Should the Internet have a .XXX TLD for porn?
Summary: There are many different arguments for and against a .xxx top-level domain. What do you think?
So here's the question: should the Internet have a .xxx top-level domain for porn? It seems like a pretty straightforward question, but the sides are massing to do battle over it once again.
The BBC is reporting that pressure is intensifying on ICANN to allow the .xxx TLD to be made available. Back in 2005, the ICANN had initially planned to create a .xxx top-level domain, but under pressure from conservative groups, backed off.
But now, a domain registrar by the name of ICM Registry is pushing for .xxx once again. The company claims it spent millions on fees to move the process forward. Of course, if they get the registration rights for .xxx, they stand to mint money, so it's probably a safe gamble.
But the question of .xxx isn't so clear cut. At first, for example, it seems like a no-brainer to have a .xxx domain where all the porn companies can go to sell their smut. Many legitimate sex content companies may welcome a domain of their own, where it's easy to apply content controls, and where they're safe to let it all hang out.
But then there's the issue of censorship. What if countries or regions decide to simply block the .xxx TLD? Wouldn't that make the .xxx domains into something of a ghetto? On the other hand, part of the reason for a .xxx TLD is to make it easy to block, so people who don't want that kind of thing can clearly keep it out.
Then there's the issue of true dirtbags, those people who sell or purvey smut and don't want to be restricted to the .xxx domain. Those people might hide their dirty sites amongst the more legitimate domains, effectively countering the benefit of the .xxx domain.
It's weird. Some anti-porn conservatives and pro-porn free speech advocates are on the same side. The anti-porn conservatives don't want anything having to do with porn, so they don't want to allow a .xxx top-level domain. And the free speech advocates are concerned that anything that self-identifies as porn will be censored, so they also argue against the .xxx domain.
See also: From 2004: The battle over triple 'x' From 2005: Bush administration objects to .xxx domains From 2007: ICANN rejects .xxx domain registry
What do you think? Does the Internet need it's PRON in the form of a .xxx domain? TalkBack below.
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Talkback
RE: Yes, I think .xxx should be made
Edit: by the way, china is already filtering based on content, not having .xxx doesn't stop them.
RE: RE: Should the Internet have a .XXX TLD for porn?
Why not restrict accessable URLs via whitelist?
it could be easier to restrict browsing to only approved
sites. If enough users request a site be added, you can
then take that information to the appropriate authorities
for inclusion. That may be easier than the blacklist, which
is never going to block them all.
Just an alternative.
ps. I'm a parent and grandparent...I routinely check out
where my kids wander, hehe!
RE: Should the Internet have a .XXX TLD for porn?
RE: Should the Internet have a .XXX TLD for porn?
Not as easy as it sounds. I get lots of resistance from some teachers and students that we cannot "censor" the internet. My boss and most of Administration is no help because if it were up to my boss he would let the internet be wide open. He sees no problem letting students who are minors use their facebook, email, and IM sites while at school. We rely on the website categories and for the most part that does a good job. I still get flack for blocking out categories such as blogs/forums and game sites and those along with a couple other categories are the ones we allow by request with a legitimate need only.
Defined by who?
"That ankle is <i>so</i> hot!"
So, you'd run into the <i>exact</i> same thing we have with gambling: Host your pr0n site in the country with least amount of restrictions. Furthermore, I can't imagine very many porn sites willfully limiting their target audience by restricting their content to the .xxx TLD. Besides, they'd lose all those conservative politicians that would otherwise be viewing their homoerotic smut during Senate meetings.
Well I will agree with you that there is a varying degree
There will always be a grey area, but content that is specifically sexually explicit, and I think that there is an agreement on that is nothing more than strait up porn that should only be view of someone who is of legal age.
I don't think I would rate an oil canvas of a nude woman as being porn, and that is where the grey area comes in, and that is where at least content rating comes in.
I am not saying that it is an easy say, but their could be international input, the UN council perhaps... Get some agreement or standardization on how to determine what kind of content gets the .com or the .xxx.
RE: Should the Internet have a .XXX TLD for porn?
... but who decides which content should be considered "adult only" and at what age does everyone agree defines when one is "an adult"?
... oh, and once these definitions are universally agreed upon, how are you going to "force" one entity or another to adhere to the .XXX domain?
RE: Should the Internet have a .XXX TLD for porn?
I'm glad you brought up China. They don't have free speech, and I guess you wouldn't miss it here.
Forcing anyone into certain domains is censorship. Then we have to decide what is porn, and who should get to see it. After that, censoring other things will be easy. Maybe something you want to research will be blocked.
Just remember that you wanted it that way.
Freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom.
FLAP Freedom Lovers Against Propaganda
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YES
Why wouldn't we want to give parents every tool to protect there children. Having an xxx domain will not stop anyone from viewing the porn they want,and don't use well it will be easier tracked,everything you do NOW is tracked,so whats the difference? None
RE: Should the Internet have a .XXX TLD for porn?
Who would decide what was porn?
open another can of worms as to what measure would we
use to mark something as porn. What is acceptable to
one group is not acceptable to another. Who decides?
Yes, on "paper" it looks like a good idea, but implementing
it could be like herding cats.
re: Who would decide...
Good Answer.
Some bookstores in America ...
Gettign agreement on this subject, in America, let alone across cultures just isn't going to happen.
The whole concept of Top-Level Domains is useless
RE: Should the Internet have a .XXX TLD for porn?
I disagree. In the U.S., where it was all invented, .COM, .EDU, .GOV, .ORG, and .MIL all mean something and though they are not used uniformly, it is helpful for the casual user to get an idea of what type of site it is.
That said, everywhere else, two-letter suffixes represent countries. These are less valuable because, for all intents and purposes, all sites are global - and because companies wanting an international audience use the standard prefixes no matter where their servers are actually located.
Still the basic suffixes remain helpful.
RE: without the TLD
Without the TLD