Social Network Gab.com being threatened by GoDaddy: 24 hours to transfer or suspension

domainguy50 · Oct 29, 2018

backstory: Gab is a social network alternative to twitter. their selling point is free speech (all speech is welcome, including what you believe might be hate speech.) which is basically is the first amendment. no unlawful material is allowed, but virtually any speech is. recently they purchased the "gab com" domain for $220k.

this site is very controversial as a result, with mainstream media outlets claiming it is popular with nazi and anti-semite messages. the site has 800,000 users and has experienced modest growth recently so it really isnt all bad hate speech. regardless, those disgusting messages on the site by some users are also lawful no matter how distasteful they are. as a result of these media attacks, (and the recent revelation that the synagogue shooter in pittsburgh yesterday had an active gab profile) gab is being unfairly targeted by smear campaigns online reporting the site as "a hate speech site" via email to gab's service providers.

gabs host (microsoft) revoked its contract with gab a few months ago

gabs payment providers (paypal and stripe) just revoked their services

just a few minutes ago, godaddy has said they will stop working with gab:
(i cant post the image or link idk why)
"BREAKING: Godaddy is threatening to suspend our domain (which is worth six figures) if we do not transfer to a new provider by tomorrow. This is madness."

the complexity of the situation is compounded by the fact that Gab is on a payment plan to fully own the domain since they recently purchased it. the broker/escrow agent control this which makes it even more difficult for the company to transfer to a new registrar by EOD tomorrow.

I understand that Godaddy is a private business and its clauses may allow it to do this, but this seems extreme overreaction. "24 hours to transfer or else" is a very menacing way of doing business.

-if you were in charge of gab what would you do? create your own payment processor, host, and DNS? they got deplatformed quickly... i guess they could try to get an offshore Hosting company or invest in native hosting.

-what is the most "free speech" friendly DNS provider there is?

-is it fair for internet infrastructure companies to de-platform a small upstart social network because of controversial speech? or should companies like DNS and hosting should be regulated and allow any customer as long as it is lawful content being hosted.

jtl · Nov 3, 2018

Did Uniregistry kick them off, or do they move to Epik at their own volition?

JB Lions · Nov 3, 2018

robepik said:
If there are mission-aligned street-savvy PR advisors, send them my way. I might need some professional advice on navigating this process.

Can't edit my post, this was the tweet about it:

https://twitter.com/EyesOnTheRight/status/1058818220679933953

Twitter - free market research. 48 retweets already. I don't think any legit PR advisor would be ok with it. Ultimately, your choice.

offthehandle · Nov 3, 2018

And the Penn Gillette succinct view:

domainguy50 · Nov 3, 2018

jtl said:
Did Uniregistry kick them off, or do they move to Epik at their own volition?

They went to uni temporarily I believe because of the setup they have with the broker escrow Agent and/or because of the abrupt deadline godaddy gave them. IM not 100% positive on this but this is how I view it

Rob Monster · Nov 4, 2018

JB Lions said:
Can't edit my post, this was the tweet about it:

https://twitter.com/EyesOnTheRight/status/1058818220679933953

Twitter - free market research. 48 retweets already. I don't think any legit PR advisor would be ok with it. Ultimately, your choice.

Thanks for the heads-up. I guess it rattled some cages.

That image at the end relates really to this quote:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

-- Pastor Martin Niemöller

I do believe much is at stake. I am not wedded to the choice of image.

domainguy50 · Nov 4, 2018

JB Lions said:
Can't edit my post, this was the tweet about it:

Twitter - free market research. 48 retweets already. I don't think any legit PR advisor would be ok with it. Ultimately, your choice.

Any pr advisor would be ok with what ? Supporting the first amendment?

Do you think the pr advisor Justine Sacco would be ok with it?

JB Lions · Nov 4, 2018

domainguy50 said:
Any pr advisor would be ok with what ? Supporting the first amendment?

Do you think the pr advisor Justine Sacco would be ok with it?

Anybody with a brain in their head or basic Marketing 101.

Show everybody your marketing insight and explain how using concentration camp pics is a good idea.

domainguy50 · Nov 4, 2018

JB Lions said:
Anybody with a brain in their head or basic Marketing 101.

Show everybody your marketing insight and explain how using concentration camp pics is a good idea.

I saw nothing wrong with it. History isn’t always good. It makes people uncomfortable to be reminded of bad times in history.

JB Lions · Nov 4, 2018

domainguy50 said:
I saw nothing wrong with it. History isn’t always good. It makes people uncomfortable to be reminded of bad times in history.

It doesn't surprise me you saw nothing wrong with it, that's not a shocker.

domainguy50 · Nov 4, 2018

JB Lions said:
It doesn't surprise me you saw nothing wrong with it, that's not a shocker.

Nazi germany had extreme censorship. Censorship is a core tenet of fascism. To support censorship is to support the past fascist ways. That is how I interpret the photo. Everyone can interpret it how they like but the idea seems obvious.

How do you interpret it

Kate · Nov 4, 2018

There is a gap between accommodating a problematic customer you did not invite in the first place, and actively soliciting their business - being the equivalent of an online ambulance chaser. Trying to figure out what good will come out of it.

robepik said:
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Speaking of the Jews, nobody cares about them right now. People are more interested in upholding the rights of the aggressors and those abetting them, than the victims. Perhaps we don't strike the balance right here.

Kate · Nov 4, 2018

Helper for those who know who they are: https://www.namepros.com/lost-password/

bmugford · Nov 4, 2018

jtl said:
Did Uniregistry kick them off, or do they move to Epik at their own volition?

I have a technical question here. How exactly were they able to circumvent the (60) day lock when a domain changes registrars? When the domain was moved from GoDaddy to Uniregistry that should have triggered the 60 day ICANN mandated lock, but then it was able to be quickly moved to Epik.

Brad

Rob Monster · Nov 4, 2018

bmugford said:
I have a technical question here. How exactly were they able to circumvent the (60) day lock when a domain changes registrars? When the domain was moved from GoDaddy to Uniregistry that should have triggered the 60 day ICANN mandated lock, but then it was able to be quickly moved to Epik.

Brad

Registrars can override the 60 day lock for domains more than 60 days old.

Domains - Wanted · Nov 4, 2018

Kate said:
Speaking of the Jews, nobody cares about them right now. People are more interested in upholding the rights of the aggressors and those abetting them, than the victims. Perhaps we don't strike the balance right here.

These days, it's often hard to say who's the aggressor and who's the underdog

Domains - Wanted · Nov 4, 2018

robepik said:
Registrars can override the 60 day lock for domains more than 60 days old.

Interesting. Good to know. Can the gaining registrar override this, or do you need a cooperating losing registrar?

wormfood · Nov 4, 2018

One such example is Epik Inc. (WA, USA), which markets itself as “The Swiss Bank of Domains.” This registrar chose to use an excuse we often hear— that a court order is needed to report domain name abuse (which, of course, is untrue). onlinedrugpills.net, which is designated as a rogue internet pharmacy because it is selling prescription drugs, including controlled substances, without requiring a prescription, is an example of a website that we reported to Epik Inc.

https://www.legitscript.com/blog/2017/03/us-registrar-epik-plays-dangerous-game/

#4: Epik, Inc.

Epik is a noncompliant registrar based in Seattle, Washington. Epik’s CEO, Rob Monster, refuses to take action against rogue internet pharmacies without a court order. Epik’s portfolio consists of a few hundred rogue pharmacies affiliated with RxProfits - DirectNet Partners (also known as OnlinePayMaster). In fact, many of the rogue internet pharmacies affiliated with this network that were included in an abuse notification to Rebel Ltd. in October 2016 transferred to Epik shortly before the complaint was closed. The majority of these websites are still online and actively selling prescription medications today.

https://www.legitscript.com/blog/2017/10/the-whos-who-of-rogue-registrars/

Rob Monster · Nov 4, 2018

Domains - Wanted said:
Interesting. Good to know. Can the gaining registrar override this, or do you need a cooperating losing registrar?

Losing registrar has to ACK the domain. Most non-jerk registrars will ACK a domain for a known customer. The reason it exists is to prevent a daisy-chain of fraudulent conveyance for a stolen domain.

Rob Monster · Nov 4, 2018

wormfood said:
One such example is Epik Inc. (WA, USA), which markets itself as “The Swiss Bank of Domains.” This registrar chose to use an excuse we often hear— that a court order is needed to report domain name abuse (which, of course, is untrue). onlinedrugpills.net, which is designated as a rogue internet pharmacy because it is selling prescription drugs, including controlled substances, without requiring a prescription, is an example of a website that we reported to Epik Inc.

Click to expand...

https://www.legitscript.com/blog/2017/03/us-registrar-epik-plays-dangerous-game/

#4: Epik, Inc.

Epik is a noncompliant registrar based in Seattle, Washington. Epik’s CEO, Rob Monster, refuses to take action against rogue internet pharmacies without a court order. Epik’s portfolio consists of a few hundred rogue pharmacies affiliated with RxProfits - DirectNet Partners (also known as OnlinePayMaster). In fact, many of the rogue internet pharmacies affiliated with this network that were included in an abuse notification to Rebel Ltd. in October 2016 transferred to Epik shortly before the complaint was closed. The majority of these websites are still online and actively selling prescription medications today.

Click to expand...

https://www.legitscript.com/blog/2017/10/the-whos-who-of-rogue-registrars/

Sure, rogue for enforcing due process. Give me a break. More here:

https://epik.com/blog/why-i-stood-up-to-legitscript.html

pooky · Nov 4, 2018

robepik said:
Registrars can override the 60 day lock for domains more than 60 days old.

Again on the technical side, does this happen often in your experience?

Rob Monster · Nov 4, 2018

pooky said:
Again on the technical side, does this happen often in your experience?

Google the term 60-day registrar lock opt out:

https://www.name.com/support/articles/234693967-Opting-out-of-the--day-contact-change-transfer-lock

It is not exotic.

Domains - Wanted · Nov 4, 2018

robepik said:
Google the term 60-day registrar lock opt out:

https://www.name.com/support/articles/234693967-Opting-out-of-the--day-contact-change-transfer-lock

It is not exotic.

Except that is not the same lock as the 60-day post inter-registrar transfer lock, we are talking about here.

xeroox · Nov 4, 2018

robepik said:
Google the term 60-day registrar lock opt out:

https://www.name.com/support/articles/234693967-Opting-out-of-the--day-contact-change-transfer-lock

It is not exotic.

I'm just curious, not to criticize anyone here of their choice but looking at business perspective, we are all here to make money like you a registrant where your first goal should be to attract more users(?). Besides the ethical side, is worth to take gab.com and all the PR behind? i know that epik will gain a lot of visibility thanks to this move and will attract of course more "specific" users but you will probably lose some others for this move. The gain is more than the loss?

Domains - Wanted · Nov 4, 2018

robepik said:
Losing registrar has to ACK the domain. Most non-jerk registrars will ACK a domain for a known customer. The reason it exists is to prevent a daisy-chain of fraudulent conveyance for a stolen domain.

Fair enough. Which begs the question: what's the rationale behind the initial, post new registration 60-day lock?

wormfood · Nov 4, 2018

wOw, in that post
"I am rarely sick, avoid vaccines, and rarely take a pill other than nutritional supplements from reputable sources."
avoid vaccines eh

and evolution is a myth

Social Network Gab.com being threatened by GoDaddy: 24 hours to transfer or suspension

Established Member

New Member

Top Member

.Top Member

Established Member

Founder of EpikTop Member

Established Member

Top Member

Established Member

Top Member

Established Member

Domainosaurus RexTop Member

Domainosaurus RexTop Member

www.DataCube.comTop Member

Founder of EpikTop Member

Top Member

Top Member

----Top Member

Founder of EpikTop Member

Founder of EpikTop Member

Established Member

Founder of EpikTop Member

Top Member

Established Member

Top Member

----Top Member

Similar threads

We're social

Pinned

Appreciation

Agreement