Let the battle begin

I was pleased to note, via an article in Issue 43 of Linux User & Developer (sorry its not online yet) that the race to create a truly anonymous network is well under way. And we're not talking about a network purely for illegal copyright infringing activities either. We're talking about the potential of a full blown communications network that would support anonymous equivalents of websites, data streaming, publishing as well as the ubiquitous P2P style "file sharing".

Some examples of open source projects joining the race to create an anonynet either partially or complete are Tor, MUTE, WASTE, I2P and Freenet.

So, as I have alluded to since my original post on the anonynet, the stage is now being set for a huge showdown between "we the people" and the corporate driven "ownership society" in which every atom, every bit of information, every hertz of bandwidth, every joule of energy, and every waking moment of our lives is owned, controlled and licensed by someone with a vested interest in exploiting it for profit. It seems like someone hocus pocus nightmare but believe me, when GWB and other talk of an ownership society that is the logical endgame required to make the whole thing "work". Believe you me, the current actions of the RIAA and MPA are just the infinitesimal tip of the iceberg of change that is heading our way if we are duped into believing the "ownership society" is the only true way to run the world.

For my part, I don't believe the "ownership society" can be anything other than a gigantic mistake - a huge titanic if you will - waiting to happen. What possible iota of happiness will be left to us in such a world when our only option in life will be to own and consume? Forget any hope for freedom, joy or meaning in life, we will be as confined in our roles as the bodies locked in the cocoons of "The Matrix".

Such a destiny for society will be so repellent, so joyless that I know the battle to resist it will, indeed has, begun. Anonymity is the first step towards the seeds of a new society centered around trust and trustworthiness. Trust will be the most valued commodity, something to be earned, respected and utilized for the common good. Believe me, within a few years the technology to use the Internet as the foundation of a completely anonymous network (my anonynet) will be widely available and integrated into common and freely available (yes, I'm talking Linux). At such a point the genie will be out of the bottle and there ensue a huge battle to put him back... They will try to prevent people from using such software, they will try to outlaw Linux, they will try to sue thousands if not millions of people, they will try to prevent access to outside countries, they will try everything.

Bucking a life time of pessimism I am happy to report that I am confident that its a battle that can and will be won. Corporations and governments the world over will eventually conclude that they just have to trust us and endure the all consequences that that entails. Sure there will be some unfortunately consequences along the way - large media conglomerates who create trillions of dollars of "wealth" from owning copyrights of sounds and sights will probably collapse to a fraction of their former selves. I wont be crying. Advertising industries will be decimated as the only thing to sell things will be actually quality as opposed to manufactured virtual qualities. People will no longer get rich owning sports teams and whoring them to the media companies for advertising rights.

Or I could be wrong, it could be complete anarchy that is on its way - a wild west without any trust at all that is forever out of control, inefficient and ruthless. But like I said, I'm quietly optimistic. I see a trust (vs. distrust based) society as inherently based on positive feelings - feelings that people enjoy. Sure you can get burned when your trust is abused, but the positive experiences will outweigh the negatives. Given a choice between trusting everyone and getting burned occasionally, or trusting no one and living with the perpetual fear and insecurity that engenders, which would you choose?

Let the good times roll... eventually!

(Just trust me on this, okay?)