[governance] [WSIS CS-Plenary] Bush admin. objects to .xxx domains

[Ronald Koven]

Dear All --

I am impressed by Wolfgang Kleinwaechter's non-judgmental description of
the ICANN institutional arrangements.

I think that the IG Caucus and Civil Society groups in WSIS generally
should wait before reacting until ICANN actually does something in reaction
to the GAC and USG communications.

ICANN could decide to ignore those recommendations and to provide an
explanation for doing so.

ICANN was previously criticized for not creating a separate porn domain. In
defense of the decision to create the .xxx domain, ICANN could and probably
should argue that having such a domain is like having a filter or x-rating
films, so that users can know what to steer clear of. That is clearly not
censorship, just helpful labeling of materials that some might find
offensive.

It seems to me that the best course is to wait until established procedures
have been played out within ICANN.

Those who argue that the admittedly ill-timed actions, both by ICANN on one
side and by the GAC and the USG on the other, justify calls for
internationalization of Internet governance seem to ignore that such
internationalization would open the door much wider for governments to
advocate and impose censorship.

Best, Rony Koven

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