What happens to TLDs when their country stops existing?
2 hours ago
- Country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) may stop existing when their country disappears, but historical precedents show varied outcomes: some are terminated, some remain in limbo, and others are inherited by successor states.
- Examples from history: .su (Soviet Union) remains alive but in a gray area with over 100,000 domains; .dd (East Germany) was terminated after reunification with West Germany; .cs (Czechoslovakia) and .yu (Yugoslavia) were deleted after breakup.
- In cases of government changes (Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq), the TLD is usually transferred to the new government, but annexation scenarios (e.g., potential Taiwan or Ukraine annexation) lack clear historical precedent.
- ICANN agreements with ccTLD operators include references to 'the territory of the Governmental Authority,' implying that if the territory no longer exists, the TLD may be at risk.
- Speculation: if China annexed Taiwan, .tw would likely be phased out as a symbolic measure; if Russia annexed Ukraine, .ua would probably be removed given Russia's framing of Ukraine as rightful territory.
- The author originally considered using .tw for a QR tattoo but opted for .org due to geopolitical uncertainties about .tw's longevity.