Washington: Adult content will not get its own .xxx address on the web because it would force the organization that manages Internet addresses to regulate content.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Numbers also rejected the .xxx designation by a 9-5 vote in response to government concerns over offensive content, the organization said on 30 March in statement at its Web site.

The action marks the second time in less than a year that Icann has rejected a proposal from ICM Registry, a Jupiter, Florida-based company, to approve the .xxx domain for adult content on the Web. ICM Registry first made the request six years ago. Icann said the .xxx domain would make it responsible for “content and conduct”.

The decision was “the result of very careful scrutiny and consideration of all arguments”, Vint Cerf, chairman of Marina del Rey, California-based Icann said in the statement.

A spokesman for Icann could not be reached for comment.

ICM Registry argues the .xxx designation would make it easier to filter out adult content for people who wanted to avoid pornography on the Internet.

In its decision, Icann also cited government advisory committees that raised “concern for the protection of vulnerable members of the community”.