Open Tools Internet Project: OITP
https://openitp.org
In the aftermath of the films, such as, We Are Legion and Terms and Conditions, I know that many of us in the class are paranoid and insecure about the current state of Internet privacy and security. In this week’s reading, there is a new website, entitled, Open Tools Internet Project (OITP), an anonymous, non-profit site, which is designated for ‘digital activists,’ in order to create new privacy software projects for various social media users. OITP acts as another form of a ‘kick starter’ campaign for newer groups or companies, who desire to start-up innovative (or even ‘risky’) ideas, which could benefit the online, Internet community. Similarly, the interface of the website depicts exactly what the title suggests, “OpenITP improves and increases the distribution of open source anti-surveillance and anti-censorship tools by providing the communities behind these tools with many different kinds of support.”
The objective of this site is to connect different online entities together, in order to combat the ‘unjust and undemocratic power arrangements,’ which have overtaken both our society and our digital world. As we have discussed in class, this notion of ‘a lack of free speech,’ has stifled the opinions and creative ideas of social media users. This new emphasis upon ‘privacy’ and ‘professionalism’ via the Internet has redefined the standard notion of an open and ‘free’ communication platform. Through the means of scheduled conventions, ‘hack-a-thons,’ lectures, volunteer programs, as well as ‘bit coin’ donations, this site posts daily blog updates, concerning the important events, which are happening, in order to combat this current problem and issue. OITP acts as ‘a support’ for various companies and online communities, in order to develop and nurture ‘anti-surveillance’ and ‘anti-censorship’ software, which will allow other technology users to communicate freely, with out the harsh restrictions from other opposing forces.
As mentioned above, these particular tools, or ‘circumvention tools,’ work to accomplish and improve various aspects of different online communities and companies. They promote software, which provides structure and security to the online world. OITP provides grants, in order to develop these new circumvention tools, host different events (as the ones listed above), and helps to combat ‘obstacles,’ which may affect the continual growth and maintenance of the various projects and uncertain future of the Internet. Recently, they have just issued a ‘peer review board, ‘ in order for the site’s users to contribute innovative ideas for the development of new software.
The Open Tools Internet Project not only connects and protects other online communities, but it develops and sustains its own relevance within the social world. In this new era of hyper-awareness and increased surveillance, this website almost seems too good to be true! Despite their emphasis on ‘privacy,’ they are still connected to social networking sites, such as Twitter and Google. From this, I am wondering how they are able to maintain their idea of ‘anti-surveillance,’ if they are using social media platforms, which promote this exact notion. In addition, I would also wonder how they choose their different investment projects. How important is this notion of risk when trying to establish these programs? What specific criteria do they each fall into? Although this notion of completely obliterating ‘anti-surveillance’ and ‘anti-censorship’ is ideal for most social media users, how will this effect the ‘internal dialogue’ within the online community? The main goals of this website are to protect and instruct social media users to communicate and connect with their other ‘counter parts’ in a ‘safe’ and ‘intelligent’ manner. Thus, how exactly do we go about this? Do we just ‘unleash’ users into ‘cyber space,’ or do we take precautions, in order to consider the possible repercussions of a ‘completely free Internet?’ Through this process of OTIP, the site and its users remain anonymous within the context of this particular environment. Thus, here are two discussion questions, which I would like to pose to my fellow bloggers- “Looking at the site, what do you think of this idea for an anti-surveillance and anti-censorship start-up website? Similarly, can a user, or digital activist truly remain ‘anonymous’ through the Internet?