NOVEMBER 11, 2024 | PIR NEWS, .ORG NEWS
by Jon Nevett, Chief Executive Officer, PIR
Public Interest Registry has reached an incredible milestone: we have surpassed 11 million .ORG domains under management.
It’s a big moment for our organization and I’d like to reflect about how we got here.
We’re incredibly proud of this milestone because we’ve grown responsibly – keeping our nonprofit mission to make the Internet a safer place front and center along the way.
When PIR became the steward of the .ORG domain over 20 years ago, we managed 2.6 million .ORG domains. Now we have more than quadrupled that number and consistently achieve an 80+% renewal rate for all .ORG domains.
The power of PIR has always come from its dedication to empowering the .ORG Community beyond domain registrations. Through safety resources and nonprofit community access, we support organizations in creating positive change and creating a cleaner Internet.
As we’ve grown, we’ve spearheaded many initiatives to fight Internet abuse and earn the trust of organizations worldwide. We were proud to launch our Quality Performance Index (QPI) program five years ago, which has incentivized registrars to strive for low abuse rates while continuing to increase registrations. The program builds credibility for registrars and promotes accountability across the industry.
We have also invested in partnerships with NGOs such as the Red Cross, government agencies like the US Food and Drug Administration, and watchdog agencies like the Internet Watch Foundation to quickly identify and address harms online. For example, in just the first six months of our partnership with Internet Watch Foundation, we have provided protection from child sexual abuse material for 37.8 million domains.
And we didn’t stop there. Public Interest Registry also created and supports the NetBeacon Institute, which is dedicated to combating online technical abuse and fostering a safer digital environment. The Institute aims to provide all registries and registrars with access to free innovative solutions and support in the fight against DNS Abuse.
But we continue to focus on more than just online safety. We’ve also made it our mission to cultivate a .ORG Community of changemakers, uplifting and empowering mission-driven groups and individuals through each phase of their journey as a .ORG. We highlight .ORG’s achievements in our ORG in Action stories, recognize them through our .ORG Impact Awards, and support them along the way through our .ORG Learning Center.
This year, we even launched our first-ever television ad campaign featuring the groundbreaking work of many of our 11 million .ORGs. Titled “Three Letters that Change the World,” that video showcased the power of the letters O, R, and G to a wide audience.
Each time I meet one of our .ORGs I am inspired by their tireless work to make a positive impact. We are so proud to support their efforts through our programs and resources, and create a community of changemakers that use .ORG to advance impactful missions.
To each and every one of our .ORGs – thank you. We are so grateful to have you in this astounding community. Here’s to 11 million and growing!