Almost a year ago, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) reversed an earlier decision and said it would go ahead with plans to introduce a porn-friendly top level domain (.xxx). However, on Thursday the non-profit organisation made yet another u-turn and dropped the idea again.
Last month, Coonan's dislike of an .xxx domain prompted her to send a letter of protect to ICANN. It is unclear if that letter affected ICANN's decision but the Senator welcomed the conclusion regardless.
"This is a positive outcome that has prevented the creation of a domain that could have acted as a haven for illegal and offensive content," said Coonan in a statement. The Australian Government had previously expressed our opposition to the creation of an .xxx domain through representations made to ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee by my Department".
According to Coonan, an .xxx domain would have led to "an increase in pornography on the Internet".
"The Government is serious about cracking down on illegal and offensive material on the Internet and I am looking at ways in which we can continue to help families, children and consumers have a safer Internet experience," the Senator added.
I think Senator Coonan requires some new advisors. The two statements above make no sense.
A) A .xxx Domain will increase porn -
Seriously, is it possible to increase the amount of pornography on the net?
B) A .xxx domain will create a safe haven -
It will in fact have the reverse effect, it suddenly makes porn filtering a whole lot easier to implement. Suddenly you can remove a hugr chunk of porn simply by filtering a whole TLD.
The reson the .xxx domain got voted down has nothing to do with good sense or reason, it is due to the US govt's narrow-minded wheat-belt christian beliefs overtaking common sense.