At the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)’s 28th International Public Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal last Friday, the possibility of a .xxx top-level domain (TLD) was shot down by the organization for the second time. It was first rejected in May of 2006.
The 9-5 vote against the creation of the new TLD thrusts a big stake in the heart of a proposal that began in March 2004 when ICM Registry introduced the idea of .xxx as a voluntary TLD for adult-oriented Webmasters to adopt for their online properties.
There have been many heated stances taken on the matter. Many believed that a .xxx TLD would create an unscrupulous online alleyway that would make adult content easier for users to find, while others emphasized the benefits that would come with the easier process of blocking those sites using software. Free speech issues were also incited.
ICANN chairman Vince Cerf admitted that the .xxx issue had taken up a considerable amount of board time, but denied any notions that the final decision was influenced by external parties.
“Their decisions were made in accordance with their own consideration,” he said.
Another reason for ICANN’s rejection of the .xxx TLD was the unwanted responsibility of online content regulator, which is not in its mandate.
ICM president and chief executive Stuart Lawley expressed his disappointment with the decision. “It is not supportable for any of the reasons articulated by the board, ignores the rules ICANN itself adopted for [new domains] and makes a mockery of ICANN bylaws’ prohibition of unjustifiable discriminatory treatment,” he said.
Sources:
http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzxxx315152603mar31,
0,1205922.story?coll=ny-business-print
http://government.zdnet.com/?p=3038
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/78C2B6847DEE21C3CC2
572B000752408
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