I
am writing to communicate my unambiguous support for the “.xxx”
sponsored top level domain (TLD) application. I am writing as the CEO of a
security system software company; as the recently retired chairman of the board
of trustees of a high school; as a founder of TRUSTe, the Internet’s
largest privacy self-regulation initiative, and as a parent and a grandparent.
At
TRUSTe I worked to establish a contract-based system of disclosure and
assertion that has played a significant role in helping raise the bar for
online privacy—and for trust and confidence in the Web generally. I
think the .xxx proposal—with its emphasis on self-regulatory standards
for online adult content—has the potential to do the same thing.
If
there is going to be an "adult" TLD, then the ICM Registry and
the proposed foundation [IFFOR] proposal is clearly the best way to
do it. The proposal demonstrates a comprehensive, well thought out,
responsible approach, delegating the policy making to an independent non-profit
organization (IFFOR).
As
the Internet is a global medium, national (local) legislation will have little,
if any, effect. The new .xxx TLD will have the
benefit of having global reach and be able to maintain the self-regulatory
guidelines and ensure those that come into its tent abide by those
guidelines through enforceable contractual agreements. This would not work
if a government tries to mandate entities into a .xxx space.
In
my book The Hundredth Window: Protecting
Your Privacy and Security on the Internet (Simon & Schuster;
2000; pp 86-88), I reported on a remarkable consequence of the Children’s
Online Protection Act, or COPA, passed by Congress and enacted into law in
1998. The surprising result: a marked increase in online identity theft. It
seems that the only “age verification system” meeting the
requirements of the legislation was the international credit card system. This
fact gave unscrupulous website operators with a bit of lurid content an excuse
to ask for credit card and personal identifying information for users (who
frequently turned out to be adolescent boys, using their father’s
card—since the age verification did not result in a bill or notice).
Porn sites starting popping that were nothing more than credit card and personal
identify collection schemes…leading to massive, organized identity
theft. And helping to launch a new criminal industry, which continues
undeterred today.
The
.xxx approach, instead of relying on new laws, puts the forces of the free
market to work in order to manage the inevitably huge flows of adult content,
while preserving or enhancing the overall integrity of the Web. The .xxx
approach helps build trust and confidence in the public network, generally, by categorizing
responsible adult content into one domain, and excluding those with
anti-social, deceptive practices of any kind. Once established, I believe this
domain would quickly obtain the marketplace clout of a powerful brand—and
one that many would have a great self interest in protecting! The dynamics of
strict brand-protection, managed through contractually enforceable agreements
with .xxx site operators, will bring higher standards to the adult industry
much faster than any regulation. And, it will make the parental job of
screening out large blocks of adult content much easier as well.
Rarely
does one get a clear chance to do great good in one small step. Your decision
regarding the proposed .xxx domain is one such chance. This is the right thing
to do. Please give this worthy proposal your support.
Sincerely,
Charles
Jennings
CEO,
Swan Island Networks, Inc.
Submitted
for Charles Jennings by his executive assistant:
Sherry Lamoreaux
Swan Island Networks, Inc.
55 SW Yamhill, Fourth Floor
Portland, OR 97204
sherry.lamoreaux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
503/796.7926 (office)
503/704.9700 (cell)
503/227.1482 fax
www.swanisland.net