In Praise of .XXX

The proposed domain name would neither destroy the porn industry, as its porn industry opponents suggest, nor enrich the porn industry, as its conservative opponents suggest.

by Alex Goldman ISP-Planet Managing Editor [September 23, 2005]

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has faced numerous problems over the years. In fact, "ICANNot"is a popular headline, as a google search shows.

But the .xxx controversy is being blown out of proportion, and it's not ICANN's fault. It's all about politics.

The ultra-conservative Family Research Council's editorial, published in USA Today, arguing ".xxx would legitimize porn" is mere scaremongering. The author writes, "Pornographers would simply expand to .xxx, thus perhaps doubling the number of porn sites and doubling their menace to society."

The truth is that the .xxx websites would be easy to filter, and would simply be new addresses for the same material. There would be no doubling of porn.

Internetnews reports that the U.S. government joined conservative voices in opposing the domain:

Michael Gallagher, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC), sent an open letter to Vint Cerf, ICANN chairman, urging the organization to delay final approval of .xxx.

"The [DOC] has received nearly 6,000 letters and e-mails from individuals expressing concern about the impact of pornography on families and children and opposing the creation of a new top-level domain devoted to adult content," his letter stated.

"Given the extent of the negative reaction, I request that the Board will provide a proper process and adequate additional time for these concerns to be voiced and addressed before any additional action takes place on this issue."

Legitimacy
Porn, as a business, is legitimate when it obeys the laws. That means, in the U.S., not marketing to underage people, not using spam, and not tricking people into viewing images they don't want to see (in addition to obeying all of the other laws). By those standards, a legitimate—and popular—porn industry exists. (The most objective report we've heard of is this one from PBS, which we have not viewed.)

Conversely, an illegitimate porn industry also exists. Any ISP admin knows that porn is a significant (through shrinking) portion of spam. Some porn companies survive through spam or through other scams (such as the old long distance porn dialer scam).

We assume that the majority of the legitimate porn businesses could be persuaded to move to .xxx. Of course, it is true, as the conservative editorial notes, that having a .xxx domain does not eliminate porn in other domain names, such as .com. An article in Wired News, Will Porn Migrate to .XXX?, shows why many websites would not wish to move.

In the long run, if the fears of both sides were addressed, a .xxx domain could ensure that porn websites that are run legally could only be viewed those who are allowed to view them, making filtering and parental control easier while driving away the scam artists who have found porn to be powerful tool, improving the image the industry.

Of course, it is unlikely that the porn industry will ever find common ground with those who view it as "a menace to society." ICANN is wise to stay as far away from this political fight as possible. But politics aside, a .xxx domain is a good idea.

—End