14 DAY TRIAL // The body that oversees Internet domain announced on Wednesday the delay of the decision to set up a special xxx domain for sex sites.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers was to decide on Tuesday whether to approve and activate the domain after requests from the U.S. Government, as opposition grows louder.
U.S assistant secretary of commerce Michael Gallagher told ICANN that the Commerce Department had received nearly 6,000 letters and e-mail messages on the xxx problem, mostly pointing out the impact of the domain on children.' The volume of correspondence is unprecedented"so more time would be necessary "for these concerns to be voiced and addressed". Gallagher stated.
Most of the pressure on the Commerce Department comes from conservative groups, representing family values issues. The Family Research Council holds a strong position. "The xxx domain proposal is an effort to pander to the porn industry and offers nothing but false hope to an American public which wants illegal pornographers prosecuted, not rewarded", stated Patrick Trueman, top lawyer at the Council.
ICANN announced in June that it would move ahead with plans to evaluate the domain, pitched by ICM Registry Inc, the private company who wants to run the domain as a "red-light district" allowing people to find porn and filter it.
Efforts towards banning pornography have failed in U.S. For years on free-speech grounds, but the involved parties are not willing to give up that easily And they have plenty of time to argue until the 15 th of September.