Additionally, we were in very good shape to implement a protocol that more or less guaranteed uncensorable speech by 2001 - certainly by 2005. Instead, we poured billions into private platforms, and now we have a censorship problem.
@paradigm I remember all of that. Saw where the direction was heading back then too. Is anyone here old enough to remember the 1995 "Cryptographer's Manifesto"?
That document spelled it out rather clearly. Loquaciously, but clearly, nonetheless. Sometimes sound-bites are not the way to communicate critical information. It takes "War and Peace" to spell it out accurately.
From a professional perspective, free and open speech would also be free to observe, and you wouldn't need to deal with a bunch of silicon valley punks.
When someone is warped with bullshit conspiracy theories, they need free speech to counter their position clearly using verifiable facts. The only way to overcome the "backfire effect" is with sheer overwhelm.
peddle (pĕdˈl)►
v. To travel about selling (wares): peddling goods from door to door.
v. To engage in the illicit sale of (narcotics).
v. Informal To seek to disseminate; give out: peddling lies.
