Just in case the organization’s previous comments didn't register the first time, Free Speech Coalition has one message for the provisionally approved .xxx sponsored Top Level Domain for adult entertainment: No way, Jose.
"Free Speech Coalition has never, does not now, and will not support a .xxx TLD, voluntary or otherwise," said a statement released by FSC June 3. "It believes that the implementation of such a TLD will create a likely 'ghettoization' effect that will not only be counter-productive to the best interests of the adult entertainment industry while providing no countervailing protection to children, but may also raise other potential legal problems which would be avoided by following the United States Supreme Court's suggestion and relying on .kids.us, or even a new .kids TLD to protect our children on the Internet."
On June 1, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers gave provisional approval to ICM Registry's application to administer a .xxx domain. FSC said it was restating its opposition to dispel any doubt in the adult entertainment world that the trade association stands opposed to any such separate adult domain, a stance it took in a board of directors vote in 2004.
Meanwhile, the .xxx proposal continues to raise hackles in some quarters, particularly with a former ICANN board member who called the .xxx plan "obscene" in an open letter online. Karl Auerbach denounced ICANN for approving the plan when there are more "socially positive" domain name proposals to be dealt with.
"Why should .xxx get precedence over schools, churches, civic groups, aboriginal communities, labour organisations, and artistic groups?" Auerbach asked in the letter. He also fretted in print that .xxx might "create a political and litigious firestorm," by way of bids – from American religious conservatives, in particular – to force adult entertainment websites and other sexually-oriented websites into .xxx, thereby provoking arguments about the definition of “adult material.”
