
Victims of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have been granted temporary relief from domain expirations, according to an ICANN notice sent to registrars.
ICANN’s Emergency Policy for Affected Registrants
Registrars have been permitted to delay deleting expired domains for those affected by the fires. This exception ensures that registrants who lost access to their payment methods due to the disaster won’t immediately lose their domain names.
The wildfires have caused massive destruction, with reports confirming:
🔥 18,000 buildings damaged or destroyed
🔥 29 fatalities
🔥 200,000 people evacuated
ICANN’s Registrar Accreditation Agreement allows for such emergency measures in “extenuating circumstances,” previously invoked for events like:
• Hurricanes Maria, Helene, and Milton
• Türkiye-Syria earthquakes (2023)
• COVID-19 pandemic
• Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Why This Matters
For many individuals and businesses, domain names are essential for their livelihoods. In times of crisis, ensuring continuity in digital presence can be critical. ICANN, headquartered in Los Angeles, is extending this policy to help those affected focus on recovery without worrying about losing their online identity.
While no timeline was specified, registrars will likely monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.
News Source:Kevin Murphy,This article does not represent our position.