Itsme
06-02-2005, 11:34 AM
X-rated internet name system approved
17:36 02 June 2005
NewScientist.com news service
Will Knight
Pornographic internet sites are to be given their very own piece of the web, after the internet's governing body approved the creation of a new top level domain extension for adult sites - ".xxx".
Some groups hope the move will help establish a virtual border around adult web sites and make it easier to filter explicit content before it can be viewed by children. But others say it will simply trigger a scramble for lucrative web addresses and result in legal disputes between competing porn sites.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which oversees the management of top level domains such as .com, .org and .net, endorsed the creation of the new adult domain, .xxx, at an international ICANN meeting in Mar del Plata, Argentina on Wednesday.
ICANN accepted an application from US company ICM Registry to set up and manage the domain.
Empowering families
The domain would "create a clearly identifiable area of the internet that will empower families and help protect children and others from unwanted or inappropriate content”, said ICM Registry in a statement. “The existence of the sponsored top level domain would facilitate meaningful, voluntary self-organisation and self-regulation by responsible adult-entertainment website operators."
The decision marks a turnaround for ICANN - an international non-profit organisation based in the US - which originally rejected the proposed domain in November 2000. Since then it has been under increasing pressure from conservative US groups voicing concerns over children viewing online pornography.
Although designed for adult entertainment companies to use, ICANN says it will not restrict use of the domain to such firms.
No obligations
Some observers, however, say the new domain will do little to cordon-off salacious sections of the internet.
"Perhaps a triple-x domain might provide an easier way of identifying adult sites, but there are no rules forcing sites to use the domain," says Yaman Akdeniz, founder and director of the UK-based internet think tank Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties. "I think it's just a way of selling more domain names and expanding the market."
ICM Registry has previously said it would sell .xxx domains for $60 each. The online porn industry is estimated to be worth around $12 billion.
Akdeniz also told New Scientist that the move could backfire, by resulting in disputes between different companies over popular web site names. "It will cause problems in terms of management, as is the case with all new top level domains."
In 2000 ICANN approved the creation of seven new domains -
.aero, .biz, .coop, .info, .museum, .name and .pro. Earlier in 2005 the organisation approved the creation of two further stop level domains - .job and .travel.
17:36 02 June 2005
NewScientist.com news service
Will Knight
Pornographic internet sites are to be given their very own piece of the web, after the internet's governing body approved the creation of a new top level domain extension for adult sites - ".xxx".
Some groups hope the move will help establish a virtual border around adult web sites and make it easier to filter explicit content before it can be viewed by children. But others say it will simply trigger a scramble for lucrative web addresses and result in legal disputes between competing porn sites.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which oversees the management of top level domains such as .com, .org and .net, endorsed the creation of the new adult domain, .xxx, at an international ICANN meeting in Mar del Plata, Argentina on Wednesday.
ICANN accepted an application from US company ICM Registry to set up and manage the domain.
Empowering families
The domain would "create a clearly identifiable area of the internet that will empower families and help protect children and others from unwanted or inappropriate content”, said ICM Registry in a statement. “The existence of the sponsored top level domain would facilitate meaningful, voluntary self-organisation and self-regulation by responsible adult-entertainment website operators."
The decision marks a turnaround for ICANN - an international non-profit organisation based in the US - which originally rejected the proposed domain in November 2000. Since then it has been under increasing pressure from conservative US groups voicing concerns over children viewing online pornography.
Although designed for adult entertainment companies to use, ICANN says it will not restrict use of the domain to such firms.
No obligations
Some observers, however, say the new domain will do little to cordon-off salacious sections of the internet.
"Perhaps a triple-x domain might provide an easier way of identifying adult sites, but there are no rules forcing sites to use the domain," says Yaman Akdeniz, founder and director of the UK-based internet think tank Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties. "I think it's just a way of selling more domain names and expanding the market."
ICM Registry has previously said it would sell .xxx domains for $60 each. The online porn industry is estimated to be worth around $12 billion.
Akdeniz also told New Scientist that the move could backfire, by resulting in disputes between different companies over popular web site names. "It will cause problems in terms of management, as is the case with all new top level domains."
In 2000 ICANN approved the creation of seven new domains -
.aero, .biz, .coop, .info, .museum, .name and .pro. Earlier in 2005 the organisation approved the creation of two further stop level domains - .job and .travel.