Over the Walled Garden
Ethical considerations for a decentralized future. Affordable technology and open-source movements are fueling a shift towards user-owned data & a more ethical online experience.
Mar 18, 2024
10 min
Written by Keoni
The internet we navigate today gives us this sense of familiarity, mixed in with a general feeling of unease. Sure, it’s stocked with endless information and sleek UI designs, but there’s something underneath the veneer that hides the true motivations that are driving the internet. A select few tech giants - like Google, Oracle, and any one of the thousands of data brokers - hold massive sway on the internet, harvesting our data with every click, scroll, and tap. They leverage this information to manipulate our online experiences in a way that will generate the most profit. Bombarding us with targeted ads and subtly nudging us towards behaviors that line their pockets, not ours. These tactics often take the form of “dark patterns”, deceptive design elements that trick us into giving away more data or making unintended purchases. It’s a system designed for exploitation, not empowerment, and the feeling of unease is growing.
Not everything is all doom and gloom though. As technology becomes more affordable and accessible to the general public, a new vision of the internet is starting to take shape, one built on decentralization, data ownership, and user control. First things first though, this is not about any of the typical Web 3.0 nonsense, I’m not arguing for tokenizing all of my Facebook posts or building the internet on a blockchain. I’m talking about decentralization in the way it can help break the standards of exploitative design and data collection practices currently employed by the tech giants. How it can give society the tools to create a new digital landscape built on principles of equity, privacy, and social responsibility.
The Rise of Decentralization
The once-prohibitive cost of high-powered technology is receding, making it surprisingly accessible to hobbyists and independent developers. This affordability is fueling the rise of decentralized platforms. Right now, it’s still being used as a new avenue for capitalistic organizations to create new revenue streams out of their users. But in a few years, we could be at a level where families and friend groups can get in on the action. Open frameworks like ActivityPub and the AT Protocol are empowering everyday users to create their own private servers. A secure space built on open-source code, where only invited familiar members or trusted friends can connect and share. This dismantles the reliance on centralized platforms, allowing for a truly private network tailored to your specific needs and preferences.
This allows us to avoid our every click being meticulously logged and analyzed, forming a digital dossier exploited for targeted advertising. I could set up an inexpensive server right in my closet, build a website/app myself (or use a plethora of open-source options, set it up over the ActivityPub protocol, and now I have a private network I can share with my friends and family. All of our photos, videos, posts, messages, etc all live on a private server that I have control over. In a few years my friends have their own server that they manage, so now their data is their own to manage how they please.
However, the benefits extend beyond just data privacy and control. Decentralization fosters a more organic online environment, free from manipulative algorithms that curate our feeds and steer us toward echo chambers (or whatever drives up the tech giant’s KPIs). As a member of my friend’s server, I can discover and interact with their friends (if they provide that permission on their server), and then their friends, and their friend’s friends, etc. This discovery method provides an organic growth option that we can utilize if we want to. And when we want to find something outside of the group we’ve built, the centralized web is still available for global discoverability. This shift has the potential to revolutionize how we connect and interact online, fostering a more authentic and democratic digital landscape.
Design & Development for the Decentralized Future
The rise of decentralization presents a new frontier, but it also demands a shift in how we approach design and development. Open-source software is the lifeblood of a decentralized future. It fosters collaboration, allowing developers from across the globe to build upon each other’s work and accelerate innovation in a peer-reviewed and open manner. Additionally, it promotes transparency, ensuring that the inner workings of these platforms are accessible for scrutiny and improvement. This helps to foster trust in a decentralized world where users are no longer reliant on opaque useless corporate statements.
However, design and development for decentralization go beyond just embracing open-source principles. We need to consider the unique challenges and opportunities presented by a non-monolithic system. Unlike the centralized tech giants with more money than most countries, decentralized platforms often operate with smaller teams and more limited budgets. Here, user-centric design becomes important. Interfaces need to be intuitive and user-friendly to attract newcomers accustomed to the slick interfaces of the centralized platforms. Additionally, we developers need to prioritize scalability - ensuring that these platforms can accommodate a growing user base without compromising performance. Security is also a critical consideration. Decentralized systems may be less susceptible to single points of failure, but they also introduce new attack vectors. Robust security protocols need to be built in from the ground up to ensure the safety and privacy of user data.
The shift towards decentralization requires a rethinking of the development process itself. Traditionally, development has often been a top-down affair, with centralized platforms dictating features and functionalities. In a decentralized world, a more collaborative approach is needed. Open forums for users to voice their needs and contribute ideas to the development roadmap and even openly available source code for savvy users to build their platforms to fit their tastes. This community-driven approach fosters a sense of ownership amongst users and ensures that the platforms being built truly serve their needs.
Ultimately, design and development for the decentralized future is about creating a user-empowering experience. It’s about fostering an environment where individuals and communities can create and customize their online experiences without being beholden to the whims of the tech giants. Open-source principles, user-centric design, and a commitment to security and scalability are the cornerstones of this new way of thinking. By embracing these principles, we can create a decentralized future that is not only technologically sound but also empowering, inclusive, and built on a foundation of trust and collaboration.
Ethical Considerations in Decentralization
The promise of a decentralized future is undeniable - a world where data privacy and user control is a human right, and innovation thrives in a collaborative environment. However, with a paradigm shift such as this, ethical considerations must be carefully examined to ensure this future is built on a foundation of equity, privacy, and social responsibility.
Equity & Accessibility
A decentralized internet has the potential to democratize access to information and communication tools. However, we must be mindful of the digital divide that persists. Not everyone has equal access to the technology or skills required to participate in a decentralized ecosystem. To ensure inclusivity, initiatives are needed to bridge this gap. This could involve developing affordable hardware and software solutions, as well as educational programs that empower individuals with the necessary digital literacy skills to participate in a decentralized world.
Beyond that digital divide, accessibility for people with disabilities must be a core principle in designing decentralized platforms. This means ensuring that these platforms are usable by everyone, even those with disabilities. Following established web accessibility guidelines, such as those set forth by the W3C, is crucial. This includes features like providing alternative text descriptions for images, ensuring keyboard navigation compatibility, and offering options for dyslexic fonts and color contrast adjustments. By prioritizing accessibility from the outset, decentralized platforms can truly empower everyone to participate in the online world in the way they desire.
Privacy & Security
Decentralization offers a reprieve from the data-hungry practices of centralized platforms. However, it’s not a silver bullet for privacy concerns. Decentralized systems may introduce new challenges. Data stored on distributed networks can be more difficult to regulate and secure. Mitigating these risks requires robust security protocols and clear guidelines on data ownership and responsibility. Additionally, mechanisms for content moderation and user accountability become more complex in decentralized landscapes and require more discussion. Striking a balance between user privacy and the need to address harmful content is crucial.
Social Responsibility
The decentralization movement is driven by a desire for a more ethical online environment. It’s still important to acknowledge that decentralized platforms aren’t immune to social ills. The potential for anonymity in decentralized systems can create breeding grounds for hate speech, misinformation, and illegal activity. Developers and users alike have a responsibility to foster a culture of responsible online behavior. This could involve implementing content moderation tools that respect user privacy, promoting digital citizenship education, and encouraging collaboration between platform developers and civil society organizations to address emerging challenges.
Algorithmic Bias
While the absence of centralized algorithms in a decentralized internet seems appealing; it’s important to acknowledge that bias can creep in through other means. For instance, the design choices made by developers and the curation practices within individual communities can inadvertently perpetuate biases. To ensure fairness and inclusivity, ongoing efforts are needed to identify and mitigate potential sources of bias within decentralized systems. This could involve fostering diverse development teams, promoting inclusive design practices, and encouraging open dialogue within online communities.
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
Decentralization is a powerful force for innovation, but it’s vital to ensure this innovation is directed towards positive social outcomes. Developers and users alike must be mindful of the potential unintended consequences of new technologies. For instance, decentralized systems could exacerbate existing social inequalities or be exploited for malicious purposes. Open discourse and collaboration are key to navigating these challenges. By fostering a culture of ethical innovation, we can ensure that decentralized technologies are used to empower individuals and create a more equitable and just online landscape.
The centralized tech giants that have dominated and twisted the internet into a tool for exploitation are facing a reckoning. As technology becomes more accessible, a wave of user-centric, privacy-focused, decentralized platforms are becoming available. This shift presents a thrilling opportunity to reshape our relationship with technology, data, and design.
The benefits are undeniable. Decentralization empowers us to reclaim control of our data, fostering a more organic and equitable online environment free from manipulative algorithms. Open-source development becomes the cornerstone of this new world, fostering collaboration and ensuring transparency. But this journey towards a decentralized future is not without its challenges. Ensuring equitable access, addressing privacy and security concerns, and promoting responsible development are all crucial considerations.
However, the potential rewards are too great to ignore. By embracing the ethical considerations outlined, we can ensure that this nascent decentralized future is built on a foundation of equity, privacy, and social responsibility. This is a future where users, not corporations, hold the reins. This is a future where innovation thrives in collaboration, and technology empowers us to connect and create in new ways. The path ahead may be winding, but the promise of a more ethical, user-centric internet makes the journey toward a decentralized future one well worth taking.