The Alt-Tech Revolution: Master Thread For Tech Ideas in an Age of Censorship
08-31-2017, 10:41 AM
Great thread idea.
The problem is that the 'Web As We Know It' (clearnet/world wide web) is inherently centralised and thus compromised.
Instead of legal action against domain registrars we need technological solutions which can't be censored. ICANN control all Top-Level Domains (TLDs) on the clearnet and the registrars who are licensed by them are another centralised body of control.
Daily Stormer for example now have little chance of being on the clearnet as they've been kicked off domain registrars like GoDaddy, Google, Namecheap and more.
Several alt-tech solutions exist:
- Namecoin (.bit TLD)
- Emercoin (.emc, .coin, .lib and .bazar TLDs)
- Blockstack (.id TLD)
- Ethereum Name System (.eth TLD)
These domains however are still on the "dark web" as they are not normally accessible from a web browser. There are some solutions to this (from easiest to hardest):
1) Promote browser extensions like PeerName which are able to resolve these TLDs.
2) Promote decentralised apps (dApps) such as those run on Ethereum. If everyone started using MetaMask in their web browser or Mist browser on PC or Status on mobile then that's another way to access the decentralised web.
3) Push for changes in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave browser etc to integrate Peername or similar tech into their core stack so that web browsers can resolve these TLDs without needing to add browser extensions.
4) Push for changes in popular PC/mobile/router operating systems to make it easier to change the DNS IPs to more free public DNS services like OpenNIC which can resolve decentralised TLDs like Namecoin's.
None of these are easy solutions but when the clearnet is fundamentally simple to monitor and censor then we have to get creative.
Quote: (08-29-2017 01:55 PM)John Michael Kane Wrote:
2. DNS access
Domain services, especially if pressured by left-wing groups are already under attack. Don't like someone? Call their domain registrar and tell them they are hosting a Nazi. Now their domain is locked and can't get transferred. We need legal action to be taken against domain registrars who block transfer or freeze accounts of domains that are NOT BEING USED FOR ILLEGAL PURPOSES.
Free-speech advocates must start suing registrars who freeze accounts and hold domains hostage for political reasons. Counter.fund might be an excellent place to start such a campaign once launched. Registrars need to defend any domain freeze as based in breaking the law, not offending SJWs.
While I think it certainly doesn't hurt to consider "alternative web" solutions, there's still plenty of internet freedom out there in the United States that needs defending. Easy of access of the current system is what brings a message to a mass audience.
We need to keep that access open and fight for every inch of it, and only use "alternative web" as a fallback in case we lose the first fight. "Alternative web" should be a secondary consideration, because it also makes it easier to brand it as "Dark Web 2.0" where only the mean, scary people hang out. We need the Web As We Know It to stay intact.
The problem is that the 'Web As We Know It' (clearnet/world wide web) is inherently centralised and thus compromised.
Instead of legal action against domain registrars we need technological solutions which can't be censored. ICANN control all Top-Level Domains (TLDs) on the clearnet and the registrars who are licensed by them are another centralised body of control.
Daily Stormer for example now have little chance of being on the clearnet as they've been kicked off domain registrars like GoDaddy, Google, Namecheap and more.
Several alt-tech solutions exist:
- Namecoin (.bit TLD)
- Emercoin (.emc, .coin, .lib and .bazar TLDs)
- Blockstack (.id TLD)
- Ethereum Name System (.eth TLD)
These domains however are still on the "dark web" as they are not normally accessible from a web browser. There are some solutions to this (from easiest to hardest):
1) Promote browser extensions like PeerName which are able to resolve these TLDs.
2) Promote decentralised apps (dApps) such as those run on Ethereum. If everyone started using MetaMask in their web browser or Mist browser on PC or Status on mobile then that's another way to access the decentralised web.
3) Push for changes in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave browser etc to integrate Peername or similar tech into their core stack so that web browsers can resolve these TLDs without needing to add browser extensions.
4) Push for changes in popular PC/mobile/router operating systems to make it easier to change the DNS IPs to more free public DNS services like OpenNIC which can resolve decentralised TLDs like Namecoin's.
None of these are easy solutions but when the clearnet is fundamentally simple to monitor and censor then we have to get creative.