Someone in Bush's administration has stuck his nose where it doesn't belong and has caused ICANN (the body that overseas the running of the internet, and decides what can and can't be a top level domain) to hold off on their approval of the new .xxx TLD.

ICANN doesn't need people from the US government poking around in their business, especially if they want to attempt to stay neutral and actually keep their control of the internet. The UN and the ITU are very interested in shutting ICANN down and handing everything over to a totally international body instead of one that's US-centric. Personally I think ICANN does do a lot of things right and I'm not sure the UN could do a better job.

Anyway... .xxx is on hold till all the concerns are worked out. Now I'm not sure if, with the creation of a domain specifically for pornographic material, the use of it will be enforced. I'm sure the sex industry wouldn't go without a fight, they've been very happy with their dot coms so far, and to be suddenly forced to register a new address and move might make some people very pissed off.

But the idea of being able to lump it all together is good. Parents can set blocks on *.xxx so their kids can't access the information, it's very easy to stumble across porn and other unsuitable material... just a simple mistake typing in a web address and you may find yourself staring at something you don't expect. Or if you don't realise that whitehouse.com isn't the site of the President's home (it's whitehouse.gov actually).

.xxx is a good idea, in principle. I just hope when it's finally approved, it's managed correctly.