WDH-036 Websites, Domains & Internet Infrastructure
What does controlling a website actually mean?¶
Website control is not one thing. Domain control, DNS control, hosting administration, publishing, business control and receipt of payments may belong to different people.
Possible forms of control include:
- control of the registrar account;
- control of DNS settings;
- control of the hosting account or server;
- administrator control of the platform;
- ability to publish or remove content;
- control of the wider business; and
- receipt of proceeds.
Evidence of one form does not automatically prove another.
Attribute the relevant action¶
Ask:
- Who could redirect the domain?
- Who could access the host?
- Who could create accounts?
- Who could publish the content?
- Who could receive payments?
- Who made the relevant change at the relevant time?
Useful records may include permissions, access logs, configuration changes, publishing history, support communications, payments and device evidence.
Do not substitute job title, business ownership or account registration for proof of actual use.
Key takeaway
Define the specific form of control and attribute the relevant act. Avoid a vague conclusion that one person simply “controlled the website”.