Plans to introduce a string of new web domains – including .islam and .movie – have been hit by a further setback after a panel of governments raised more than 250 objections.
A list of contentious domain names posted online by the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) reveals underlying tensions over the use of potentially sensitive new internet addresses. The governments of India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have separately raised serious concerns about commercial ownership of the domain .islam.
In its filing, the Indian government warned that private control of .islam had a "very high potential to stoke tensions and negatively affect the wellbeing of millions of Mulims and non-Muslims in India". The UAE expressed its own concerns over the ownership of .islam by a company called Asia Green IT System Bilgisayar, whose bid it claimed had received backing from Iran.
The objections were submitted by the GAC on behalf of governments across the world. The warning list comes ahead of the planned introduction of the domains early next year. The new addresses, which will rival the traditional .co.uk and .com, will radically change how people use the web.
Source: The Guardian
