Application Comment Details

The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) is the information and communications technology sector (ICT) regulator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SA).

Amongst its roles and responsibilities include:

• Granting licenses in the ICT sector

• Protection of users’ rights

• Setting service quality standards

• Preparation of policies, regulatory frameworks and studies of ICT sector in SA

• domain name administration in SA

• Increasing the information security awareness level in SA

• Supervision of the National Committee for Information Society in SA

The applied-for gTLD string promotes activities that can be detrimental to public order and morals and prohibited in a number of religions and cultures. In some countries alcohol is illegal and, further, in many other countries drinking alcohol in public places is also illegal. In those countries in which alcohol is legal, there are strict laws governing its sale, particularly to minors.

According to the World Health Organisation the harmful use of alcohol results in the death of 2.5 million people annually. There are 60 different types of diseases where alcohol has a significant causal role. It also causes harm to the well-being and health of people around the drinker [Source: World Health Organisation, http://www.who.int/gho/alcohol/en/index.html].

We are concerned that the gTLD strings will be used to promote and glamorise the consumption of alcohol which, in turn, is responsible for the prevalence of alcohol-related disease and a range of social ills. The promotion and sale of alcohol are controlled in most countries because governments have identified these dangers. The depiction of alcohol on the world wide web is of particular concern because it provides little or no protection to minors or the vulnerable and is offensive to those communities in which it is prohibited.

Therefore, we respectfully request that ICANN not award this gTLD string.