The domain name info is essentially a generic top level domain within the Domain Name System of the Internet. Registration requirements don’t prescribe a specific intent, but the name is derived largely from info. It’s like a “lemon” that people can’t seem to leave alone, but it just keeps coming back. The information is available for free and can be found by doing a search with your favorite search engine (Google is fine), or even looking for it in the Whois database.
Interestingly, one example of this Info has been used by Chinese officials to close down a popular website. Details about the domain names of Chinese government departments and bodies were found in the Whois database, making this information freely available for use by anybody. This includes the name of the person who created the site. Regrettably, this isn’t an isolated incident, as a large number of Whois records for Chinese domains show the same thing and are being used to purge political opponents and other undesirables.
If the domain name was simply an oversight, China should look into it and make changes that fix this problem before it becomes a bigger problem for the international community, and threatens to shut down the free exchange of information we all take for granted. If nothing, this incident at least shows how important info varies according to different cultures, and the value that people put on public records. While China isn’t the only country to have national treasure issues, they’re one of the biggest. For now, the public needs to be aware of this, and is asking the Chinese authorities for explanations. Until then, anyone looking to use info from China to accomplish their goals should use extreme caution and proceed cautiously.