The internet is still actually controlled by 14 people who hold 7 secret keys

Image: The Guardian

There are 14 people who handle the Internet. These people are the members of ICANN. This organization checks Internet security, as well as links domains to IP addresses. There are seven people who hold the key, and the other seven are backup keyholders. The

security of the organization is very tight considering its responsibility as an Internet security system.
Half of us only know about or rather are concerned only with accessing the Internet. But not even half of us know who controls the Internet? Or who holds the key to the whole of this web world? Isn’t it intriguing-like who are those people who have their power on the Internet.

A team of 14 people has control on the Internet. Each of the individual holds a key, which when combined together forms the main master key of the whole of the Internet networks worldwide. Seven of these fourteen people are the main keyholders, while other seven are the backup keyholders.

The information was gathered by The Guardian. And all the details were based on the highly secure Key Ceremony attended by its special project editor James Ball.

The team joins in a meeting held four times a year. As reported, all the keyholders of the unit are highly experienced and personalized in Internet security. Further, no country has too many keyholders or rather it’s not really allowed.

‘Each of the 14 primary keyholders owns a traditional metal key to a safety deposit box, which in turn contains a smartcard, which in turn activates a machine that creates a new master key.’ Photo Credits: Laurence Mathieu for the Guardian

The body handles the Domain Name System that links web address to IP address. For every web page, there is a numerical internet address. The objective of the master key concept is to secure the whole Domain Name System.

There are multiple security levels. Each keyholder keeps their metal keys in the most security-tightened place. All these safety and security is taken care by an organization named Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) which holds the system.

For that matter, if we talk about the security system of the office, it’s not easy to get inside their working arena, quite obvious. It actually requires passwords to pin entry to the smart card to biometric hand scan to enter any room. That too only one door at a time can be opened. It is like a mantrap, says James from The Guardian.

But did you notice their strategy, plan or security? Well, ICANN’s plan is a backup for situations of cyber attacks. The reason the keys are divided among 14 is only to ensure no power goes to a single hand, which is otherwise risky.