In
Neal Stephenson's
The Diamond Age, an organisation of
hackers for sharing and processing information. Comprised of different
nodes of people communicating with each other. Outside of the highest levels of CryptNet, the locations, or even the total number of these nodes is unknown. It is suspected that CryptNet is a powerful
secret society that controls members deep in
phyles and
corporations all over the world.
Initiates to CryptNet begin as level one members. As a member provides services to CryptNet, gathering information, sorting it, organizing it, putting it together so that certain truths become evident, he or she is advanced in rank. The highest public level is level ten. The rate of attrition among level ten members is high, however, it is suspected that these members never really leave CryptNet, instead acheiving higher and higher ranks, ascending a hierarchy that may reach level fifty or beyond.
Sound familiar?