comment by scarp

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comment by scarp

scarp · 4748 days ago · link · · parent · post: Why wireless mesh networks won’t save us from censorship

Yes, but those network structures have many advantages that wireless mesh networks do not. For one, they're largely wired, which rules out problems of inference. Secondly, they're well funded: that means they can afford to run cables under roads and oceans while hiring dedicated, salaried staff to maintain the network around the clock. Thirdly, they're easily monetized, and as such get much more support from entrepreneurs and corporations looking to use the system for profit.

I'm not saying it's not important to try, but I do think we should realize the very real hurdles we face. Surely mesh networks aren't the only way to go, or even the best way to go. The technology needed to make a viable "peoples' network" might not have been invented yet.

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mk · 4748 days ago · link ·

The technology needed to make a viable "peoples' network" might not have been invented yet.

That's likely. But they are likely to be found by people that need them to solve a problem. The problem that meshnetworks try to solve is one that could use more minds on it.

IMO this article has an unnecessarily defeatist attitude.

+discuss+discuss

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scarp · 4748 days ago · link ·

Well, I don't know much about network technologies, but the technical challenges outlined in the article seem almost prohibitively problematic. Even if a large scale mesh network is possible, it is probably impractical. All I'm saying is that there are probably better ways to go about creating an alternate internet. In fact, if the goal is to circumvent censorship, then perhaps we don't need to reinvent the wheel at all -- there is already software available that makes total anonymity possible. It's just a matter of popularizing the use of said software.

I know that that doesn't have the same romantic charm as a network that is completely owned and operated by everyday people, but ultimately it may be more effective. After all, a government agency could just as easily tap into an open mesh network and monitor traffic in a manner that's probably easier than it is for them to do now.

+discuss+discuss

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mk · 4748 days ago · link ·

I don't know if it is so much anonymity, but censorship that people are worried about, particularly regarding SOPA. The legislation gives the US authority to block domains because they were said to contain copyrighted material. That is, hubski.com could be blocked because someone posts Nickelback's new single.

Ok, that might actually be deserved, but you get the point.

That said, SOPA wouldn't block IPs. So, if you typed 173.255.237.82, you'd still get here. But, I agree, mesh networks might not be the solution. Maybe the best solution is a hybrid where your computer searches for the server over multiple networks.

As long as the US government acts like it does, we need to keep trying.

+discuss+discuss

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scarp · 4748 days ago · link ·

I'm not completely sure how it works, but Tor allows people to navigate websites on the "deep web" that are completely anonymous and untraceable (the most popular example is Silk Road, an online marketplace for illegal substances and weaponry). One problem with this method is that, since it relies on constantly rerouting traffic through various proxies, it's not great for streaming media sites. I'm sure that could be optimized in the future, but until then, it seems like a viable way of avoiding censorship for other types of sites.

(As a side note, it's a bit sad that we must resort to "sneaking around" in order to do completely legal things due to bogus laws.)