During the early days of the internet, anonymity was a key feature. It was a place where anyone could be anyone and find anything they wanted. However, as marketers discovered the potential for making money online, the internet began to change. Consolidation took place, with platforms like Facebook, Amazon, and Google dominating the online landscape. These platforms initially provided great experiences for users, but eventually became more focused on serving the interests of advertisers and their own owners. This process, known as “enshittification,” has resulted in a homogenized internet filled with poor-quality products and advertisements.
However, there has always been an alternative to this commercialized internet. The free and open source software movement, which originated in the 1950s and 60s, promotes the principles of free software use, access to code, and the ability to modify and share software. This movement is similar to the modern right-to-repair movement, which advocates for the ability to fix and modify technology. Open-source software is already a significant part of the internet, with Linux being used by over 95% of top web servers.
If the open source movement had been more dominant, the internet would look very different. When tech giants release code and documentation, it allows for greater transparency and understanding of their practices. Furthermore, if users had access to this code, they could potentially switch to alternative services more easily, leading to greater competition and better services overall.
The recent antitrust lawsuit against Google has shown that consolidation and the enshittification of the internet are being challenged. Without consolidation, tech companies would have to compete for users by providing better services, which would benefit everyone. The right-to-repair movement is also gaining momentum, potentially leading to a future where users have more control and understanding of the technology they use online. This is a future worth fighting for.