Sen. Pryor Continues .XXX Campaign Despite Opposition

WASHINGTON — Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said he would continue his effort to cordon off a section of the Internet for adult entertainment, despite ICANN’s decision to kill the proposed top-level domain .XXX in the face of U.S.-based conservative criticism and International opposition.

Pryor said he believed that the .XXX TLD would have protected children from adult content online, despite criticism from conservative opponents such as the Family Research Council, which argued that the specialized domain would have created a “red light district” on the Internet.

In March, Pryor joined Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. to introduce legislation that would have established a mandatory .XXX TLD.

The Free Speech Coalition raised questions about the constitutionality of the bill. However, ICANN’s decision to dump .XXX as a TLD altogether made the looming legal battle moot.

But Pryor is working hard to get the bill, known as the Cyber Safety for Kids Act, out of committee, urging colleagues to resurrect the legislation that directs the Commerce Department to develop the .XXX designation in cooperation with ICANN.

Tom McClusky of the Family Research Council was critical of Pryor’s attempt to revive .XXX.

"We think it's [done with] good intentions, but a horrible idea," McClusky said. "All you’re doing is legitimizing pornography. But, additionally, there's no way to enforce that pornography sites go to the .XXX domain. All we're doing is creating a red light district."

But Pryor said that his conservative critics miss the point when it comes to protecting children from pornography online.

"Basically the Bush administration has taken the view that if we set up the .XXX domain, it might lead to the proliferation of pornography on the Internet," Pryor said. "Well, I've got news for them. It is prolific. I don’t think we can bury our heads in the sand."

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Federal Appeals Court Vacates FTC 'Click to Cancel' Rule Pending Review

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit on Tuesday vacated the Federal Trade Commission’s “click-to-cancel” rule aimed at making it easier for consumers to cancel online subscriptions, pending further review.

NYC Adult Stores Lose Challenge to Zoning Law, May Face Relocation

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on Tuesday upheld a lower court’s decision to allow enforcement of a 2001 zoning law aimed at forcing adult retail stores out of most parts of New York City.

FSC Drops Florida AV Lawsuit in Wake of SCOTUS Decision

A U.S. district court judge granted on Tuesday a motion by Free Speech Coalition to dismiss the trade association’s lawsuit over Florida’s age verification law, a case that had been on hold pending the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the constitutionality of state AV laws.

Ukrainian President Responds to Porn Legalization Petition

President Volodymyr Zelensky responded Tuesday to an OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine, stating that he would wait for the legislative process to play out “in accordance with established procedure.”

Only Tax Deductions Joins Pineapple Support as Sponsor

Adult industry accounting firm Only Tax Deductions has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Adult Empire Launches 'Conversations' Podcast Series

Adult Empire has launched a new official podcast series hosted by Nicole Chappelle and Charlie.

Sex Work CEO Launches 'Teams Plan' for AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Teams Plan for its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult Industry, Override Possible

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Show More