The creation of a dot-xxx designation was voted down today for the third time in seven years by the international board that oversees Internet domain names.
“This decision was the result of very careful scrutiny and consideration of all the arguments,” ICANN Chairman Vint Cerf said in a statement.
CitizenLink asked its readers on several occasions to e-mail the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to encourage the board to vote against the dot-xxx domain.
Hundreds of e-mails poured in from CitizenLink readers concerning the vote.
"Next you'll want a dot-drugs domain or a dot-moneylaundry domain," a Minnesota woman wrote.
Another reader wrote, "No more immorality being peddled in the name of money and greed and defying God's laws of decency."
Daniel Weiss, senior analyst for media and sexuality for Focus on the Family Action, called the vote "great news for families around the world."
“This decision is a testament to the influence of thousands of citizens who cared enough about the family to share their opinions with ICANN,” he said. “If we continue to work together on these types of issues, we will continue to see these kinds of positive outcomes.”
Supporters claimed adult-only content would be easier to regulate if it had its own domain. But Patrick Trueman, special counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, said the argument that the domain would benefit children has no basis in fact.
“The proposed dot-xxx domain offered nothing but false hope to those wanting to keep Internet pornography from children," he said. "Pornographers would simply expand to dot-xxx and maintain their current dot-com sites, perhaps doubling the number of porn sites and doubling their menace to society.”
TAKE ACTION
Tell ICANN thank you for rejecting the dot-xxx domain.
Urge Alice Fisher, head of the Criminal Division in the Department of Justice, to vigorously enforce federal obscenity laws against major online pornographers. Call (202) 514-2601 or e-mail.
