed, at least 42 wounded in Taiwan
7. ICBC tops HSBC in global rankings
8. Region rocked by Taiwanese quake
9. Assessing the damage on the day the internet went offline
10. Execution of a tyrant

The damage to the internet dominates the list, only two cover the general effects, including the two deaths caused. And Saddam Hussein’s execution only just clings onto tenth position. Conclusions are left to the reader.