EU parliament votes "YES" to create new .kid TLD

[Rolo]

The EU parliament just voted "Yes" to create a .kid TLD... now I´m not sure that the EU politicians really understands how the internet works (ex. that new TLD needs to go thru ICANN) but this could lead to confrontation with ICANN and US politicians, when they find out. And since ICANN wants to create a .XXX tld, but not a .kid(s) tld, then this could be the situation that will make the internet develop regionally, or remove ICANN from new tld decision power.

Like I said earlier, then ICANN have opened pandora's box... and one of the monsters coming out of the box will be the EU parliament - try bribing them ICM registry ;-)))

From the EU parliament:

1st debate: http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipa...NAV=S#SECTION2

1st report: http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipa...NAV=X&LSTDOC=N

[Rolo]

For those who are too lazy to click the links ;-)

The committee is recommending the creation of a new top-level domain name ".kid" (like .com or .org) with content reserved for children, which could provide a secure Internet area regularly monitored by an independent authority. MEPs in the committee say the Commission should introduce a European free telephone number providing information on existing filter methods and making it easier to lodge complaints with the relevant authorities or report harmful sites. This is intended to offset the absence in some Member States of such hotlines.

[PornoDoggy]

Did they consult Pat Robertson on this?

[Rolo]

The main architect behind the idea is french - they do not listen to anyone, but themself ;-))

[PornoDoggy]

Actually, that means that opinion within France is 50.000002 to 49.000098 in favor of it; it will not gain widespread support until it encounters American or British opposition.

[Trev]

I would actually support something like this as it pushes the children off to one side and not the industry.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Trev

I would actually support something like this as it pushes the children off to one side and not the industry.

My thoughts exactly.

[Rolo]

Originally Posted by PornoDoggy

Actually, that means that opinion within France is 50.000002 to 49.000098 in favor of it; it will not gain widespread support until it encounters American or British opposition.

Exactly - so it will be interesting seeing ICANN´s respond ... pandora's box...

[Trev]

Originally Posted by Rolo

Exactly - so it will be interesting seeing ICANN´s respond ... pandora's box...

ICANN won’t be wanting to lose or even risk the control they currently have, so I think there will be little if any resistance to a .kid tld, if pushed from the EU parliament. It'll also make the argument for the .xxx tld piss weak.

[Rolo]

I hope that ICANN get this news, before the next XXX vote... Lots of benefits can come such a domain, and the xxx tld argument (best solution to protect the kids) is now dead - as pointed out by Trev :-)

Oh well, we have to wait for the US media to get this story... the vote in EU parliament is only a few hours old.

[Newton]

.kid could also mean it would be a hangout for paedophiles as well, so this needs to be policed most vigorously ..

[Rolo]

Yes, but it would be much more easy to control a closed network, then the entire internet.

Also http://www.fightthedotxxx.com/ have some good information about the XXX tld. including http://www.fightthedotxxx.com/Objections-Kids.html which shows that one of the main arguments for ICM registry have been to "protect" the kids by creating a XXX tld.... This argument no longer stands on its own, since the EU parliament want to have a .kid TLD in a closed network, which everyone would agree is a much much better solution.

[JR]

Originally Posted by Rolo

I hope that ICANN get this news, before the next XXX vote... Lots of benefits can come such a domain, and the xxx tld argument (best solution to protect the kids) is now dead - as pointed out by Trev :-)

Oh well, we have to wait for the US media to get this story... the vote in EU parliament is only a few hours old.

i did not read the article ... but my first though when hearing they voted on a .kid tld was that it was more done in protest to the US and .xxx . anyway... cool to have something bigger than a few pornographers taking a position on it.

[Rolo]

Finally its getting some press coverage...

STRASBOURG, France – The European Parliament Wednesday proposed creating a new .kid Internet domain name to help children navigate cyberspace safely.

The .kid domain would be reserved for web sites with content designed for children and would be regularly monitored by an independent authority, the non-binding proposal suggests.

The idea was part of a report on making Internet browsing safer for children who are often exposed to violence, pornography and sexual advances on the Web.
When they subscribe to an Internet service, parents should be offered user-friendly filters that would block access to some 260 million pornographic web site available worldwide, it said.

"It's time access providers offered parents special Internet services targeted at children with an automatic filter," the report's author, French liberal Marielle de Sarnez (UDF), told a news conference.

She proposed that the executive European Commission create a toll-free telephone helpline for parents seeking advice on filtering the Internet or avoiding chat rooms where children could be exposed to sexual propositions.

Studies from some European Union member states showed one child in three is confronted by violent, pornographic or pedophile images on the Internet, she said.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/b...h-eu-kids.html

[Rolo]

Originally Posted by JR

cool to have something bigger than a few pornographers taking a position on it.

From what I hear, there is more and more discomfort amongst european politicians about the dominating role of the US in technology issues. The trial between EU and Microsoft, new software patent laws, Galileo satellite project etc. have already showed a clear opposition to just following the US views.

I will suspect that this whole mess with the US creating a new .xxx tld. (at a time when EU politicians are working on reducing the amount of porn available in the public space), and saying no to a .kids tld. will provoke the EU to a point where they will work hard on getting the tld adminstation from the current setup into a international organization or forum.

And this is only the EU... I will bet almost every other country outside the US is not happy with the current tld. model... the .xxx tld. will be that tld. that makes it clear (if only ICANN had continue making uncontroversial tlds. such as .art , .doc , .car etc. ... but they had to approve the most controversial of them all .xxx - talk about pissing against the wind).

[JR]

i am sending out press releases "4 Guys in Kalamazoo Voted Yes to Create a New .beer TLD"

[Rolo]

Thats 1 more person than ICM registry had support from in the adult industry ;-))

[JR]

Originally Posted by Rolo

Thats 1 more person than ICM registry had support from in the adult industry ;-))

Gordon supports it... i would bet he has sold 1000's of .xxx domains since about when? 98? is that guy still in business?

[Rolo]

A small update... I took the time to contact the different groups in the European Parliament to hear what they thought of the .kid and .xxx tld, and today I received e-mails from the "Socialist Group" (second largest group in the EU) and the "EPP-ED Group" (largest group in the EU).

Both of them say that they are aware of the .xxx tld, and that in their opinion it will have zero effect in protecting the kids from harmful material. They also say that there is a growing concern about ICANN in the European Parliament.

Their suggestion for a .kid tld. is getting the full attention of the European Parliament, but they are also contacting their local goverments, so their local ICANN representatives will know their position on the .kid AND the .xxx tld.

So hopefully there is also pressure from the europeans on ICANN, when they vote on 15th.