If something seems different today, it might be that the world just got a whole lot pornier. At 11am eastern, some 100,000 websites with .xxx addresses went live, the first sites to do so under the new suffix approved by ICANN, the non-profit organization that regulates web addresses. The idea is that if the adult content is found under that extension, it will be easier to filter out on family computers so underage users can’t get it or find it accidentally.
Some Christian conservative groups are opposed to this, saying it will lead to more porn. Some porn groups oppose it too, saying it’s a path to government censorship.
But ICM Registry, which will handle the assigning of addresses, had this to say (from CNN):
“The Internet is home to a wealth of content, suitable for a wide range of ages and values,” reads a statement on the website of ICM Registry, which is responsible for handing out the new domain names. “The adult entertainment industry has, and always will, account for a large amount of this content and while it is enjoyed by some, it is not suitable, or of interest, to all Internet users.
“Regardless of your views on adult content, it’s here to stay, so let’s be adult about it.”
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