ICANN opens review of domain name rules for additional scripts and languages

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has launched a public consultation on new and updated Label Generation Rules (LGRs) used in the management of internationalised domain names.

The consultation covers two new reference LGRs for the Javanese script and Unified Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics. ICANN has also published revised versions of existing LGRs covering Arabic, Japanese, Inuktitut, and Latin scripts.

LGRs are technical rules used to determine which characters and character combinations can be safely used in top-level domain names. They are designed to reduce risks such as visual confusion between characters, inconsistent script handling, and security issues linked to multilingual domain names.

The work forms part of broader efforts to support internationalised domain names within the Domain Name System. These domains allow internet users to access websites using scripts beyond the Latin alphabet, including Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, and many Indigenous writing systems.

The updates are technically significant because they affect how different scripts are validated and represented at the top level of the DNS. Decisions in this area can influence linguistic inclusion, usability, and compatibility across internet infrastructure.

The consultation will remain open until 23 June 2026. ICANN is inviting technical experts, language communities, and other stakeholders to review the proposed rules before they are finalised.