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Public Comment

Public Comment is a vital part of our multistakeholder model. It provides a mechanism for stakeholders to have their opinions and recommendations formally and publicly documented. It is an opportunity for the ICANN community to effect change and improve policies and operations.

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Name: Gbééré Achille Eye
Date: 6 Aug 2024
Email: [email protected]
Original Public Comment: Preliminary Issue Report on Latin Script Diacritics
Other Comments

Introduction: My name is Gbééré Achille Eye, and I am writing to share my thoughts on the recent ICANN proposal regarding domain scripts and their similarities. I believe this is an important issue that affects the safety and clarity of the internet for everyday users.

Summary of Submission

Background: The proposal to allow domain names with similar scripts (be it Latin Script diacritics or base ASCII script) raises significant concerns. As someone who frequently educates non-technical users about online safety, I see firsthand how challenging it can be for people to differentiate between similar-looking domain names.

Main Points:

Preventing Confusion:

Explanation: Allowing domain names with similar scripts can lead to confusion, especially for non-technical users.

Evidence: When teaching users about online safety, we emphasize the importance of identifying legitimate domain names. Similar scripts can easily mislead them, making it harder to distinguish between authentic and malicious sites.

Safety and Security:

Explanation: Similar domain names increase the risk of phishing and social engineering attacks.

Evidence: If users cannot reliably identify domain names, they are more likely to fall victim to scams. For example, slight differences in script diacritics might go unnoticed, leading to compromised security.

Recommendations:

I recommend that ICANN should not allow domain names that are similar in script to existing ones. If two requested domains have similar scripts and neither exists yet, applicants should be required to choose distinct names to avoid confusion. If one already exists, the second one should not be allowed, to avoid confusion.

This change will significantly enhance online safety by reducing the likelihood of phishing and social engineering attacks.

Conclusion: In summary, disallowing similar script domain names is crucial for maintaining a safe and user-friendly internet. I urge ICANN to consider these recommendations to protect users from confusion and potential security threats. Thank you for your time and consideration.