UNESCO and ICANN Collaborate to Enhance Linguistic Diversity on the Internet

Enhancing Internet Accessibility through Linguistic Diversity

In a groundbreaking initiative, UNESCO and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) have announced a new partnership aimed at improving linguistic diversity in the digital space. This collaboration marks a significant step toward making the Internet more inclusive and accessible for users around the globe, particularly for those communicating in their local languages and scripts.

A Step Towards Inclusivity

Currently, less than 400 languages are fully represented on the Internet, which falls vastly short of the approximately 7,000 spoken languages worldwide. The collaboration between UNESCO and ICANN seeks to bridge this gap by facilitating the use of more languages and scripts in the Internet's Domain Name System (DNS). This move is aimed at empowering users from diverse linguistic backgrounds, allowing them to access content and communicate online in the languages they are most comfortable with.

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, emphasized the importance of this agreement, stating, "In an increasingly digital world, it is essential to facilitate people's access to the Internet. This agreement improving linguistic diversity represents an important step towards achieving the goal of an Internet accessible to all." By expanding the DNS to include additional scripts and languages, millions more users will find the digital terrain more navigable and welcoming.

Enhancing Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs)

The new agreement also focuses on promoting the Universal Acceptance (UA) of all domain names and email addresses, regardless of their character length, language, or script. This initiative is crucial for ensuring that Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) are seamlessly integrated into every Internet-enabled application, device, and system.

Kurtis Lindqvist, President and CEO of ICANN, noted that supporting domain names in local scripts and languages is vital for a truly multilingual online experience. He stated, "This collaboration with UNESCO reinforces our goal of one world, one Internet." The ultimate aim here is to ensure that IDNs will allow users to choose domain names and email addresses that reflect their cultural identity and language preferences.

Addressing the Digital Divide

Today, over 5.4 billion individuals use the Internet, but there are still about 2.6 billion users yet to come online. To attract these newcomers, it is imperative that the digital environment speaks their language. Currently, many software applications use validation rules established many years ago, which do not support all domain names, particularly those with local languages or scripts. To fully harness the benefits of UA, organizations must update their systems to accommodate these diverse web addresses.

When users can access the Internet in their own languages, it has a cascading effect on their ability to engage with educational, social, and economic opportunities online. The potential of the Internet can be unlocked in communities worldwide, fostering a more equitable digital landscape.

About the Organizations

UNESCO, headquartered in Paris and with a presence in 54 countries, is dedicated to promoting peace and security through international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. It administers over 2,000 World Heritage sites and supports numerous educational institutions globally.

On the other hand, ICANN, established in 1998, plays a vital role in maintaining a stable and secure Internet ecosystem. It helps coordinate the unique identifiers necessary for Internet addresses, ensuring users can reliably connect with one another online.

Thus, the alliance between UNESCO and ICANN is poised to reshape the way we interact with the digital world, making it a more inclusive and equitable space. By championing linguistic diversity, they are not only improving Internet accessibility but also nurturing the cultural identities that enrich our global community. Through their joint efforts, the Internet is set to become a more vibrant and diverse platform that honors the vast array of human languages and expressions.