Freedom Box?
Posted 03-31-2011 at 11:23 AM by williamfromtexas
Tags facebook, freedombox, fsf, plug, splinternet
What's in a name?
I'll admit, I think the name 'Freedom Box' is a bit cheesy. It reminds me too much of the 'Freedom Fries' reaction in the US a few years ago to some news media quibble between the US and France. It's also one of those names that is too descriptive to be cool. Facebook was famously once known as 'The' Facebook.
The problem now is that as distributed as the web is, major platforms such as The Facebook hold on to people's information for them in exchange for use of social technology services. That means that peoples' personal social webs are having walls built around them. (see #splinternet )
The Freedom Box is a good idea. Right now it needs more work: funds, code, public support.
If the concept is well received by the public, what if a Freedom Box were included in every home DSL router or cable box? In every after-market wireless device? In every laptop, in every server, built into every OS?
The level to which the developing team reaches their ease-of-use goal will show how well the device will become a staple of our on-line experiences.
While some claim that this would open up individuals towards greater scrutiny from hostile parties (governments, hackers, suspicious lovers), I think a greater distribution of these devices would go a long way to making it a secure and enabling cultural artifact.
I'll admit, I think the name 'Freedom Box' is a bit cheesy. It reminds me too much of the 'Freedom Fries' reaction in the US a few years ago to some news media quibble between the US and France. It's also one of those names that is too descriptive to be cool. Facebook was famously once known as 'The' Facebook.
The problem now is that as distributed as the web is, major platforms such as The Facebook hold on to people's information for them in exchange for use of social technology services. That means that peoples' personal social webs are having walls built around them. (see #splinternet )
The Freedom Box is a good idea. Right now it needs more work: funds, code, public support.
If the concept is well received by the public, what if a Freedom Box were included in every home DSL router or cable box? In every after-market wireless device? In every laptop, in every server, built into every OS?
The level to which the developing team reaches their ease-of-use goal will show how well the device will become a staple of our on-line experiences.
While some claim that this would open up individuals towards greater scrutiny from hostile parties (governments, hackers, suspicious lovers), I think a greater distribution of these devices would go a long way to making it a secure and enabling cultural artifact.
Total Comments 3
Comments
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I think what you are trying to describe is a P2P network of homepages that can easily be searched from a central location? Each user is responsible for their own data and only what they flag as public would be available?
This is all well and good... there are already bare-bones web servers you can fit almost anywhere, All you would need is a host of software that lets you build a simple page for it and the P2P software the broadcasts it's IP to the search hub.
This method allow for both customized webpages of any form and generic format pages like facebook. The only problem is then hosting the search hub and open sourcing it so you can have any body host a search hub...
e.g. LQ could have a search hub for members to share their facepage with other LQ memebers and even facebook (doubtingly however) would host a more generic hub for anybody to find anybody.
At this point, what's there to concern your self about privacy for? It's your own fault at that point (or a security flaw in the P2P/webpage software)
As far as security goes, the problem would be, How do you ensure that only people with permission can access your stuff?
Maybe use a GPG check of your friends private key stored in your friends list in a secure part of the server unacceptable to the web? When somebody request your more personal information, a friend packet would be sent to the server, decrypted on your end and checked, then your server would send a friend packet to their server (which isn't necessarily the computer your friend is using to access your page.. 99% of the time it wont be) to decrypt the packet and give the OK for your server to display a webpage to the visitor.
Hrmm... that would require some sort of 'log in' and that would have to be kept separate from the search hub so that the search hub can not intercept packets and forge them later... Maybe you need some log in software and the search hub only offers up some information and a link that allows easy access and launch for the log in software.
This is all very do able with current technology. I like it. Get to work. I'll see you in 5 years with the results.
The only problem from doing this at a home internet connection is the thousands of people (at least for some people) trying to get information from it... This would require more people buying web hosting service (that supports the software) or upgrading their home internet to low end business grade with webpage permissions.Posted 03-31-2011 at 04:24 PM by lumak 
Updated 03-31-2011 at 04:27 PM by lumak -
Lets see
Webpage Builder guaranteeing proper html tags for the system to work with search hub.
Webserver
GPG
GPG handshaking scripts
Log-in manager to trigger the handshaking on both ends
Search Hub Webpage
Search Hub Software
SQL database for search hub
Can you make those 8 or more things all function flawlessly together in a way that's more secure than existing technologies?Posted 03-31-2011 at 04:32 PM by lumak
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BTW, "Freedom Box" sounds just to pompous and uncool. Change the name to just "Box" it's a bit catchier and the kids will love it.
err OK bad joke...
Maybe "ShareBox" "MeBox" "MeShare" ... "iShare"... "yShare" "heShare" "sheShare" "weShare" "Crap"... I give up.Posted 03-31-2011 at 04:35 PM by lumak
