ICANN Rejects Creation Of Online 'Red-Light' District

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, voted against the creation of a .xxx top-level domain name yesterday. The decision ends a six year-old debate over the ramifications of creating a specific TDL name for Internet porn sites.

The domain name was originally proposed by a Jupiter, Fla. company, ICM Registry Inc. to help the online porn industry clean up its act. Opposition to .xxx has come from both sides of the fence. Free speech and adult industry advocates have feared a strangle hold on free expression, while anti-porn activists claim the domain name would give online porn sites yet another avenue to navigate their way onto your computer.

The Free Speech Coalition, an adult industry advocacy group, has proposed an alternative '.kids' TDL which would allow concerned parents to identify child-friendly web content. On the flip side, legislation has been proposed by Democratic Senators Max Baucus and Mark Pryor that would make .xxx registration mandatory, and would provide stiff federal penalties for non-compliance.

ICANN is an international, non-profit organization responsible for IP address allocation and TDL name system management.