YNOT – Kenya will block the new adult-content-specific dot-xxx sponsored Top Level Domain, a high-level cabinet member said Tuesday.
Addressing the media as part of the 20th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, Information and Communication Permanent Secretary Dr. Bitange Ndemo indicated the edict was aimed at protecting children more than censoring adults’ viewing habits.
“Some countries have that freedom [to allow anything on the internet to cross their borders], but parents have the responsibility of stopping their children from accessing these sites,” Ndemo said. “Most parents in Kenya are not internet savvy, unlike their children, so such material would not be controlled [at the user level].”
However, he also indicated the government does not approve of explicit content.
“We are not going to allow dot-xxx in this country,” he said. “It’s actually a certificate for people to watch pornography.”
Since the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers approved dot-xxx in March, officials in India and China also have indicated their countries will block the controversial domain, and Japan is considering a censorship measure. The Australian Sex Party, a registered political entity, has voiced concern that its government may at least consider blocking dot-xxx.
