XXX domain turns off Icann

The proposal for a .xxx domain has been rejected

Plans to launch a “triple x” domain have been turned down by Icann, the internet’s governing body.

Advocates of the .xxx domain said it could remove the bulk of pornography from search results and could be applied as a filter on workplace and home web guardian tools, to make it easier to avoid explicit material.

A decision on the domain was delayed on several occasions, before the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers finally made its decision this week. A statement from the group indicated a split between Icann members, but it was board heavyweights, including Vint Cerf, the chairman, and Paul Twomey, the president and chief executive, that vetoed the domain.

Icann will provide additional details about the vote later this week.