The top-level domain (TLD) “.SAFE” is not currently a recognized or standard TLD in the Domain Name System (DNS) of the Internet, according to the latest information from the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which oversees global IP address allocation, DNS root zone management, protocol identifiers, and other Internet addressing systems. IANA also administers and maintains the list of valid TLDs.
When we look at the structure of a URL, everything that follows the final dot of a domain name is known as the TLD. These are divided primarily into two categories: generic TLDs (like .com, .net, or .org) and country-code TLDs which represent specific geographic locations (like .us for United States, .fr for France, or .jp for Japan).
Currently, there are over 1,500 TLDs recognized by IANA, and while this list continues to evolve over time as new proposals are evaluated and approved, the “.SAFE” TLD is not among them at present.
While the “.SAFE” TLD currently does not exist, there have been similar initiatives aimed at enhancing security and providing a safe cyberspace. One such initiative is “.secure”, proposed by security firm Artemis Internet Inc. and its partner Amazon. Their objective was to create a safe neighborhood on the internet that follows stringent security protocols.
Another such similar domain is “.safety”, a global TLD delegated in ICANN’s New Generic TLD Program. It’s planned to create a new internet environment that provides consumers with the confidence that all personal transactions, information, and communication online will be secure. However, like “.secure”, it’s still in the proposal stage and not an officially recognized TLD.
In addition, there are certain TLDs such as “.bank” which have established stricter security to increase trust among consumers. A “.bank” domain, for instance, signifies that a financial institution has been verified and is compliant with high mandatory security standards, as established per fTLD Registry Services’ policies.
Sources used:
1. Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). Root Zone Database. Retrieved from: https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db
2. ICANN. New gTLD Current Application Status. Retrieved from: https://icannwiki.org/New_gTLD_Current_Application_Status
3. fTLD Registry Services. “.BANK Implementation.” Retrieved from: https://www.ftld.com/why/
