An expanded naming system on the Web

Over the next decade or so, perhaps two or three billion people will join the online community frequently referred to as the .com world. It’s about to get a lot more complex than just .com or .org or .asia — mediating this explosion of the diversity that’s about to happen is the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

ICANN may be a corporation with a boring name, but it’s also a very powerful corporation, and they are mediating the Web diversity discussion in Paris.

A decision in Paris could radically expand the number of top-level domain names available on the Web. Many governments anticipate a more global World Wide Web experience sensitive to cultural identity while many others fear the potential for confusion and online fraud.

"The Takeaway" talks to Jennifer Schenker, Paris-based technology correspondent for "BusinessWeek," about the implications.

"The Takeaway" is PRI’s new national morning news program, delivering the news and analysis you need to catch up, start your day, and prepare for what’s ahead. The show is a co-production of WNYC and PRI, in editorial collaboration with the BBC, The New York Times Radio, and WGBH.

More at thetakeaway.org