The Ireland NCP has released its initial assessment regarding the dispute between Crypto Currency Resolution Trust (CCRT) and Chagos Refugees Group UK (CRG UK) against Afilias Ltd., 101domain GRS Ltd., and Internet Computer Bureau Limited.



In 2015, I initially wrote about this issue, and then again in July of 2020. Recently, Fortune published an article titled 'Colonialism' and crypto claims: Why the .io domain name extension faces an uncertain future."

The complaint filed by CCRT and CRG UK seeks several reliefs, including an accounting of payments made to the British Indian Ocean Territory or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office by ICB, payment of royalties to the Chagossian people, and a fair percentage of the acquisition price paid for the .io ccTLD. It also calls for an interim agreement between ICB and the Chagossian people, a cessation of enabling criminal activities related to the .io ccTLD, evaluation and support for cryptocurrency crime issues, and the creation of a "crypto crime super fund." If all else fails, the complaint requests Afilias to divest from BIOT and transfer constructive ownership of ICB to the complainants.

The Ireland NCP believes that there are grounds for further consideration of the complaint and acknowledges the significant differences in perspective between the parties involved. They propose organizing a dialogue to facilitate a resolution of the issues.

The future of the .io domain extension is somewhat uncertain due to ongoing debates and concerns surrounding its association with the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The .io domain has gained popularity as a top-level domain for tech companies, startups, and online communities, but there are growing ethical and political concerns regarding its usage.

The BIOT, an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, has been a subject of controversy since the 1960s when the United Kingdom forcibly expelled the islanders to make way for a US military base on Diego Garcia. This action has been widely condemned by the international community as a violation of human rights.

In recent years, there has been increasing criticism of companies and organizations using the .io domain extension, as it is seen as indirectly supporting the continued occupation of the BIOT. Activists and human rights advocates argue that by using .io domains, businesses and individuals are inadvertently legitimizing the actions of the UK government.

Calls for boycotting the use of .io domains have gained traction. Some organizations have already made the decision to migrate to other domain extensions out of ethical concerns. However, it's important to note that not everyone supports this viewpoint. Some argue that the association between the domain extension and the territorial dispute is tenuous, especially since control of the .io TLD is managed by a separate entity called the Internet Computer Bureau (ICB) rather than directly by the UK government.

As of now, the .io domain remains in use and continues to be popular among many tech-focused communities. However, the uncertainty surrounding its future suggests that businesses and organizations using .io domains should be prepared for potential changes or shifts in public opinion.


There are a few potential scenarios that could play out:

1. Increased scrutiny and pressure: If the ethical concerns surrounding the .io domain gain more attention and support, there could be increased scrutiny and pressure on businesses and organizations using it. This could result in a decline in its popularity and usage.

2. Alternative domain extensions: As awareness of the ethical concerns grows, some companies may choose to migrate their websites to alternative domain extensions that do not have the same association with the BIOT. This could lead to a gradual decline in the use of .io domains as businesses seek to align themselves with more ethical choices.

3. Status quo: Despite the controversy, the .io domain extension may continue to be widely used without any significant changes or consequences. This could be due to a lack of widespread awareness or concern, or a belief that the association between the domain extension and the BIOT is not significant.

Ultimately, the future of the .io domain extension will depend on how the ethical concerns are addressed and whether businesses and individuals choose to take action in response. As more people become aware of the issues surrounding the use of .io domains, it is possible that we might see changes in the domain landscape in the coming years.