ICANN approves non-latin domain names

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has sanctioned a move to introduce non-latin characters to domain names.

This means the worldwide web is going properly global, with countries able to have addresses in their native script, whether that’s Chinese or Greek.

Non-latin characters can already be used in a web address save for the final section, which has to be .com, .co.uk and so on. The change will mean address endings can now go fully native, with the application process beginning next month.

The move is being billed by ICANN as the “biggest technical change” to the Internet since its conception forty years ago.

There are concerns regarding the plans, however, such as whether it will provide a whole new playground for phishing sites.