Ask HN: What could go wrong using Somalia domain (.so)?

1 pointvldx3 comments

Hey, I'm thinking starting a new service and looking to put it on .so domain (Somalia).

Is it bad idea in terms of SEO? The main traffic will be from USA/Canada/Europe.

Is it possible if the service turn out to be successful to have issues from the Somalia government? (rise the renewal pricing to huge amount, take away the domain, etc.)

What could go wrong?

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Not a lot. Im a close friend of the minister for telecommunications in Somalia and they're not particularly focused on the Somali domain at the moment.

As you can imagine with the current circumstances they have more urgen and pressing needs and to be honest they don't realise the value of the somali domain as of yet.

The only issue I could imagine is if you were hosting pornographic or anti-Islamic material, then they might object.

Can you elaborate on this? Do you feel it would be a problem if the the access is blocked from Somalia?

Sorry I got distracted. Basically if you host material which runs contrary to the moral and ethical views of the Somali government or Somali culture (primarily pornography, gambling and other vices) then you're domain will probably be revoked.

Thats regardless of whether Somalis in Somalia can access it themselves.

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