ICANN weighs spicy new domains

Would an .XXX domain promote pornography or keep kids out?

The body that regulates internet domains meets this week in Nairobi, Kenya to take up controversial new suffixes that go far beyond .com and .org. Some under consideration are benign, such as .cat. Others, including .god and .catholic are stirring up much more controversy. Also proposed, a .XXX Internet suffix where porn sites can voluntarily set up shop away from the wandering eyes of children and teenagers. Backers say it would help the online porn industry clean up its act. Anti-porn groups worry it would legitimize porn sites. After an outside panel questioned the grounds for rejecting the suffix in 2007, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is taking another look—but not for another 70 days. Dedicated porn domains—yes, ICANN? Or, no we won’t?

The body that regulates internet domains meets this week in Nairobi, Kenya to take up controversial new suffixes that go far beyond .com and .org. Some under consideration are benign, such as .cat. Others, including .god and .catholic are stirring up much more controversy. Also proposed, a .XXX Internet suffix where porn sites can voluntarily set up shop away from the wandering eyes of children and teenagers. Backers say it would help the online porn industry clean up its act. Anti-porn groups worry it would legitimize porn sites. After an outside panel questioned the grounds for rejecting the suffix in 2007, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is taking another look—but not for another 70 days. Dedicated porn domains—yes, ICANN? Or, no we won’t?

Guest:

Declan McCullagh, Chief Political Correspondent, CNET News.com and Senior Correspondent, CBS News.com