THE INTERNET Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has once again rejected the proposal to create a .xxx domain for porn sites, which seems to finally put an end to this proposal by ICM Registry.
Ironically, ICM’s bid to create a specific domain name for porn sites was opposed by both adult websites and religious groups — one of the rare times these two sides have found themselves in agreement. The adult entertainment industry was concerned that the move would marginalize them on the Internet, creating, in effect, an online ghetto if all adult websites would be forced to adopt a .xxx domain. After all, one of the benefits ICM cited in its proposal was that a specific .xxx domain would make it easier to identify adult sites and filter them.
Interestingly enough, however, religious groups opposed the new top-level domain precisely because they felt this would legitimize porn sites. Instead of the ghetto that the adult entertainment industry feared, religious groups were concerned that the move would encourage the creation of more porn sites.
Frankly, I’m not surprised ICANN has voted against this proposal. Anytime you talk about porn, you open a can of worms. Imagine the nightmare ICANN would have experienced trying to classify which site is pornographic and which one isn’t.
Besides, as I told INQUIRER.net Infotech editor Leo Magno when we were discussing this the other night, could you really expect adult sites to give up their .com, .net and other registered domain names? How successful, really, would ICANN have been in enforcing this rule if all adult sites were required to adopt .xxx domains?
Let’s not be prudes here. We know that porn is one of the main drivers of Internet traffic and electronic commerce. So it was an interesting proposal by ICM to regulate (and, of course, generate revenue) online porn. It’s interesting to speculate on what would have happened if someone made a similar proposal for Filipino porn sites, considering that the Philippines is a predominantly Roman Catholic country, with a whole legion of guardians of morality, self-appointed or otherwise. After all, sex is a taboo in the Philippines, though the irony is that the country seems to tolerate violence and gambling, whether legalized or not, and whether offline or online, with fewer protests from moralists.
How about you, how do you feel about the whole .xxx proposal? And any move to legitimize adult sites?
December 6th, 2007 at 4:40 am
You know, while reading through I thought why not have porn sites on a different platform altogether - ah “Web 3.0″ here we come.
Meaning, instead of http://www.domain.com
there could be xxx.domain.com
Wonder how that would work - or if it would work. I don’t believe those though that run their porn sites would have to sit and consider: “Humm, is my site porn or no?” They know who they are and what content they provide.
I do believe it may be difficult though for say photography sites that have one or two handsome people showing their privates in a non-provocative notion. But, isn’t that what libraries have to contend with? If they can find a balance, so couldn’t the Googlites and Yahooites?
It can’t be all that difficult to protect minors. If anything, it should be societies number one priority IMHO.
Here is a play on words if I may that I wrote about prostitution. By no means is my site porn, rather, contrary to…
http://lovejots.com/2007/12/05/prostitution-cum-play-with-my/
It’s not as it appears to be
Thanks for the read.
Debs