31/07
Saturday 31 March 2007

Minister welcomes decision rejecting .XXX domain proposal

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today welcomed the decision by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to reject an application for the establishment of an .XXX Internet domain for adult content. ICANN is the international body responsible for overseeing global Internet domain names.

“The Australian Government has a longstanding policy to ensure that Australians using the Internet are able to do so in a safe and secure way”, Senator Coonan said.

“The Australian Government has consistently expressed opposition to the creation of an .XXX domain. In February 2007, I wrote to the Chair of ICANN reiterating the Government’s strong opposition and concerns about the proposal.”

“It is pleasing that ICANN have rejected this proposal, as there was no benefit to the wider Internet community, nor any merit from a public policy perspective, to support the establishment of an .XXX domain.”

“ICANN’s decision to block the establishment of an .XXX domain is a positive outcome and will complement Australian Government measures designed to limit the volume of offensive material online and unsolicited exposure to it.”

The Australian Online Content Scheme introduced by the Government in 2000 bans X and RC rated content from being hosted in Australia. The scheme gives the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) the power to investigate complaints and issue takedown notices for offensive material. Internet Service Providers and Internet Content Hosts are also regulated through enforceable industry codes of practice developed by the Internet Industry Association and registered with ACMA.

In addition, the Australian Government’s $116.5 million Protecting Australian Families Online package will give all Australian families access to a free Internet content filter for their home computer or an approved subsidised filtered service. Public libraries across Australia will also be able to access free filters to establish child safe terminals. A website and information campaign to be launched later this year will give parents detailed information about ensuring the safety of their families online.

Parents should also be reassured that the Australian Government is now progressing legislation that will extend the current safeguards that apply to content delivered over the Internet and television to content delivered over convergent devices, such as 3G mobile phones.