.XXX Denied by ICANN - Media Still Panting for More
Visit a new Protect-X Sponsors section!
Here's a question... does mainstream media truly care about safe-surfing on the Internet for minors - or is it just looking to sell papers, magazines and increase hit counts? During the several year long debacle of the proposed .xxx domain, the media has played not just "both sides of the fence," posing the pros and cons of the proposal, but has taken a few sideways approaches to the topic as well. They may be well-intentioned, however continuing to beat a "dead horse" that has been voted down by the governing "powers that be" probably isn't the best way to find a real solution.Last week ICANN voted 9-5 against the .xxx domain suffix proposed by ICM Registry - whose "owner" has since told the media that he may file a suit against ICANN for his denial. ICANN backed up what millions of users have stated many times during this process, that ICM Registry's proposal of a .xxx domain suffix for adult content sites "does not address ICANN's concern for offensive content." Their press statement went on to say that the proposal "similarly avoids the GAC (Government Advisory Committee)'s concern for the protection of vulnerable members of the community," adding that the new domain wouldn't have resolved the issues that ICM Registry claimed that it could.Those against the .xxx came from several backgrounds and interests - religious groups, who felt the domain would legitimize or legalize adult content web sites; parents groups who felt the domain would be a larger blinking beacon to attract their kids to adult content; and adult industry businesses and webmasters who felt it would be a "red light district" of sorts to give the government an easier way to "snuff out" all adult content sites in one convenient place. People gave feedback - as requested by ICANN while they made their decisions - and it was obvious that such a proposal would not work to keep minors "safe" from adult content via the Internet.However, other more positive-looking proposals did come from this global think-tank as millions focused on the possibilities that could come with a special domain suffix. The .kids or other similarly proposed domain suffixes that would be "kid approved" or "kid safe" was very appealing to many parents and religious groups, and was supported by the adult industry - for the most part - as well. Creating a "safe zone" made much more sense to many than creating an "unsafe zone." Other proposals are being considered as well.But the media still isn't satisfied. A full weekend of opinion pieces slamming ICANN for shutting the door on this domain suffix proposal - which has been voted on several times since 2000. Because the board's vote was not unanimous (it was 9-5 remember), many say the decision was still "split" and are hoping that the push for the suffix would continue. However, the decision wasn't based totally upon the pros/cons suggested from user feedback, the proposal for a .xxx suffix would also raise serious compliance issues with law enforcement agencies worldwide --many of which have very different laws governing adult content/pornography.One ICANN Director, Susan Crawford, has been giving interviews since the decision last week stating that she believes ICM's revised proposal properly addressed the GAC's concerns surrounding the TLD. Also, in the transcripts from the meeting Crawford stressed that she supported the revised proposal as a self-identified option for adult webmasters rather than as a "forced registration and regulated" domain as many interpreted the proposal to be.Is it truly a dead proposal? Or will ICANN cave under pressure of lawsuit or pressure by special interest groups and ICM Registry who hope to gain from this proposal? Clearly the people have spoken - but will ICANN stay strong enough to listen?
http://www.protect-x.com/
Here's a question... does mainstream media truly care about safe-surfing on the Internet for minors - or is it just looking to sell papers, magazines and increase hit counts? During the several year long debacle of the proposed .xxx domain, the media has played not just "both sides of the fence," posing the pros and cons of the proposal, but has taken a few sideways approaches to the topic as well. They may be well-intentioned, however continuing to beat a "dead horse" that has been voted down by the governing "powers that be" probably isn't the best way to find a real solution.Last week ICANN voted 9-5 against the .xxx domain suffix proposed by ICM Registry - whose "owner" has since told the media that he may file a suit against ICANN for his denial. ICANN backed up what millions of users have stated many times during this process, that ICM Registry's proposal of a .xxx domain suffix for adult content sites "does not address ICANN's concern for offensive content." Their press statement went on to say that the proposal "similarly avoids the GAC (Government Advisory Committee)'s concern for the protection of vulnerable members of the community," adding that the new domain wouldn't have resolved the issues that ICM Registry claimed that it could.Those against the .xxx came from several backgrounds and interests - religious groups, who felt the domain would legitimize or legalize adult content web sites; parents groups who felt the domain would be a larger blinking beacon to attract their kids to adult content; and adult industry businesses and webmasters who felt it would be a "red light district" of sorts to give the government an easier way to "snuff out" all adult content sites in one convenient place. People gave feedback - as requested by ICANN while they made their decisions - and it was obvious that such a proposal would not work to keep minors "safe" from adult content via the Internet.However, other more positive-looking proposals did come from this global think-tank as millions focused on the possibilities that could come with a special domain suffix. The .kids or other similarly proposed domain suffixes that would be "kid approved" or "kid safe" was very appealing to many parents and religious groups, and was supported by the adult industry - for the most part - as well. Creating a "safe zone" made much more sense to many than creating an "unsafe zone." Other proposals are being considered as well.But the media still isn't satisfied. A full weekend of opinion pieces slamming ICANN for shutting the door on this domain suffix proposal - which has been voted on several times since 2000. Because the board's vote was not unanimous (it was 9-5 remember), many say the decision was still "split" and are hoping that the push for the suffix would continue. However, the decision wasn't based totally upon the pros/cons suggested from user feedback, the proposal for a .xxx suffix would also raise serious compliance issues with law enforcement agencies worldwide --many of which have very different laws governing adult content/pornography.One ICANN Director, Susan Crawford, has been giving interviews since the decision last week stating that she believes ICM's revised proposal properly addressed the GAC's concerns surrounding the TLD. Also, in the transcripts from the meeting Crawford stressed that she supported the revised proposal as a self-identified option for adult webmasters rather than as a "forced registration and regulated" domain as many interpreted the proposal to be.Is it truly a dead proposal? Or will ICANN cave under pressure of lawsuit or pressure by special interest groups and ICM Registry who hope to gain from this proposal? Clearly the people have spoken - but will ICANN stay strong enough to listen?
http://www.protect-x.com/
posted by Maksim at 11:19 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home