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content: update to reflect markdoc syntax
d5b9ca0Matilde Park
content/blog/immunology-for-the-internet-age.md+44−187
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ conference on “The Decentralization of Power”](https://www.mtaconf.org/)._
13
13
14**✿**
14**✿**
15
15
16−IN THE BEGINNING, *God created the prokaryotes. And the
16+IN THE BEGINNING, _God created the prokaryotes. And the
17prokaryotes were without nucleus and organelle; and structural
17prokaryotes were without nucleus and organelle; and structural
18simplicity was upon the face of the deep. And chemotaxis moved it upon
18simplicity was upon the face of the deep. And chemotaxis moved it upon
19−the face of the waters.*
19+the face of the waters._
20
20
21A single-celled organism possesses many advantages, notably simplicity
21A single-celled organism possesses many advantages, notably simplicity
22of form. Being largely indistinguishable, they have no differentiation
22of form. Being largely indistinguishable, they have no differentiation
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ apex predators---at best, sheepdogs with a strong strain of wolfishness;
120at worst, tar pits manned by various bad-faith actors. The pre-Web
120at worst, tar pits manned by various bad-faith actors. The pre-Web
121cypherpunks were right: "Privacy is the power to selectively reveal
121cypherpunks were right: "Privacy is the power to selectively reveal
122oneself to the world."[^9] If anything, they were too narrow; not only
122oneself to the world."[^9] If anything, they were too narrow; not only
123−their valued "open society" (polyvalent crypto-anarchy) but *any*
123+their valued "open society" (polyvalent crypto-anarchy) but _any_
124non-megacorp society at all requires true privacy.
124non-megacorp society at all requires true privacy.
125
125
126What cyberspace (and human culture writ broadly) needed was an immune
126What cyberspace (and human culture writ broadly) needed was an immune
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ sensibilities enjoy the sanction of megacorp sociality. There is
156essentially no native culture left, only that forged in the enterprise
156essentially no native culture left, only that forged in the enterprise
157brand management office.[^10]
157brand management office.[^10]
158
158
159−In an immune system, *surface barriers* are designed to make it hard for
159+In an immune system, _surface barriers_ are designed to make it hard for
160exogenous agents to enter a cell or organism; in our analogy, the
160exogenous agents to enter a cell or organism; in our analogy, the
161primary surface barrier was the match of physical separation to
161primary surface barrier was the match of physical separation to
162psychological separation. Surface barriers were rendered finally
162psychological separation. Surface barriers were rendered finally
@@ -164,9 +164,9 @@ obsolete by the launch of the World Wide Web and its subsequent
164infiltration of every aspect of human culture. To the extent they exist
164infiltration of every aspect of human culture. To the extent they exist
165today, it is a matter of ignorance, self-discipline, or happy accident.
165today, it is a matter of ignorance, self-discipline, or happy accident.
166
166
167−The *innate immune system* responds non-specifically to pathogens. Any
167+The _innate immune system_ responds non-specifically to pathogens. Any
168−immune system must have a way of deciding what is *me* and what is
168+immune system must have a way of deciding what is _me_ and what is
169−*not-me*. Framed as an identity problem in a zero-trust environment,
169+_not-me_. Framed as an identity problem in a zero-trust environment,
170users have evolved several ways to uniquely identify agents without
170users have evolved several ways to uniquely identify agents without
171reference to legacy systems. Chief among these means is the blockchain,
171reference to legacy systems. Chief among these means is the blockchain,
172introduced by Bitcoin for control and transaction of digital assets and
172introduced by Bitcoin for control and transaction of digital assets and
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ platforms.
177Identity is still fluid and polysemous, but in certain key instances it
177Identity is still fluid and polysemous, but in certain key instances it
178is indelibly demonstrable.[^11] The individual actor has the capability
178is indelibly demonstrable.[^11] The individual actor has the capability
179to express itself with many public faces or none; one of these typically
179to express itself with many public faces or none; one of these typically
180−enjoys government sanction and liability, but it is no more *real* than
180+enjoys government sanction and liability, but it is no more _real_ than
181the others, only more legible to regulation and taxation.[^12]
181the others, only more legible to regulation and taxation.[^12]
182
182
183Another aspect of the innate immune system is the public visibility of
183Another aspect of the innate immune system is the public visibility of
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ epistemological grounds (i.e. you have a right to know what code you are
186running) and practical grounds. (Linus's law: "given enough eyeballs,
186running) and practical grounds. (Linus's law: "given enough eyeballs,
187all bugs are shallow."[^13])
187all bugs are shallow."[^13])
188
188
189−The *adaptive immune system* responds to specific pathogenic incursions.
189+The _adaptive immune system_ responds to specific pathogenic incursions.
190Particular conditions arise, whether through social, regulatory,
190Particular conditions arise, whether through social, regulatory,
191military, or other requirements, which must be met with specialized
191military, or other requirements, which must be met with specialized
192forms that are thereafter in evolutionary competition with the external
192forms that are thereafter in evolutionary competition with the external
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ firearms, deviant scientific or political thought[^15], or even the
201DRM-free sharing of copyrighted material can be contained[^16]; the
201DRM-free sharing of copyrighted material can be contained[^16]; the
202experience with export-grade cryptography[^17] has already shown that
202experience with export-grade cryptography[^17] has already shown that
203regulatory attempts ultimately fail. The philosophical question is what
203regulatory attempts ultimately fail. The philosophical question is what
204−kind of world will evolve (a *fait accompli* driven by factors beyond
204+kind of world will evolve (a _fait accompli_ driven by factors beyond
205any individual or office) and the practical question is how any
205any individual or office) and the practical question is how any
206particular group of actors can preserve their own agency, autonomy, and
206particular group of actors can preserve their own agency, autonomy, and
207ambit of action.
207ambit of action.
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ agencies have in place arbitrary investor requirements which would make
226little sense even if pegged to something like inflation or index rather
226little sense even if pegged to something like inflation or index rather
227than the rapidly-devaluing petrodollar. Nominally put in place to
227than the rapidly-devaluing petrodollar. Nominally put in place to
228protect the naïve from getting scammed, these restrictions have had the
228protect the naïve from getting scammed, these restrictions have had the
229−pernicious effect of pulling up the ladder behind the *actuel riche*.
229+pernicious effect of pulling up the ladder behind the _actuel riche_.
230
230
231DAOs have rapidly evolved as a way of distributing ownership and stake
231DAOs have rapidly evolved as a way of distributing ownership and stake
232in a purely democratic way. (As an aside, the word "democracy" has been
232in a purely democratic way. (As an aside, the word "democracy" has been
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ Decentralized autonomous organizations, zero-knowledge cryptographic
240proofs, cryptocurrencies, proof-of-identity systems, and their
240proofs, cryptocurrencies, proof-of-identity systems, and their
241as-yet-unborn kin represent the evolution of an immune system on top of
241as-yet-unborn kin represent the evolution of an immune system on top of
242the Darwinian churn of the legacy Internet. The stakes are necessarily
242the Darwinian churn of the legacy Internet. The stakes are necessarily
243−high: possession is *de facto* ownership, the other end of the stick
243+high: possession is _de facto_ ownership, the other end of the stick
244from "not your keys, not your coins" (the old cryptocurrency chestnut).
244from "not your keys, not your coins" (the old cryptocurrency chestnut).
245The focus is currently on ownership of money, non-fungible tokens, and
245The focus is currently on ownership of money, non-fungible tokens, and
246similar assets, but broadly speaking such systems allow the
246similar assets, but broadly speaking such systems allow the
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ cryptographic evidence of its identity gets a vote on the consensus.
287We must consider modern systems to necessarily interact at the pinnacle
287We must consider modern systems to necessarily interact at the pinnacle
288intensity of competence and competition: any differential advantage that
288intensity of competence and competition: any differential advantage that
289can be exploited to outcompete an adversary not only can be exploited
289can be exploited to outcompete an adversary not only can be exploited
290−but *should* be. Illegibility, redundancy, and apposite complexity are
290+but _should_ be. Illegibility, redundancy, and apposite complexity are
291allies in the immune fight to maintain identity and ownership in the
291allies in the immune fight to maintain identity and ownership in the
292modern Internet.[^24] Any system which does not have an operational
292modern Internet.[^24] Any system which does not have an operational
293DAO-like layer is immuno­compromised. All tools for the individual and
293DAO-like layer is immuno­compromised. All tools for the individual and
@@ -331,15 +331,15 @@ been diminishing both by cutting off older forms from the modern world
331and by cultivating only certain state-legible apex predators[^26] and
331and by cultivating only certain state-legible apex predators[^26] and
332their preferred ovine repast.
332their preferred ovine repast.
333
333
334−Contra this monoculture, the *telos* of social computing is to recreate
334+Contra this monoculture, the _telos_ of social computing is to recreate
335the village green, not the penitentiary. Revisiting a thesis from above:
335the village green, not the penitentiary. Revisiting a thesis from above:
336"All tools for the individual and collective need to be architected
336"All tools for the individual and collective need to be architected
337−around *using cryptographic proofs to create stable high-trust havens in
337+around _using cryptographic proofs to create stable high-trust havens in
338−an otherwise* zero-trust adversarial world." The village is a stable,
338+an otherwise_ zero-trust adversarial world." The village is a stable,
339long-term tribe well below Dunbar's limit which shares values and assets
339long-term tribe well below Dunbar's limit which shares values and assets
340in common, from which a member occasionally ventures out into the
340in common, from which a member occasionally ventures out into the
341broader social web but always has a home. Every village will grow its
341broader social web but always has a home. Every village will grow its
342−own culture, perhaps even its own *cultus*, enabled by decentralized
342+own culture, perhaps even its own _cultus_, enabled by decentralized
343technologies to protect their assets and precious peculiarities. The
343technologies to protect their assets and precious peculiarities. The
344World Wide Web has been an extinction-level event for many forms of
344World Wide Web has been an extinction-level event for many forms of
345life, livelihood, and culture. For others, it has offered strange forms
345life, livelihood, and culture. For others, it has offered strange forms
@@ -348,174 +348,31 @@ now operational, human endeavor stands on the cusp of a Cambrian
348explosion, unconstrainable by a rent-seeking boardroom-and-bureaucracy
348explosion, unconstrainable by a rent-seeking boardroom-and-bureaucracy
349world that never comprehended the light shining in its darkness.
349world that never comprehended the light shining in its darkness.
350
350
351−[^1]: Kaufman, Jim. (2010) ["Evolution and
352− immunity"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2913256/).
353− *Immunology 130*, iss. 4, pp. 459--462.
354−
355−[^2]: President Eisenhower's original coinage was likely "the
356− military-industrial-academic complex."
357−
358−[^3]: E.g., Richard Bellman of the RAND Corporation on the origin of
359− "dynamic programming," a mathematical discipline: in dealing with a
360− recalcitrant secretary of defense who hated the word "research,"
361− Bellman instead chose the word "dynamic" arbitrarily because "it's
362− impossible to use the word 'dynamic' in a pejorative sense. ...It
363− was something not even a Congressman could object to. So I used it
364− as an umbrella for my activities." (Bellman, Richard. (1984) [*Eye
365− of the
366− Hurricane*](https://books.google.ch/books?id=4FwGCwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA159&dq=#v=onepage&q=).)
367−
368−[^4]: The nuclear triad doctrine, joining the Air Force's Strategic Air
369− Command bombers, the Navy's nuclear submarines, and the Army's ICBMs
370− and other assorted nuclear warheads, was based less on strategic
371− considerations than on appeasing constituent departments of the
372− military. Strategists developed a formal justification decades later
373− in a magnificent demonstration of motivated reasoning. (Woolf, Amy.
374− (2016) "U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and
375− Issues". [CRS
376− 7-5700](https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc847627/m2/1/high_res_d/RL33640_2016Mar10.pdf).)
377−
378−[^5]: The Air Force early commissioned the RAND Corporation on contract
379− with Douglas Aircraft Company as the first "think tank"; RAND soon
380− upended the traditional role of passive reception of studies by
381− making its own recommendations and showing their analytical chops.
382− Other service branches followed suit, such as the U.S. Navy's Center
383− for Naval Analyses and the Battelle Memorial Institute for various
384− federal contracting agencies; compare also the role of the national
385− laboratory system, e.g. Los Alamos, Sandia, Livermore, etc. for the
386− Department of Energy and Department of Defense. (Rich, Michael.
387− (2003) "RAND: How Think Tanks Interact with the Military".
388− [RP-1050](https://www.rand.org/pubs/reprints/RP1050.html).)
389−
390−[^6]: "On January 18, 1994, the first large-scale deliberate USENET spam
391− occurred. A message with the subject "Global Alert for All: Jesus is
392− Coming Soon" was cross-posted to every available newsgroup."
393− ([Wikipedia, "History of email
394− spam"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_email_spam))
395−
396−[^7]: The first instance which seems to have brough this to general
397− public awareness was the submission of Judge Robert Bork's video
398− rental history as evidence in his Supreme Court hearings before the
399− U.S. Senate. The resulting Video Privacy Protection Act was
400− delightfully naïve. Besides relying on "video rental" narrowly
401− construed, users have effectively no leverage against
402− unilaterally-imposed terms of service and end-user license
403− agreements. (See, e.g., [Electronic Privacy Information Center,
404− "Video Privacy Protection
405− Act"](https://archive.epic.org/privacy/vppa/).)
406−
407−[^8]: E.g. Tumblr and OnlyFans and adult content; Twitter and right-wing
408− content; Youtube and Facebook and unsanctioned medical content, etc.
409− Note that this is regardless of the viability of a given view or the
410− necessity of vigorous debate within a field, but focuses on the
411− palatibility of politics to the megacorp entity providing the
412− platform, even if the content drives platform usage.
413−
414−[^9]: Hughes, Eric. (1993) [*A Cypherpunk's
415− Manifesto*](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/cypherpunk-manifesto/).
416−
417−[^10]: The mass shift to remote work from March 2020 onwards due to the
418− COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the trend of corporate
419− colonization of private spaces. At first, this was occasionally
420− humorous, as when a child ran into the background of a Zoom call, or
421− underwear or private materials were inadvertently left in view of
422− the remote audience. In the end, it demanded that individuals
423− reconfigure their homes to accommodate mass corporate preferences,
424− thus another invasion of private space by the megacorp panopticon.\
425− I note as well an invasive doctrine demanding "truth in
426− communication" under names like ["radical
427− transparency"](https://www.bridgewater.com/principles-and-culture)
428− and ["radical
429− candor"](https://third-bit.com/2018/11/24/afraid-of-change/) put
430− forward by partisans of power over against vulnerable employees,
431− clients, and customers, who may be disproportionately affected by a
432− megacorp demand for one-sided transparency.
433−
434−[^11]: Several have pointed to the failure of Craig S. Wright to
435− demonstrate cryptographically that he is Satoshi Nakamoto, the
436− pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin. (C.f. Khaosan, Venzen. (2016)
437− ["Craig Wright is Not Satoshi Nakamoto---The Technical
438− Proof"](https://www.ccn.com/technical-proof-craig-wright-not-satoshi-nakamoto/).)
439−
440−[^12]: Davidson, Dale, and Rees-Mogg, William. (1999) *The Sovereign
441− Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age*.
442−
443−[^13]: Raymond, Eric. (1999) [*The Cathedral and the
444− Bazaar*](http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar/ar01s04.html).
445−
446−[^14]: The [Coalition for Content Provenance and
447− Authenticity](https://c2pa.org/) "addresses the prevalence of
448− misleading information online through the development of technical
449− standards for certifying the source and history (or provenance) of
450− media content."
451−
452−[^15]: Cf. Walker, Shawn, et al. (2019) ["The disinformation landscape
453− and the lockdown of social
454− platforms."](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2019.1648536)
455− *Information, Communication & Society 22*, pp. 1531--43. Walker et
456− al. lament that "highly ephemeral mis/disinformation campaigns" are
457− not susceptible of study due to closed platform APIs. "Social media
458− platforms \[attempt\] to rekindle trust by appearing to reinforce
459− individual privacy within a newly secured user community, a set of
460− measures that also locked academic and non-profit researchers out
461− from studying social platforms while preserving corporate and
462− business access to social media users' data." They fail to address
463− the tension between community self-determination and academic
464− exploitation.
465−
466−[^16]: "If in fact you can't crack \[the encryption\] at all, government
467− can't get in, then everybody is walking around with a Swiss bank
468− account in their pocket -- right? So there has to be some concession
469− to the need to be able to get into that information somehow."
470− ([Barack Obama in March 2016 at
471− SXSW](https://www.businessinsider.com/obama-comments-on-encryption-at-sxsw-2016-3))
472−
473−[^17]: Heninger, Nadia. (2016) ["The Legacy of Export-Grade Cryptography
474− in the 21^st^
475− Century"](https://publish.illinois.edu/science-of-security-lablet/files/2016/08/10062016-Heninger-Slides.pdf).
476−
477−[^18]: Chohan, Usman. (2017) ["The Decentralized Autonomous Organization
478− and Governance
479− Issues"](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3082055).
480− Discussion Paper Series: *Notes on the 21^st^ Century*.
481−
482−[^19]: Lessig, Lawrence. (1999) *Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace*.
483−
484−[^20]: Hobart, Byrne \~lableg-tadrex. (Nov 17, 2021) ["The Promise and
485− Paradox of
486− Decentralization"](https://urbit.org/blog/2021-11-18-the-promise-and-paradox-of-decentralization).
487− *The Diff*.
488−
489−[^21]: See, e.g., the Governor Alpha smart contract protocols. Solari,
490− R. (2021) ["The case for Governor
491− Alpha".](https://medium.com/tally-blog/the-case-for-governor-alpha-15c1362d49eb)
492−
493−[^22]: Robinson, D. (2020) ["Ethereum is a dark
494− forest"](https://www.paradigm.xyz/2020/08/ethereum-is-a-dark-forest).
495− Paradigm blog.
496−
497−[^23]: [Uqbar Network](https://uqbar.network/); ["Introducing Uqbar
498− Network"](https://uqbarnetwork.substack.com/p/introducing-uqbar-network);
499− \~hocwyn-tipwex/uqbar-event-horizon (Urbit group)
500−
501−[^24]: This is not to deny the benefits of system-legibility, in
502− particular legal protections. As common law develops around DAOs, I
503− hope for similar affordances where they must interact with the
504− legacy legal system.
505−
506−[^25]: Originally this list included Discord, as there has been
507− substantial growth in stable goal-oriented communities thereon.
508− However, more recently the company [adopted a user
509− policy](https://discord.com/blog/addressing-harmful-off-platform-behavior)
510− which subjects use of their product to judgment calls about
511− "off-platform behavior"---a clear violation of a cypherpunk ethos
512− which Discord likely never espoused anyway.
513−
514−[^26]: E.g., Auerbach, David. (Mar 3, 2022) ["The metaverse will steal
515− your
516− identity"](https://unherd.com/2022/03/the-metaverse-will-steal-your-identity/).
517− *UnHerd*. Auerbach correctly recognizes and decries the looming
518− "monetisation of identity" which will allow any platform controller
519− to incentivize prosocial or antisocial behaviors at will.
520−
521_The header image is [Volvox sp. microscopic algae](https://www.flickr.com/photos/picksfromoutthere/35891780782/in/photolist-WFCKYA-XPdGLq-2k9Cew6-ViCgrB-23QUBQR-21rF362-CCSE2n-23AwZ7m-CbKedu-gznqa-2dHUv3k-EE8eoq-gznq9-i5zqqk-WYSwcf-XWVgQk-WabAAG-gLjRj-gDcLp-4VvECm-259cDCS-i5zqRk-25cV246-i5yNvM-gupiMJ-PXLbhr-LUACZ7-ihvxSH-ihvvVg-ihwjbF-ihvxDX-i5yQDd-ihzQwK-fWwpxb-rarKrm-8LWTQf-qVar5j-ihzAPA-JNrgyK-ihzBrC-ca6Ex9-2kCTSrj-ihz67k-qfJsYd-248ePDL-ihztbm-ihzuyS-LQYZQq-2kCTRxL-ihvWPA) by Picturepest on Flickr._
351_The header image is [Volvox sp. microscopic algae](https://www.flickr.com/photos/picksfromoutthere/35891780782/in/photolist-WFCKYA-XPdGLq-2k9Cew6-ViCgrB-23QUBQR-21rF362-CCSE2n-23AwZ7m-CbKedu-gznqa-2dHUv3k-EE8eoq-gznq9-i5zqqk-WYSwcf-XWVgQk-WabAAG-gLjRj-gDcLp-4VvECm-259cDCS-i5zqRk-25cV246-i5yNvM-gupiMJ-PXLbhr-LUACZ7-ihvxSH-ihvvVg-ihwjbF-ihvxDX-i5yQDd-ihzQwK-fWwpxb-rarKrm-8LWTQf-qVar5j-ihzAPA-JNrgyK-ihzBrC-ca6Ex9-2kCTSrj-ihz67k-qfJsYd-248ePDL-ihztbm-ihzuyS-LQYZQq-2kCTRxL-ihvWPA) by Picturepest on Flickr._
352+
353+[^1]: Kaufman, Jim. (2010) ["Evolution and immunity"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2913256/). _Immunology 130_, iss. 4, pp. 459--462.
354+[^2]: President Eisenhower's original coinage was likely "the military-industrial-academic complex."
355+[^3]: E.g., Richard Bellman of the RAND Corporation on the origin of "dynamic programming," a mathematical discipline: in dealing with a recalcitrant secretary of defense who hated the word "research," Bellman instead chose the word "dynamic" arbitrarily because "it's impossible to use the word 'dynamic' in a pejorative sense. ...It was something not even a Congressman could object to. So I used it as an umbrella for my activities." (Bellman, Richard. (1984) [_Eye of the Hurricane_](https://books.google.ch/books?id=4FwGCwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA159&dq=#v=onepage&q=).)
356+[^4]: The nuclear triad doctrine, joining the Air Force's Strategic Air Command bombers, the Navy's nuclear submarines, and the Army's ICBMs and other assorted nuclear warheads, was based less on strategic considerations than on appeasing constituent departments of the military. Strategists developed a formal justification decades later in a magnificent demonstration of motivated reasoning. (Woolf, Amy. (2016) "U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues". [CRS 7-5700](https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc847627/m2/1/high_res_d/RL33640_2016Mar10.pdf).)
357+[^5]: The Air Force early commissioned the RAND Corporation on contract with Douglas Aircraft Company as the first "think tank"; RAND soon upended the traditional role of passive reception of studies by making its own recommendations and showing their analytical chops. Other service branches followed suit, such as the U.S. Navy's Center for Naval Analyses and the Battelle Memorial Institute for various federal contracting agencies; compare also the role of the national laboratory system, e.g. Los Alamos, Sandia, Livermore, etc. for the Department of Energy and Department of Defense. (Rich, Michael. (2003) "RAND: How Think Tanks Interact with the Military". [RP-1050](https://www.rand.org/pubs/reprints/RP1050.html).)
358+[^6]: "On January 18, 1994, the first large-scale deliberate USENET spam occurred. A message with the subject "Global Alert for All: Jesus is Coming Soon" was cross-posted to every available newsgroup." ([Wikipedia, "History of email spam"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_email_spam))
359+[^7]: The first instance which seems to have brough this to general public awareness was the submission of Judge Robert Bork's video rental history as evidence in his Supreme Court hearings before the U.S. Senate. The resulting Video Privacy Protection Act was delightfully naïve. Besides relying on "video rental" narrowly construed, users have effectively no leverage against unilaterally-imposed terms of service and end-user license agreements. (See, e.g., [Electronic Privacy Information Center, "Video Privacy Protection Act"](https://archive.epic.org/privacy/vppa/).)
360+[^8]: E.g. Tumblr and OnlyFans and adult content; Twitter and right-wing content; Youtube and Facebook and unsanctioned medical content, etc. Note that this is regardless of the viability of a given view or the necessity of vigorous debate within a field, but focuses on the palatibility of politics to the megacorp entity providing the platform, even if the content drives platform usage.
361+[^9]: Hughes, Eric. (1993) [_A Cypherpunk's Manifesto_](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/cypherpunk-manifesto/).
362+[^10]: The mass shift to remote work from March 2020 onwards due to the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the trend of corporate colonization of private spaces. At first, this was occasionally humorous, as when a child ran into the background of a Zoom call, or underwear or private materials were inadvertently left in view of the remote audience. In the end, it demanded that individuals reconfigure their homes to accommodate mass corporate preferences, thus another invasion of private space by the megacorp panopticon.\ I note as well an invasive doctrine demanding "truth in communication" under names like ["radical transparency"](https://www.bridgewater.com/principles-and-culture) and ["radical candor"](https://third-bit.com/2018/11/24/afraid-of-change/) put forward by partisans of power over against vulnerable employees, clients, and customers, who may be disproportionately affected by a megacorp demand for one-sided transparency.
363+[^11]: Several have pointed to the failure of Craig S. Wright to demonstrate cryptographically that he is Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin. (C.f. Khaosan, Venzen. (2016) ["Craig Wright is Not Satoshi Nakamoto---The Technical Proof"](https://www.ccn.com/technical-proof-craig-wright-not-satoshi-nakamoto/).)
364+[^12]: Davidson, Dale, and Rees-Mogg, William. (1999) _The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age_.
365+[^13]: Raymond, Eric. (1999) [_The Cathedral and the Bazaar_](http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar/ar01s04.html).
366+[^14]: The [Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity](https://c2pa.org/) "addresses the prevalence of misleading information online through the development of technical standards for certifying the source and history (or provenance) of media content."
367+[^15]: Cf. Walker, Shawn, et al. (2019) ["The disinformation landscape and the lockdown of social platforms."](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2019.1648536) _Information, Communication & Society 22_, pp. 1531--43. Walker et al. lament that "highly ephemeral mis/disinformation campaigns" are not susceptible of study due to closed platform APIs. "Social media platforms \[attempt\] to rekindle trust by appearing to reinforce individual privacy within a newly secured user community, a set of measures that also locked academic and non-profit researchers out from studying social platforms while preserving corporate and business access to social media users' data." They fail to address the tension between community self-determination and academic exploitation.
368+[^16]: "If in fact you can't crack \[the encryption\] at all, government can't get in, then everybody is walking around with a Swiss bank account in their pocket -- right? So there has to be some concession to the need to be able to get into that information somehow." ([Barack Obama in March 2016 at SXSW](https://www.businessinsider.com/obama-comments-on-encryption-at-sxsw-2016-3))
369+[^17]: Heninger, Nadia. (2016) ["The Legacy of Export-Grade Cryptography in the 21^st^ Century"](https://publish.illinois.edu/science-of-security-lablet/files/2016/08/10062016-Heninger-Slides.pdf).
370+[^18]: Chohan, Usman. (2017) ["The Decentralized Autonomous Organization and Governance Issues"](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3082055). Discussion Paper Series: _Notes on the 21^st^ Century_.
371+[^19]: Lessig, Lawrence. (1999) _Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace_.
372+[^20]: Hobart, Byrne \~lableg-tadrex. (Nov 17, 2021) ["The Promise and Paradox of Decentralization"](https://urbit.org/blog/2021-11-18-the-promise-and-paradox-of-decentralization). _The Diff_.
373+[^21]: See, e.g., the Governor Alpha smart contract protocols. Solari, R. (2021) ["The case for Governor Alpha".](https://medium.com/tally-blog/the-case-for-governor-alpha-15c1362d49eb)
374+[^22]: Robinson, D. (2020) ["Ethereum is a dark forest"](https://www.paradigm.xyz/2020/08/ethereum-is-a-dark-forest). Paradigm blog.
375+[^23]: [Uqbar Network](https://uqbar.network/); ["Introducing Uqbar Network"](https://uqbarnetwork.substack.com/p/introducing-uqbar-network); \~hocwyn-tipwex/uqbar-event-horizon (Urbit group)
376+[^24]: This is not to deny the benefits of system-legibility, in particular legal protections. As common law develops around DAOs, I hope for similar affordances where they must interact with the legacy legal system.
377+[^25]: Originally this list included Discord, as there has been substantial growth in stable goal-oriented communities thereon. However, more recently the company [adopted a user policy](https://discord.com/blog/addressing-harmful-off-platform-behavior) which subjects use of their product to judgment calls about "off-platform behavior"---a clear violation of a cypherpunk ethos which Discord likely never espoused anyway.
378+[^26]: E.g., Auerbach, David. (Mar 3, 2022) ["The metaverse will steal your identity"](https://unherd.com/2022/03/the-metaverse-will-steal-your-identity/). _UnHerd_. Auerbach correctly recognizes and decries the looming "monetisation of identity" which will allow any platform controller to incentivize prosocial or antisocial behaviors at will.
content/docs/arvo/ames/ames.md+2−6
@@ -363,9 +363,7 @@ discovery, analagous to the role that galaxies currently play for stars and plan
363
363
364The following diagram summarizes the packet creation and forwarding process.
364The following diagram summarizes the packet creation and forwarding process.
365
365
366−<div style="text-align:center">
367−<img src="https://media.urbit.org/docs/arvo/datagram-updated-2021-06-09.png">
366+![](https://media.urbit.org/docs/arvo/datagram-updated-2021-06-09.png)
368−</div>
369
367
370We elaborate on the above diagram.
368We elaborate on the above diagram.
371
369
@@ -448,9 +446,7 @@ This division is summarized in the following diagram, describing how
448`~bacbel-tagfeb` requests a subscription to the `recipes` notebook of
446`~bacbel-tagfeb` requests a subscription to the `recipes` notebook of
449`~worwel-sipnum` in the Publish app.
447`~worwel-sipnum` in the Publish app.
450
448
451−<div style="text-align:center">
452−<img src="https://media.urbit.org/docs/arvo/packet.png">
449+![](https://media.urbit.org/docs/arvo/packet.png)
453−</div>
454
450
455Ames, as a part of Arvo, handles `+jam`ming, packetizing, encryption, and
451Ames, as a part of Arvo, handles `+jam`ming, packetizing, encryption, and
456forming Ames packets. Once it is ready to send an Ames packet, it `%give`s to
452forming Ames packets. Once it is ready to send an Ames packet, it `%give`s to
content/docs/arvo/overview.md+1−3
@@ -383,9 +383,7 @@ activates the vane it will have this context as its subject.
383This cycle of `%pass`ing a `note` to `%pass`ing a `task` to `%give`ing a `gift`
383This cycle of `%pass`ing a `note` to `%pass`ing a `task` to `%give`ing a `gift`
384to `%give`ing a `%sign` is summarized in the following diagram:
384to `%give`ing a `%sign` is summarized in the following diagram:
385
385
386−<div style="text-align:center">
387−<img class="mv5 w-150" src="https://media.urbit.org/docs/arvo/cycle.png">
386+![](https://media.urbit.org/docs/arvo/cycle.png)
388−</div>
389
387
390Note that `%pass`ing a `note` doesn't _always_ result in a return - this diagram
388Note that `%pass`ing a `note` doesn't _always_ result in a return - this diagram
391just
389just
content/docs/arvo/tutorials/move-trace.md+13−11
@@ -44,7 +44,9 @@ followed by Enter. Your terminal should pretty print a series of `move`s that lo
44["|||||||||||" %give %b %doze [i=//behn/0v1p.sn2s7 t=~]]
44["|||||||||||" %give %b %doze [i=//behn/0v1p.sn2s7 t=~]]
45> -time ~s1
45> -time ~s1
46```
46```
47+
47followed by a pause of one second, then
48followed by a pause of one second, then
49+
48```
50```
49["" %unix p=%wake //behn ~2020.1.14..19.01.26..755d]
51["" %unix p=%wake //behn ~2020.1.14..19.01.26..755d]
50["|" %give %b %doze [i=//behn/0v1p.sn2s7 t=~]]
52["|" %give %b %doze [i=//behn/0v1p.sn2s7 t=~]]
@@ -56,6 +58,7 @@ followed by a pause of one second, then
56["||" %give %g [%unto %kick] [i=/g/use/dojo/~zod/out/~zod/spider/drum/wool t=~[/d //term/1]]]
58["||" %give %g [%unto %kick] [i=/g/use/dojo/~zod/out/~zod/spider/drum/wool t=~[/d //term/1]]]
57~s1..0007
59~s1..0007
58```
60```
61+
59This gives us a move trace that is a list of `move`s and some
62This gives us a move trace that is a list of `move`s and some
60associated metadata. Some of the `move`s are a bit of a distraction from what's
63associated metadata. Some of the `move`s are a bit of a distraction from what's
61going on overall such as acknowledgements that a `poke` was received
64going on overall such as acknowledgements that a `poke` was received
@@ -71,7 +74,6 @@ terminal. Any `move`s besides `%pass` in the first segment of the move trace is
71secondary process utilized for book-keeping, spawning processes, interpreting
74secondary process utilized for book-keeping, spawning processes, interpreting
72commands, etc. All of this will be explained in detail below.
75commands, etc. All of this will be explained in detail below.
73
76
74−
75It is important to note that this move trace should be thought of
77It is important to note that this move trace should be thought of
76as being from the "point of view" of the kernel - each line represents the
78as being from the "point of view" of the kernel - each line represents the
77kernel taking in a message from one source and passing it along to its
79kernel taking in a message from one source and passing it along to its
@@ -89,15 +91,12 @@ the move trace), and a particular focus on what code is being activated in the
89first few lines that should equip you well enough to unravel the rest of the
91first few lines that should equip you well enough to unravel the rest of the
90move trace in as much detail as you desire.
92move trace in as much detail as you desire.
91
93
92−
93### The call
94### The call
94
95
95Let's put the first part of the move trace into a diagram to make following
96Let's put the first part of the move trace into a diagram to make following
96along a little easier.
97along a little easier.
97
98
98−<div style="text-align:center">
99−<img src="https://media.urbit.org/docs/arvo/move-trace-with-key.png">
99+![](https://media.urbit.org/docs/arvo/move-trace-with-key.png)
100−</div>
101
100
102Here, each arrow represents the passing of some information, with most of it
101Here, each arrow represents the passing of some information, with most of it
103being from vane to vane. Here, when Vane A has an arrow to a card and then an
102being from vane to vane. Here, when Vane A has an arrow to a card and then an
@@ -111,9 +110,11 @@ This simple action ends up involving four vanes - Dill, Gall, Behn, and Ford -
111as well as four applications - hood, spider, dojo, and time.
110as well as four applications - hood, spider, dojo, and time.
112
111
113Now let's go through each line one by one.
112Now let's go through each line one by one.
113+
114```
114```
115["" %unix p=%belt //term/1 ~2020.1.14..19.01.25..7556]
115["" %unix p=%belt //term/1 ~2020.1.14..19.01.25..7556]
116```
116```
117+
117This tells us that Unix has sent a `%belt` `card`, which corresponds to
118This tells us that Unix has sent a `%belt` `card`, which corresponds to
118terminal input (the Enter keystroke) at time `~2020.1.14..19.01.25..7556`
119terminal input (the Enter keystroke) at time `~2020.1.14..19.01.25..7556`
119
120
@@ -123,6 +124,7 @@ Here is the line of code in `arvo.hoon`, found in the [section
123```hoon
124```hoon
124 ~? !lac ["" %unix -.q.ovo p.ovo now]
125 ~? !lac ["" %unix -.q.ovo p.ovo now]
125```
126```
127+
126First we note that this line is executed only if the laconic bit is set to true,
128First we note that this line is executed only if the laconic bit is set to true,
127as we did when we input `|verb`. Here, `ovo` is the input `ovum`. Knowing that an `ovum` is a `[p=wire q=curd]`,
129as we did when we input `|verb`. Here, `ovo` is the input `ovum`. Knowing that an `ovum` is a `[p=wire q=curd]`,
128we can then say that this is a `%unix` `move` tagged with `%belt` whose cause is a `wire` given by `//term/1`,
130we can then say that this is a `%unix` `move` tagged with `%belt` whose cause is a `wire` given by `//term/1`,
@@ -155,7 +157,6 @@ instructions to `%poke` hood, which is a Gall app
155primarily used for interfacing with Dill. Here, `+deal` is an arm for
157primarily used for interfacing with Dill. Here, `+deal` is an arm for
156`%pass`ing a `card` to Gall to ask it to create a `%deal` `task`:
158`%pass`ing a `card` to Gall to ask it to create a `%deal` `task`:
157
159
158−
159```hoon
160```hoon
160 ++ deal :: pass to %gall
161 ++ deal :: pass to %gall
161 |= [=wire =deal:gall]
162 |= [=wire =deal:gall]
@@ -163,9 +164,11 @@ primarily used for interfacing with Dill. Here, `+deal` is an arm for
163```
164```
164
165
165Next in our move trace we have this:
166Next in our move trace we have this:
167+
166```
168```
167["|" %pass [%d %g] [[%deal [~zod ~zod] %hood %poke] /] [i=//term/1 t=~]]
169["|" %pass [%d %g] [[%deal [~zod ~zod] %hood %poke] /] [i=//term/1 t=~]]
168```
170```
171+
169Here, Dill `%pass`es a `task` `card` saying to `%poke` Gall's hood app (with the
172Here, Dill `%pass`es a `task` `card` saying to `%poke` Gall's hood app (with the
170Enter keystroke).
173Enter keystroke).
171
174
@@ -204,7 +207,7 @@ concerning the laconic bit (following `!lac`) we can mostly determine what is be
204From the initial input event, Arvo has generated a `card` that it is now
207From the initial input event, Arvo has generated a `card` that it is now
205`%pass`ing from Dill (represented by `%d`) to Gall (represented by `%g`). The
208`%pass`ing from Dill (represented by `%d`) to Gall (represented by `%g`). The
206`card` is a `%deal` `task`, asking Gall to `%poke` hood using data that has
209`card` is a `%deal` `task`, asking Gall to `%poke` hood using data that has
207−originated from the terminal `//term/1`, namely that the Enter key was pressed. The line `:- (runt [s.gum '|'] "")`
210+originated from the terminal `//term/1`, namely that the Enter key was pressed. The line `:- (runt [s.gum '|'] "")`
208displays the causal chain length metadatum mentioned above. Lastly, `[~zod ~zod]` tells us that
211displays the causal chain length metadatum mentioned above. Lastly, `[~zod ~zod]` tells us that
209`~zod` is both the sending and receiving ship.
212`~zod` is both the sending and receiving ship.
210
213
@@ -215,8 +218,7 @@ that cannot be directly read from the move trace in [brackets]. Onto the next li
215["||" %pass [%g %g] [[%deal [~zod ~zod] %dojo %poke] /use/hood/~zod/out/~zod/dojo/drum/phat/~zod/dojo] [i=/d t=~[//term/1]]]
218["||" %pass [%g %g] [[%deal [~zod ~zod] %dojo %poke] /use/hood/~zod/out/~zod/dojo/drum/phat/~zod/dojo] [i=/d t=~[//term/1]]]
216```
219```
217
220
218−Here is another `%pass` `move`, this time from Gall to iself as denoted by `[%g
219−%g]`. Gall's hood has received the `%deal` `card` from Dill, and in response it is
221+Here is another `%pass` `move`, this time from Gall to iself as denoted by `[%g %g]`. Gall's hood has received the `%deal` `card` from Dill, and in response it is
220`%poke`ing dojo with the information [that Enter was pressed].
222`%poke`ing dojo with the information [that Enter was pressed].
221
223
222```
224```
@@ -229,6 +231,7 @@ the terminal prompt].
229```
231```
230["||||" %give %g [%unto %fact] [i=/d t=~[//term/1]]]
232["||||" %give %g [%unto %fact] [i=/d t=~[//term/1]]]
231```
233```
234+
232Gall's hood `%give`s a `gift` with a `%fact` to Dill [saying to replace the current terminal line with `~zod:dojo>`]
235Gall's hood `%give`s a `gift` with a `%fact` to Dill [saying to replace the current terminal line with `~zod:dojo>`]
233
236
234Next is the `move` that is not actually printed in the move trace mentioned
237Next is the `move` that is not actually printed in the move trace mentioned
@@ -316,7 +319,7 @@ passed, leading to a chain of `%give` `move`s that ultimately prints
316Let's throw the move trace into a table:
319Let's throw the move trace into a table:
317
320
318| length | move | vane(s) | card | duct |
321| length | move | vane(s) | card | duct |
319−|--------|---------|---------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
322+| ------ | ------- | ------- | --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
320| 0 | `%unix` | | `%wake` | `//behn` |
323| 0 | `%unix` | | `%wake` | `//behn` |
321| 1 | `%give` | `%b` | `%doze` | `//behn/0v1p.sn2s7` |
324| 1 | `%give` | `%b` | `%doze` | `//behn/0v1p.sn2s7` |
322| 1 | `%give` | `%b` | `%wake` | `/g/use/spider/~zod/thread/~.dojo_0v6.210tt.1sme1.ev3qm.qgv2e.a754u/wait/~2020.1.14..19.01.26..7556 /d //term/1` |
325| 1 | `%give` | `%b` | `%wake` | `/g/use/spider/~zod/thread/~.dojo_0v6.210tt.1sme1.ev3qm.qgv2e.a754u/wait/~2020.1.14..19.01.26..7556 /d //term/1` |
@@ -375,4 +378,3 @@ Dill `%give`s a `%blit` (terminal output) event to Unix [saying to print a new l
375```
378```
376
379
377Gall's spider also closes the subscription from dojo [since the thread has completed].
380Gall's spider also closes the subscription from dojo [since the thread has completed].
378−
content/getting-started/cli.md+10−51
@@ -7,10 +7,9 @@ tag = "additional"
7
7
8If you're a power user, you can run the Urbit virtual machine directly using the command line. Choose the code for your operating system and run the commands in your terminal.
8If you're a power user, you can run the Urbit virtual machine directly using the command line. Choose the code for your operating system and run the commands in your terminal.
9
9
10−<div id="os" class="os">
10+{% tabs %}
11− <input type="radio" id="macos" name="os" checked>
11+
12− <label for="macos">MacOS</label>
12+{% tab label="MacOS" %}
13− <div class="tab">
14
13
15```bash
14```bash
16mkdir ~/urbit
15mkdir ~/urbit
@@ -20,11 +19,9 @@ tar zxvf ./darwin.tgz --strip=1
20~/urbit/urbit
19~/urbit/urbit
21```
20```
22
21
23− </div>
22+{% /tab %}
24
23
25− <input type="radio" id="linux" name="os">
26− <label for="linux">Linux</label>
24+{% tab label="Linux" %}
27− <div class="tab">
28
25
29```shell
26```shell
30mkdir ~/urbit
27mkdir ~/urbit
@@ -41,11 +38,9 @@ sudo apt-get install libcap2-bin
41sudo setcap 'cap_net_bind_service=+ep' ~/urbit/urbit
38sudo setcap 'cap_net_bind_service=+ep' ~/urbit/urbit
42```
39```
43
40
44−</div>
41+{% /tab %}
45
42
46− <input type="radio" id="windows" name="os">
47− <label for="windows">Windows</label>
43+{% tab label="Windows" %}
48− <div class="tab">
49
44
50```winbatch
45```winbatch
51mkdir %USERPROFILE%\urbit
46mkdir %USERPROFILE%\urbit
@@ -57,8 +52,9 @@ tar zxvf .\windows.tgz --strip=1
57
52
58> Windows 10 build 17063 and later includes the familiar `curl` and `tar` command-line tools.
53> Windows 10 build 17063 and later includes the familiar `curl` and `tar` command-line tools.
59
54
60−</div>
55+{% /tab %}
61−</div>
56+
57+{% /tabs %}
62
58
63If successful, you will see a block of output beginning with the line:
59If successful, you will see a block of output beginning with the line:
64
60
@@ -162,40 +158,3 @@ You can continue using this comet indefinitely. There are currently few differen
162A comet also comes with a long and fairly unmemorable name whereas a planet has a short name and a "sigil" (avatar) associated with it that makes it more identifiable on the network. You may notice all this within the first few minutes of using Urbit.
158A comet also comes with a long and fairly unmemorable name whereas a planet has a short name and a "sigil" (avatar) associated with it that makes it more identifiable on the network. You may notice all this within the first few minutes of using Urbit.
163
159
164[For details of how to purchase a planet, visit this page](/getting-started/get-planet).
160[For details of how to purchase a planet, visit this page](/getting-started/get-planet).
165−
166−<style>
167− .os {
168− display: flex;
169− flex-wrap: wrap;
170− }
171− .os label {
172− order: -1;
173− padding: .5rem;
174− min-width: 70px;
175− text-align: center;
176− cursor: pointer;
177− }
178− .os input[type="radio"] {
179− display: none;
180− }
181− .os .tab {
182− display: none;
183− margin-top: 1rem;
184− width: 100%;
185− max-width: 100%;
186− }
187− .os .tab p:first-child {
188− margin-top: 0;
189− }
190− .os .tab p:last-child {
191− margin-bottom: 0;
192− }
193− .os input[type='radio']:checked + label {
194− font-weight: bold;
195− background-color: rgba(244,243,241,1);
196− border-radius: 0.5em;
197− }
198− .os input[type='radio']:checked + label + .tab {
199− display: block;
200−}
201−</style>