============ Forwarded message ============ From: Daveed Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2024 16:18:27 -0700 Subject: [PCI-C] ​Elevating the Need to Fix the Internet: A Strategic Opportunity with the Changing of the Guard ============ Forwarded message ============ Esteemed colleagues, With the upcoming change in leadership, regardless of who wins the presidency, we have a unique opportunity to elevate the urgent need to fix the internet. As the internet plays an increasingly central role in shaping public discourse and AI is coming of age, it becomes critical to address systemic issues like **information centralization, censorship, and privacy erosion**---issues that threaten both democracy and personal freedoms. One of the **most potent levers** for this effort is **free speech**, protected under the First Amendment. Ensuring freedom of expression in the digital age requires rethinking our information infrastructure to foster **decentralized, open networks **where individuals can speak, engage, and innovate without fear of censorship or monopolistic control. But **free speech is just one part of the equation**. Below are key constitutional and strategic levers to consider as part of this campaign: 1. **Free Speech (First Amendment):** - Decentralizing information safeguards against **censorship by platform monopolies** and ensures that public discourse remains vibrant and diverse. - Prevents the **bottlenecking of information flow**, where only a few actors control the narrative. 2. **Right to Privacy (Fourth Amendment):** - Current data practices violate the spirit of privacy protections by allowing unchecked surveillance by platforms and governments. - Decentralized technologies return **data sovereignty to individuals**, allowing them to control their digital footprint. 3. **Due Process and Transparency (Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments):** - Online decisions about content moderation, account suspensions, and data access lack transparency or consistent recourse. - A decentralized internet model can build in **transparent, community-based governance**. 4. **Freedom of Association (First Amendment):** - Individuals must be free to form communities and networks across the web without being constrained by platform-specific silos. - Decentralization allows **meta-communities** to emerge organically across multiple platforms, facilitating democratic organization and participation. That being said here are some key points for the letter: - **Combating Misinformation and Building Trust: **A decentralized internet reduces the risks of manipulation by a few actors, promoting **information integrity **through transparency, redundancy, and open protocols. - **Data Sovereignty and Digital Rights: **Decentralizing data ensures that individuals and communities, not corporations, control their personal information, promoting **privacy, trust, and autonomy**. - **Economic Opportunities and Resilience: **Decentralization fosters **competitive innovation** by preventing monopolies and lowering the barriers to entry for new digital enterprises. This model aligns with efforts to create **resilient digital economies** that are community-driven and sustainable. - **Civic Participation and a New Digital Democracy: **An open, decentralized web encourages **active citizenship** and fosters environments where **new forms of civic engagement** can thrive. A decentralized system ensures that **everyone has equal access** to participate in the digital commons, free from gatekeeping. - **AI and Digital Ethics: **As AI continues to evolve, **decentralized systems allow communities to oversee and govern AI usage **transparently, reducing the risks of bias and manipulation. **A Timely and Historic Moment** As we move toward a new presidency, this open letter to the incoming administration could lay the foundation for **transformative change**. Beyond technical and policy interventions, it must emphasize the **importance of individual rights, public trust, and social resilience** in shaping a future-proof information ecosystem. This is an opportunity to **lead a national and global movement toward digital decentralization**, ensuring that the internet evolves into a tool for empowerment, not control. With support from the right stakeholders---including government, civil society, and technical communities---we can push for reforms that will protect democratic values and ensure **open, trusted information spaces for generations to come**. We look forward to your thoughts on framing these ideas into a powerful message to the next president, making **decentralization** not just a technical necessity, but a **moral imperative** for the future of democracy. The idea would be to post the letter on Bitcoin, provide a means for people to endorse the letter, and spread it via social media. What do you think: Is this a pipe dream or could something come of it? What points would be important to have in the open letter?