Justice Department Asked to Probe ICM Registry

WASHINGTON — Morality in Media this week called on federal authorities to probe ICM Registry after the .xxx operator received initial approval for the .porn gTLD.

The anti-porn group, led by Patrick Trueman, the former chief of the Justice Department's Child Exploitation and Obscenity unit, said that the establishment of a .porn domain will increase the spread of online porn.

Trueman, who has asked Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate the registry because it may be in violation of federal obscenity laws, says his group is angered over the way .xxx has evolved in its first 20 months.

"The .xxx domain advocates said these domains would solve the Internet’s porn problem with pornography companies leaving the .com domain and relocating on .xxx, making the rest of the Internet porn-free," Trueman said. "But porn companies did not give up their .com sites and instead opened additional sites."

“18 U.S.C. §§ 1462 and 1465 prohibit distribution of hardcore, obscene Internet pornography. Yet, isn’t that the purpose of the .xxx and .porn domains?” asked Trueman. “Attorney General  Eric Holder should review the activities of ICM Registry in relation to these federal criminal laws immediately."

"In addition to the increased amount and deviant nature of pornography that will now be available, ICM Registry stands to make untold millions from the defensive registration of .porn domains by non-porn companies. Schools, bloggers, and individuals will be scammed into buying 'protection' on each new porn registry in order to safeguard their good name.”

ICM Registry CEO Stuart Lawley told XBIZ  that he's taking Trueman's statements lightly.

"This is nothing new from Morality in Media and we look forward to introducing .porn in the same responsible way that we did with .xxx and the unique grandfathering program we have that allocates the matching .porn name to the .xxx owner is one such example of our responsible approach that has been welcome by industry and general observers alike," he said.

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

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.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More