Financial Cryptography

Mozo posts some draft Principles

One of the things that has been a continual bug(bear) in the private non-profit association form that Mozilla adopted was the lack of a defined feedback loop. How do we know we are doing the right thing?

One way to deal with this lack of feedback is to sign up to some solid principles. (Or, a mission, but let's not quibble today.) And, yesterday, Mitchell@mozo posted a draft of principles. This is a very welcome development. It isn't easy to do this, no matter how many internal naysayers and external grumblers there are:

PRINCIPLES

1. The Internet is an integral part of modern life -- a key component in education, communication, collaboration, business, entertainment and society as a whole.
2. The Internet is a global public resource that must remain open and accessible.
3. The Internet should enrich the lives of individual human beings.
4. Individuals’ security on the Internet is fundamental and cannot be treated as optional.
5. Individuals must have the ability to shape their own experiences on the Internet.
6. The effectiveness of the Internet as a public resource depends upon technological interoperability, innovation and decentralized participation worldwide.
7. Free and open source software promotes the development of the Internet as a public resource.
8. Transparent community-based development processes promote participation, accountability, and trust.
9. Commercial involvement in the development of the Internet brings many benefits; a balance between commercial goals and public benefit is critical.
10. Magnifying the public benefit aspects of the Internet is an important goal, worthy of time, attention and commitment.

Pointed to by Gervase, here, where you may be able to comment.

I have no easy comments right now, but I'd encourage you all to think about it. The need right now is to set up a strong foundation, which will last for decades, the time for gushing is in future years when it's cast in concrete. Be critical, be very critical, future users will thank you.

Posted by iang at January 18, 2007 06:57 PM | TrackBack