The Fediverse And The Future Of Social Media: What Policymakers Need To Know
Key Takeaways from the Fediverse Panel
The recent panel on the Fediverse and its implications for social media brought to light several critical insights. Below are the key takeaways for policymakers to consider:
On the Decentralized Nature of the Fediverse: The discussion highlighted how decentralized systems in web3, like the Fediverse, shift power away from centralized entities to individual users. Amy James emphasized that this empowerment comes with the responsibility of managing one’s online footprint and data securely using cryptographic tools. The transition to web3 is seen as a progression towards a more user-controlled internet infrastructure.
Amy James: “One of the main things that’s important about web3 is that it pushes power to the ends of the network… with great power comes great responsibility.”
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On Data Privacy in Decentralized Systems: The conversation delved into concerns about data privacy within decentralized systems like Nostr and Mastodon. Unlike centralized platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), these decentralized networks operate without a central authority collecting user data. Mike Masnick pointed out the complexities of applying traditional privacy regulations designed for centralized systems to decentralized ones, suggesting a need for nuanced approaches in policy-making.
Mike Masnick: “In a world where you have something like Nostr, where there is no central entity that is even possible for them to be collecting data on users… they may end up with certain requirements based on these privacy laws.”
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Reducing Reliance on Large Platforms and Antitrust Safe Harbors: The discussion explored the potential of interoperability to help smaller players like Flipboard and Ghost be less reliant on large tech platforms. Ross Schulman introduced the idea of regulated interoperability, which may become part of the Digital Markets Act in the EU. Mike Masnick suggested that voluntary Fediverse interoperability could serve as an antitrust safe harbor, reducing centralization and supporting smaller social networks.
Mike Masnick: “I think that certainly a lot of smaller and midsize companies are recognizing that there are advantages in this and that they don’t have to be as reliant on the big centralized players, which has been an issue in the past. So you have companies like Flipboard, and Medium, and Ghost that are sort of smaller, mid sized companies that are embracing the Fediverse, because … they were previously very reliant on Twitter and Facebook, and that represented certain challenges. So they’re recognizing the basic advantages of connecting to this world. I think there’s some other interesting sort of more speculative policy proposals that could be really interesting. I’d love to see some sort of safe harbors for potentially, like antitrust safe harbors for companies that are willing to adopt the decentralized system that allows users to get out of centralized systems. So if Meta or Google are scared of antitrust cases being brought, if they’re willing to adopt decentralized stuff that allows users to still access users on their system without being on their system, maybe there’s an interesting Safe Harbor proposal there.”
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On Content Moderation and User Control: Ross Schulman highlighted how decentralized platforms allow users greater flexibility and control over their online experiences. For instance, users can switch between servers on platforms like Mastodon, retaining their followers and content, similar to forwarding an email address. This decentralization challenges the traditional top-down moderation models of centralized platforms, offering users alternative methods to manage their interactions online.
Ross Schulman: “Even today, if you choose a Mastodon server… you can move servers, it’s not 100% seamless, but it’s pretty good… It’s like setting the forwarding on an email address and moving to a different server.”
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On the Resilience of Decentralized Platforms to Bans: Mike Masnick discussed the challenges in enforcing bans on decentralized platforms compared to centralized ones like TikTok. Centralized platforms rely on app store controls and singular points of access, making bans relatively straightforward. In contrast, decentralized systems have multiple access points and diverse app interfaces, making it significantly more complex to impose and enforce bans uniformly.
Mike Masnick: “It would be a lot more difficult to do a TikTok ban of a decentralized system… because they allow for there to be many different apps that can all access it in different ways.”
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On the Potential Benefits of the Fediverse: The panelists expressed optimism about the potential benefits of the Fediverse and web3 technologies. Amy James highlighted how web3 can realize the original ideals of the Internet as a free and fair marketplace for ideas. She emphasized the potential for personalized, AI-driven applications within decentralized frameworks, offering users tailored experiences without the constraints of centralized platforms like Twitter or YouTube. The discussion concluded with a positive outlook on the ongoing experimentation and innovation within the decentralized web landscape.
Amy James: “Web3 makes the Internet better… It’s the opportunity for it to live into that original dream that we all had of this free and fair marketplace for ideas and people to connect.”
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On Handling Illegal Content On the Fediverse: The panelists discussed the challenges and strategies for handling illegal content within decentralized platforms like Mastodon and the wider Fediverse. Ross Schulman emphasized that while decentralized platforms offer autonomy and privacy, they also lack a central authority for enforcing content moderation. Amy James highlighted community-driven approaches, where users self-moderate content and report violations, emphasizing the role of platform governance models and user education in maintaining legality and safety online.
Amy James: “You know, when you’re talking about moving networks, you have network lock-in on something like Twitter. And when you’re talking about pulling them into these ones, giving us control over our social graph, like answering this question is the primary friction at this point.”
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On Financial Incentives for Content Creators and Interplay with Cryptocurrencies: Amy James highlighted potential economic incentives, such innovative monetization models including cryptocurrencies, that could appeal to platforms seeking alternatives to traditional business models.
Amy James: “I think that the last piece of it is just like the financial incentive that as every time that the areas of the Web grow, the total addressable market gets bigger. And what happens when … there’s all this discussion about the value of content that influencers or people are just putting out there, and who owns it? And if you actually could put some sort of licensing or commercial terms on your content when you publish it, and then the app that is sharing that on your behalf is able to receive a cut of that, that just creates this like financial incentive, that is kind of baked into the protocol itself. And that’s part of that cryptocurrency kind of side of this conversation. But there’s a lot of potential for revenue there.”
The Fediverse represents a transformative approach to social media, emphasizing decentralization, user control, and privacy. As policymakers consider the future of digital regulation, these insights from the panel underscore the need for flexible, forward-thinking approaches to governance in the evolving landscape of web3 technologies.
