@小明@範例.測試, or, Fediverse handles in every language

A person's handle is their name and address on the Fediverse. But despite people using the Fediverse in many languages from all over the world, almost all handles are limited to Latin script letters and numbers: @[email protected] . Instead, people should be able to use a handle in their own language and characters, e.g. @小明@範例.測試 or @김@예시.테스트. We call this "globally inclusive Fediverse handles".

This talk explains the reasons why handles are now limited to letters and numbers. We look at the role of specifications, and existing software such as Mastodon. We look at the history of internationalising other address types such as email addresses ( जिम@डाटामेल.भारत ) and domain names ( http://ยูเอทดสอบ.ไทย ). We list some rules from DNS, Unicode, and IETF about what characters should be allowed and forbidden: the Fediverse can build on them.

We propose a path forward, based on the history of email addresses and domain names. That path starts with brave pioneers, who want to use their own language in their Fediverse handles, even when it is difficult. The next step is helping extend specifications so they are globally inclusive. Third is contributing to open source software to remove their limitations for handle characters. Hopefully, many of those pioneers are at COSCUP. Maybe this meeting will be the time when we meet and start to work together.