The Soviet Union domain zone SU was created in 1990, merely 15 months before the Soviet Union dissolved and all Soviet republics declared independence. This zone remained inactive for some time until the domain manager, "Russian Institute for Public Networks", decided to start accepting new registrations.

CYBERCRIME AND MISUSE

The SU domain zone was intended for entities connected with the Soviet Union. In fact, it is used by entities still attached to the idea of the Soviet Union. Terrorist groups such as the Donetsk People's Republic use the SU TLD. The Russian propaganda machine is actively using this TLD to distort and misrepresent Russian war crimes on websites like Rusvesna. The domain zone contains many illegal or gray zone communities. The SU domain zone remains obscure in the public's eye.

RIGHT TO USE

The Soviet Union had 15 separate republics and was represented by three republics in the UN. However, the right to manage the domain zone was designated to a Russian organization, the "Russian Institute for Public Networks". If the domain zone was intended to be used by all entities connected to the Soviet Union, this centralization of power further undermines the idea that Russia should NOT govern post-Soviet Union space. RIPN decided to start accepting registrations without approval from ICANN in 2001. ICANN expressed intentions to phase out the SU domain, but lobbyists negotiated its continuation.

MORAL OBSOLESCENCE

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics dissolved 31 years ago. 15 republics that were a part of the Soviet Union changed names, rewrote their constitutions, civil and criminal codes, flags, and anthems. The idea of the forceful enslavement of hundreds of millions of people into one monstrous conglomerate is alien in the 21st century. The Soviet Union should be given space in museums and books on crimes against humanity, but NOT in the most advanced informational technology achievement of humanity, which is the Internet.

IMPACT

The SU domain zone is being used by Soviet Union sympathizers, warlords, and aggressive countries as a haven for ressentiment and propaganda. Millions of people traumatized by the USSR still have to endure the same propaganda, but now from the Internet network. The preservation of the Soviet Union domain name was seen by the Soviet Union romantics as another avenue to try to preserve and possibly revive this monstrosity. Unless we do something about it.