SimpleX Chat is an instant messenger that is decentralized and doesn’t depend on any unique identifiers such as phone numbers or usernames. Users of SimpleX Chat can scan a QR code or click an invite link to participate in group conversations.
-privacyguides.org
It’s clearly proving to be the most innovative technology when it comes to decentralized communication, in my opinion.
Upvoted bc VC eventually means enshittifiication. But with xz getting back-doored recently, what is the middle ground that keeps these things sustainable financially and operationally?
Maybe it’ll be governments partially funding it. If Schleswig-Holstein’s attempt is anything to go by, it might be a way
But do we trust entities that depend on our governments for funding? It could be argued that they’re fundamentally compromised.
As opposed to whom? Are investors in VC startups less compromised or more? What are the incentives in either case? Who do you trust to be competent and/or incompetent enough to compromise it without you noticing it? Who is likely to change a project that was well intentioned first after the fact? In what ways?
Exactly.
Many question marks, one answer- Gitea
You have 4 basic options for funding:
-you rely on individual donations which doesn’t bring in enough money
-you force people to pay for it, which makes it less attractive when compared to traditional software, and makes much of the community pissy
-you rely on corporate money
-you rely on government money
None is perfect, but some amount of government funding (let’s say, 10% of what they would pay Microsoft for the equivalent software) might make sense
People paying for what they use. It’s that simple.
I wonder what that looks like fleshed out a little, though. Is that a mandatory or voluntary payment? And by paying for what they use is that per message or per month like a subscription?
Mandatory? And per month or year. Younger people might not remember but WhatsApp was $1/year (at least in the states.)
There shouldn’t be anything wrong with expecting payment to pay for servers, etc. If it’s free then you’re the product right?
Threema.ch already do this. Maybe that’s the answer?
Maybe. That is a one time payment but i guess they make their money on businesses. I like it but it’s not the slickest app yet.
@timbuck2themoon @FarraigePlaisteach or self hosted :thinkerguns:
I do this but sadly not viable for everyone. It is a great option though.
Secure and private by design is the solution
Nobody can compromise you if they can’t