Think pornography is a huge societal problem now? If the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) gives the go ahead to a proposal to create a .XXX domain, it could get worse. A possible ruling by ICANN this month (May) would create the .XXX in an effort to create “an online home for those members of the adult industry who wish to self-identify and responsibly self-regulate,” according to the ICM website (a proponent of the pornography designation).
Proponents of the creation of .XXX claim that this would aid in self-policing of the pornography industry and better allow for best business practices that would prohibit such things as malicious software and child pornography. Stuart Lawley of ICM claims it would be a “win win win situation” for the adult entertainment providers, consumers of adult entertainment, and parents who wish to protect their children from adult content on the internet.
Larry Magid, an Internet safety advocate sees it a little differently:
“My concern about .xxx is that it could give parents a false sense of security. True, it would be very easy to configure browsers or filters to automatically block sites designated as .xxx, but since this is a voluntary program, there would be nothing to stop adult site operators from also using .com. It would be like setting up a red-light district in a community while also allowing adult entertainment establishments to operate in residential shopping centers”.
Even the ACLU opposes the creation of .XXX, but not for reasons that would necessarily align with those who oppose the spread of pornography. The ACLU believes the .XXX domain would be used by countries around the world to force anything that they view as offensive on to the .XXX domain and that free expression rights of individuals may be forced into the narrow slot of .XXX when they should be allowed to reach a much larger audience.
Parents can protect their families from porn by installing internet content filters. These have gotten a little better over the years, but they are far from ideal. Parental involvement and vigilance is your best protection.
The creation of .XXX does nothing to stop the spread of pornography and will only make pornographers’ lives easier, helping their bottom line by allowing for more organized access to the internet for porn seekers. It doesn’t protect those who wish to eradicate pornography from their homes and lives. As our friends at Concerned Women for America put it “We don’t need to relocate pornography, we need to prosecute it!”
ICANN is taking input on this decision until May 10. Send them an email at icm-options-report@icann.org . Concerned Women for America recommends this sample email:
Title: Vote NO to Triple X Domain
To Whom It May Concern:
I support Option #3 of the March 26, 2010, process options submitted by ICANN for public comment. The .XXX sponsor, ICM, never satisfied the sponsorship requirements and criteria for a sponsored Top Level Domain. The ICANN Board denied ICM’s application for the .XXX TLD on the merits in an open and transparent forum. Please oppose ICM’s proposition to establish an .XXX domain.
Sincerely,
(Your name)