Use of TLDs as content filtering mechanisms (.xxx or .sex)

Indications are that ICANN may consider creation of a new sTLD  
(sponsored Top Level Domain[1]) for the purpose of identifying and  
filtering of content considered harmful or objectionable. This issue  
has been discussed in the past under the rubric of .xxx or .sex.

I believe that ICANN could benefit from the TAG's view of the following  
questions:

1. How would such a proposal effect the operation of URIs and other  
aspects of the Web?

2. Does the TAG believe that such a sTLD would be effective in limiting  
access to inappropriate material, whether for children, adults or  
others prohibited by law from accessing certain material?

3. Are there existing solutions to the problem of controlling access to  
harmful content or are there other approaches that would be effective?

4. Don Eastlake has written about this question. Does the TAG agree  
with RFC 3675 (Eastlake)?[1]

Thanks,

Daniel Weitzner
W3C Technology & Society Domain Lead



links:
[1]  
http://www.icann.org/tlds/new-stld-rfp/new-stld-application-parta 
-15dec03.htm
[2] http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3675.txt

Received on Wednesday, 10 March 2004 11:37:59 UTC