ICANN, the Net and the media

ICANN's recent machinations are being widely reported in conventional media circles as an indication that the Internet is facing a radical overhaul.

One of the things that irks me about these reports is the throwaway wild speculation reported as facts such as this from the Independent:

"The pornography industry, which accounts for around 12 per cent of all internet content..."

I mean what precise empirical evidence is such a claim based on? Nobody knows what percentage of internet content is porn but a figure like 12 % is a very convenient handle for campaigners wanting to control or regulate the technology in some way. That quote btw goes on to say that the porn industry:

"... is also hoping to be allowed to use the .xxx domain name."

Long time readers will know that this blogger has suffered regular censorship by commerical software filters due to the xxx in the title and url, so I've never been a big fan of the notion of the porn industry having an exclusive Web red light district under the .xxx banner. It'll be just another reason to make wild and unsubstantiated assumptions about what might be likely to be found at b2fxxx.