Icann vetoes sex suffix

Internet regulator Icann has voted down a proposal to create a domain for adult websites.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers' board on Wednesday voted nine to five against the proposal, which would have led to the creation of a dot-xxx domain suffix for pornography sites.

The scheme has drawn considerable controversy over recent months, with conservative groups campaigning against the domain due to concerns that it would legitimise pornography. Advocates of the scheme have denied this, claiming it would make it easier for web users to avoid porn.

Despite ardent political interest in the issue, Paul Twomey, the chief of Icann, told the Associated Press the decision "was not driven by a political consideration".

Icann has twice abandoned plans to vote on the creation of a dot-xxx domain, most recently last December.

Ingrid Marson writes for ZDNet UK