In an ongoing effort to strengthen internet security, Google has announced a major update to its Chrome Root Program. As detailed in this recent blog post, the company is making Multi-Perspective Issuance Corroboration (MPIC) a mandatory requirement for Certificate Authorities (CAs) issuing TLS certificates. If you care about web security—and you should—this is a big deal.
The Problem: Weaknesses in Domain Validation
TLS certificates are the backbone of secure internet connections, ensuring that when you visit a website, you’re actually talking to the right server. But here’s the problem: traditional domain validation methods can be exploited. One of the most concerning vulnerabilities is Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) hijacking, where attackers manipulate internet routing to trick CAs into issuing fraudulent certificates. This could allow bad actors to impersonate trusted websites, intercept sensitive data, and launch devastating man-in-the-middle attacks.
The Solution: Multi-Perspective Issuance Corroboration (MPIC)
MPIC is a new security measure that combats these risks by performing domain validation from multiple geographic locations and ISPs instead of relying on a single check. This significantly reduces the chances of an attacker successfully spoofing ownership of a domain, as they would have to manipulate multiple networks simultaneously—an exponentially harder task.
As of March 15, 2025, all CAs under Chrome’s Root Program must comply with MPIC. The CA/Browser Forum, which oversees web certificate policies, gave its unanimous approval to this requirement—highlighting the importance of this upgrade.
What This Means for the Web
For businesses and developers, this change means greater trust in TLS certificates and fewer risks from certificate misuse. Users, in turn, benefit from a more secure browsing experience, where encrypted connections are harder to compromise.
With this move, Google reinforces its leadership in web security, proving once again that staying ahead of cyber threats requires constant innovation. If you’re in the tech space, it’s a reminder that security isn’t a one-time fix—it’s an ongoing battle. And in this fight, MPIC is a powerful new weapon.