domainking

Despite support from some adult sites and anti-porn activists, the ICM Registry’s proposal for a .xxx top-level domain was rejected by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers in a 9-5 vote. ICANN states that a .xxx TLD would be difficult to enforce worldwide as well as create “public policy concerns.”

From CNET:

“ICM’s response does not address (the ICANN Government Advisory Committee’s) concern for offensive content and similarly avoids the GAC’s concern for the protection of vulnerable members of the community,” ICANN stated in the meeting. “The board does not believe these public-policy concerns can be credibly resolved with the mechanisms proposed by the applicant.”

ICANN also noted that ICM’s proposal could raise significant compliance issues with law enforcement agencies around the globe, many of which have different laws governing pornography.

I never really expected the .xxx TLD to gain acceptance, even if ICANN had endorsed the proposal. While some adult sites and anti-porn activists applaud the effort, there is plenty of opposition to the measure from both sides. (And I have to admit, I cynically believe that a significant proportion of adult sites rely on mistakes and typos in type-in traffic to get visitors.)