#digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

I've been increasingly concerned about the corporate monopoly over frontier LLMs. While many ethically-minded people choose to boycott these models, I believe passive resistance alone cannot break the structural grip of big tech. To truly “liberate” these technologies and turn them into public goods, we need to look beyond moral high grounds and engage with the material basis of AI—specifically compute, data, and the relations of production.

I've written two posts exploring this through the lens of historical materialism. The first piece analyzes why current “open source” definitions struggle with LLMs, and the second discusses what it means to “act materialistically” in our imperfect world. My goal is to suggest a path forward that moves from mere boycotting to a more proactive, structural socialization of AI infrastructure.

If you've been feeling uneasy about the AI landscape but aren't sure if boycotting is the final answer, I'd love for you to give these a read:

• Histomat of F/OSS: We should reclaim LLMs, not reject them
• Acting materialistically in an imperfect world: LLMs as means of production and social relations

#LLM #AI #opensource #historicalmaterialism #histomat #materialism #digitalcommons

💡 In Feb 2026, devs, researchers & public interest techies met in Brussels for #FOSDEM, Europe’s largest free & open source software conference. 🌐

@NGICommons joined to discuss digital commons & how public authorities can collaborate with open source communities.

Please read our highlights: https://commons.ngi.eu/2026/02/18/highlights-from-fosdem-2026/

📺 Watch it here: https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/event/EZB7MP-power_to_the_public_stack_governing_europes_digital_commons/

#DigitalCommons #OpenSource #PublicTech #NGICommons #DigitalSovereignty

💡 In Feb 2026, devs, researchers & public interest techies met in Brussels for #FOSDEM, Europe’s largest free & open source software conference. 🌐

@NGICommons joined to discuss digital commons & how public authorities can collaborate with open source communities.

Please read our highlights: https://commons.ngi.eu/2026/02/18/highlights-from-fosdem-2026/

📺 Watch it here: https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/event/EZB7MP-power_to_the_public_stack_governing_europes_digital_commons/

#DigitalCommons #OpenSource #PublicTech #NGICommons #DigitalSovereignty

The German federal government currently pays €481 million in licensing fees to #Microsoft every year.

I'm sure @zendis could build some nice stuff with half the money and make it available for everybody else to re-use.

#DigitalSovereignty #DigitalCommons #FOSS

The German federal government currently pays €481 million in licensing fees to #Microsoft every year.

I'm sure @zendis could build some nice stuff with half the money and make it available for everybody else to re-use.

#DigitalSovereignty #DigitalCommons #FOSS

@NGICommons has launched a survey on Building Blocks for Europe's #OpenInternetStack. We need your expertise to shape the future of European digital sovereignty!

⏱️ 20-30 minutes
🌍 Open until 8 March 2026
📝 Your input → policy recommendations to @EU_Commission
Take the survey: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/3b611754-9e75-ae52-1115-b6ef918f2fa7

Read more: https://commons.ngi.eu/2026/02/10/survey-on-digital-commons-building-blocks-for-the-open-internet-stack/

#DigitalCommons #OpenSource #DigitalSovereignty #NGI #OpenInternetStack

@NGICommons has launched a survey on Building Blocks for Europe's #OpenInternetStack. We need your expertise to shape the future of European digital sovereignty!

⏱️ 20-30 minutes
🌍 Open until 8 March 2026
📝 Your input → policy recommendations to @EU_Commission
Take the survey: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/3b611754-9e75-ae52-1115-b6ef918f2fa7

Read more: https://commons.ngi.eu/2026/02/10/survey-on-digital-commons-building-blocks-for-the-open-internet-stack/

#DigitalCommons #OpenSource #DigitalSovereignty #NGI #OpenInternetStack

🔊 Thinking about the commons today, and this quote from Mark Herringer keeps coming back to me:

“Commons, for me, is like a forest… Digital Commons is a common good in a similar way. We want to look after it and make sure that others can use it after us.”

Curious how others here think about digital commons 🌍

#DigitalCommons #Commons #Fediverse #OpenWeb #PublicGood #Stewardship #Care

📡 We’re spending the week in Brussels, with @NGICommons present day by day.

Listening, sharing, and connecting around open source, public digital infrastructure, and the future of the digital commons in Europe. These spaces matter. Because collaboration, is how sustainable digital ecosystems grow.

More info here: https://commons.ngi.eu/2026/01/27/ngi-commons-at-the-heart-of-eu-open-source-week-in-brussels/

#NGICommons #EUOpenSourceWeek #OpenSource #DigitalCommons

@openfuture @OpenForumEurope @martelinnovate @cnrs @linuxfoundation @EC_NGI

📡 We’re spending the week in Brussels, with @NGICommons present day by day.

Listening, sharing, and connecting around open source, public digital infrastructure, and the future of the digital commons in Europe. These spaces matter. Because collaboration, is how sustainable digital ecosystems grow.

More info here: https://commons.ngi.eu/2026/01/27/ngi-commons-at-the-heart-of-eu-open-source-week-in-brussels/

#NGICommons #EUOpenSourceWeek #OpenSource #DigitalCommons

@openfuture @OpenForumEurope @martelinnovate @cnrs @linuxfoundation @EC_NGI

Looking for funding opportunities around the Open Internet Stack? 👀

📣 BoF at #FOSDEM26

🗓 Saturday | ⏰ 12:00–12:55 CET
📍 Room K.4.401

The session presents #HorizonEurope Open Internet Stack calls, the successor programme to @EC_NGI, with €41.3M available.

✔️ 2025 call results
✔️ 3 new funding topics
✔️ Q&A

🎤 Jean-Luc Dorel @EUCommission

🔗 https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/event/977QTT-information_on_open_internet_stack_calls_from_european_commission/

#FOSDEM #NGI #OpenInternetStack #HorizonEurope #FOSS #DigitalCommons

Kurzer Reminder: Wir suchen eine*n erfahrene*n Project Manager*in, um neue Projekte bei der Sovereign Tech Agency zu entwickeln und umzusetzen – von der Unterstützung des #DigitalCommons #EDIC bis zur Organisation von Events wie dem Maintain-a-thon bei den Vereinten Nationen.

Bewerbungen sind noch bis Mittwoch, 14. Januar möglich: https://www.sovereign.tech/de/stellenangebote/projekt-manager_in

This is a reminder: We’re still looking for an experienced Project Manager to help develop and deliver new projects at the Sovereign Tech Agency, from supporting the #DigitalCommons #EDIC to organizing events like the Maintain-a-thon at the United Nations.

We accept applications until Wednesday, January 14th. Apply here: https://www.sovereign.tech/jobs/project-manager

Tomorrow in The Hague, EU Member States launch a new international organisation, one that invests in and cares for #DigitalCommons and open source. The EDIC for Digital Commons is a long term commitment and strategy to help governments transition to open source, work with the communities and strengthen the ecosystem. Much needed.

https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-launch-digital-commons-edic-support-sovereign-european-digital-infrastructure-and

#DCEDIC #OpenSource #DigitalSovereignty

#EU_OS: Which #Linux Distribution fits Europe best?

Read my blog post and let me know your thoughts and questions here.

https://blog.riemann.cc/digitalisation/2025/12/21/eu-os-which-linux-distribution-fits-europe-best/

#DigitalSovereignty #Fedora #opensuse #debian #rhel #almalinux #nixos #zorin #EuroStack #DigitalCommons #DPI #DigitalPublicInfrastructure

#EU_OS: Which #Linux Distribution fits Europe best?

Read my blog post and let me know your thoughts and questions here.

https://blog.riemann.cc/digitalisation/2025/12/21/eu-os-which-linux-distribution-fits-europe-best/

#DigitalSovereignty #Fedora #opensuse #debian #rhel #almalinux #nixos #zorin #EuroStack #DigitalCommons #DPI #DigitalPublicInfrastructure

Wir suchen eine*n erfahrene*n Project Manager*in, um neue Projekte bei der Sovereign Tech Agency zu entwickeln und umzusetzen – von der Unterstützung des #DigitalCommons #EDIC bis zur Organisation von Events wie dem Maintain-a-thon bei den Vereinten Nationen und mehr!

Klingt nach dir? Dann bewirb dich hier: https://www.sovereign.tech/de/stellenangebote/projekt-manager_in

#hiring #getfedihired #fedijobs

We’re looking for an experienced project manager to help develop and deliver new projects at the #SovereignTechAgency, from supporting the #DigitalCommons #EDIC to organizing the Maintain-a-thon at the United Nations.

Sound like you? Apply here: https://www.sovereign.tech/jobs/project-manager #hiring #fedijobs #fedihired

🇪🇺 Digital Commons EDIC officially established

📣 Launched in The Hague, it brings together EU Member States to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty through open, interoperable and reusable digital commons.

🔗 Read more: 👉 https://commons.ngi.eu/2025/12/15/digital-commons-edic-officially-established/

And 👉 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/digital-commons-edic-launches-advance-europes-technological-sovereignty

#DigitalCommons #DigitalSovereignty #OpenSource #Europe

@martelinnovate @openfuture @OpenForumEurope @openfuture @cnrs @linuxfoundation @ngi

🇪🇺 Digital Commons EDIC officially established

📣 Launched in The Hague, it brings together EU Member States to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty through open, interoperable and reusable digital commons.

🔗 Read more: 👉 https://commons.ngi.eu/2025/12/15/digital-commons-edic-officially-established/

And 👉 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/digital-commons-edic-launches-advance-europes-technological-sovereignty

#DigitalCommons #DigitalSovereignty #OpenSource #Europe

@martelinnovate @openfuture @OpenForumEurope @openfuture @cnrs @linuxfoundation @ngi

🇪🇺 Digital Commons EDIC officially established

📣 Launched in The Hague, it brings together EU Member States to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty through open, interoperable and reusable digital commons.

🔗 Read more: 👉 https://commons.ngi.eu/2025/12/15/digital-commons-edic-officially-established/

And 👉 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/digital-commons-edic-launches-advance-europes-technological-sovereignty

#DigitalCommons #DigitalSovereignty #OpenSource #Europe

@martelinnovate @openfuture @OpenForumEurope @openfuture @cnrs @linuxfoundation @ngi

🇪🇺 Digital Commons EDIC officially established

📣 Launched in The Hague, it brings together EU Member States to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty through open, interoperable and reusable digital commons.

🔗 Read more: 👉 https://commons.ngi.eu/2025/12/15/digital-commons-edic-officially-established/

And 👉 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/digital-commons-edic-launches-advance-europes-technological-sovereignty

#DigitalCommons #DigitalSovereignty #OpenSource #Europe

@martelinnovate @openfuture @OpenForumEurope @openfuture @cnrs @linuxfoundation @ngi

Today in The Hague, the #DigitalCommons #EDIC’s official launch is taking place—a consortium designed to strengthen Europe’s shared capacity to develop, maintain, and scale essential digital infrastructure.

We have been engaged in the effort from its earliest stages, contributing experience in building structures that sustain open, interoperable technologies. Our managing director, Adriana Groh, spoke at today’s event on the panel “Future Strategies for the Digital Commons EDIC.”

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are built. Ensuring that these components are reliable, secure, and sustainably maintained is essential not only for public services but also for industry, research, and the wider economy.

The consortium provides Member States with a common framework to invest, align strategies, and accelerate shared infrastructure — helping open European solutions scale beyond national borders and reducing structural dependencies in key technology domains.
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#DigitalCommons #EDIC #EU #digitalsovereignty

Europe’s economy relies heavily on technology of all kinds. The #DigitalCommons EDIC establishes a shared European vehicle to
– enable coordinated investment in open technologies,
– improve interoperability across markets,
– lower barriers for European companies, and
– create better conditions for innovation and long-term economic competitiveness.

Open standards, free and #OpenSource software, and other digital commons form the base layer on which European products, services, and businesses 2/4

Today in The Hague, the #DigitalCommons #EDIC’s official launch is taking place—a consortium designed to strengthen Europe’s shared capacity to develop, maintain, and scale essential digital infrastructure.

We have been engaged in the effort from its earliest stages, contributing experience in building structures that sustain open, interoperable technologies. Our managing director, Adriana Groh, spoke at today’s event on the panel “Future Strategies for the Digital Commons EDIC.”

1/4

Tomorrow in The Hague, EU Member States launch a new international organisation, one that invests in and cares for #DigitalCommons and open source. The EDIC for Digital Commons is a long term commitment and strategy to help governments transition to open source, work with the communities and strengthen the ecosystem. Much needed.

https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-launch-digital-commons-edic-support-sovereign-european-digital-infrastructure-and

#DCEDIC #OpenSource #DigitalSovereignty

Nothing in Commons: the end of digital collective ownership?

I'm sharing a new text where I try to summarize some older thoughts that have been slowly fermenting in the past years regarding the dead-end in which the digital commons have landed. I discuss the discomfort of their growing ambivalence, and the incredible difficulty, but urgency to move forward beyond this concept and rethink collective objectives in relation to digital tools and practices.

It is the follow-up of a copyleft/copyright/copywhat licensing workshop I gave at https://spookstad.boo. Amsterdam Alternative asked me to contribute an essay on the digital commons based on some of the topics discussed in the workshop for their web docu on collective ownership.

The text is also available in Dutch, thanks to a translation by Menno Grootveld from Starfish Books.

Illustration: @l03s

https://www.collectiefeigendom.nl/en/ownership/digital-collective-ownership

#commons #digitalcommons #freesoftware #opensource #creativecommons #licenses #freeculture #collective

On the ground in Brussels 🇧🇪

After the Summit on European #DigitalSovereignty in Berlin last Tuesday, today there’s the Digital Commons Policy Summit hosted by @NGICommons

Maintaining #DigitalCommons as shared public infrastructure is not just about proving their value, it’s about scaling them effectively to advance European digital sovereignty.

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🚨 "We fund the solutions, but buy the problem." , says Zuzanna Warso of the @openfuture at #NGIpolicySummit in #Brussels

Panel: #digitalsovereignty the role of the #EU budget and public investment in shaping the #internet

#digitalcommons #ngi

✈️ The @NGICommons team is heading to Brussels (20–21 Nov) for the #DigitalCommonsPolicySummit2025!

Panels include MEPs, EC officials, open-source leaders, and Commons communities. All focused on building a resilient, interoperable, public-interest digital ecosystem

Stay tuned for more updates!
https://commons.ngi.eu/2025/11/20/ngi-commons-consortium-heads-to-brussels-for-high-level-digital-policy-summit/

#DigitalCommons #NGI #EU #OpenSource #Interoperability #DigitalSovereignty #Brussels

@martelinnovate @cnrs @linuxfoundation @openfuture @OpenForumEurope

"It's not about winning the game. It's about owning the game. And infrastructure is power."

3/3 #eusummit #digitalinfrastructure #digitalcommons

→ We all depend on the same foundational layer: protocols, languages, libraries, and tools
→ This cooperative layer enables competition and fast-moving innovation
→ The ecosystem embodies democratic values: participation, transparency, accountability
→ It emerged bottom-up from developers who built the digital world we use daily

Strengthening our #digitalcommons must be a strategic priority. We can't afford to lose this foundation or allow it to be monopolized.

2/3

🌍 Exciting news! @AdrianaGroh will speak at the Digital Commons Policy Summit 2025 in Brussels 🇪🇺

📅 20 Nov 2025 + 21 Nov 2025

Organised by @NGICommons with the @europeancommiss — uniting policy, research & civil society for a more open, competitive digital Europe.

We have a few seats left here:
https://commons.ngi.eu/event/digital-commons-policy-summit-2025/

#DigitalCommons #OpenInternet #DigitalSovereignty #NGI

@martelinnovate @cnrs
@linuxfoundation @openfuture @OpenForumEurope @ngi

🌍 Exciting news! @AdrianaGroh will speak at the Digital Commons Policy Summit 2025 in Brussels 🇪🇺

📅 20 Nov 2025 + 21 Nov 2025

Organised by @NGICommons with the @europeancommiss — uniting policy, research & civil society for a more open, competitive digital Europe.

We have a few seats left here:
https://commons.ngi.eu/event/digital-commons-policy-summit-2025/

#DigitalCommons #OpenInternet #DigitalSovereignty #NGI

@martelinnovate @cnrs
@linuxfoundation @openfuture @OpenForumEurope @ngi

Die @EUCommission hat heute die Gründung des #EDIC #DigitalCommons bekanntgegeben, ein wichtiger Meilenstein in einem mehrjährigen europäischen Vorhaben, das die Sovereign Tech Agency von Beginn an mitgestaltet hat. 1/4

🇪🇺 L'@EU_Commission approuve la création de l’EDIC #DigitalCommons !

Portée par 🇫🇷🇩🇪🇳🇱🇮🇹, cette initiative pose un cadre commun pour coopérer, investir et développer les communs numériques européens : ouverts, interopérables et durables.

https://www.numerique.gouv.fr/sinformer/espace-presse/edic-un-consortium-pour-les-communs-numeriques/
#EU @UEFrance

💡 Did you know the European Commission is launching the Digital Commons EDIC ?

The new DC-EDIC will unite Member States to build, operate & govern shared digital infrastructures . Aligned with NGI Commons, it’s a big step for open, human-centric tech in Europe. 🌍

Learn more & join us at the Digital Commons Policy Summit! https://commons.ngi.eu/2025/10/30/dc-edic-the-eus-new-step-toward-a-sovereign-digital-infrastructure/

#DigitalCommons #EUdigital

@OpenForumEurope @martelinnovate @cnrs @linuxfoundation
@openfuture

Today @EUCommission announced the creation of the #EDIC #DigitalCommons, a major milestone in a multi-year European effort the #SovereignTechAgency helped shape from the start.

“The confirmation of the Digital Commons EDIC marks a new chapter in Europe’s digital journey — one built on collaboration, transparency, and shared responsibility. Together, we’re working to ensure that Europe’s digital foundations remain open, resilient, and sovereign.” - Adriana Groh, Sovereign Tech Agency CEO.
1/3

🇪🇺 L'@EU_Commission approuve la création de l’EDIC #DigitalCommons !

Portée par 🇫🇷🇩🇪🇳🇱🇮🇹, cette initiative pose un cadre commun pour coopérer, investir et développer les communs numériques européens : ouverts, interopérables et durables.

https://www.numerique.gouv.fr/sinformer/espace-presse/edic-un-consortium-pour-les-communs-numeriques/
#EU @UEFrance

Today @EUCommission announced the creation of the #EDIC #DigitalCommons, a major milestone in a multi-year European effort the #SovereignTechAgency helped shape from the start.

“The confirmation of the Digital Commons EDIC marks a new chapter in Europe’s digital journey — one built on collaboration, transparency, and shared responsibility. Together, we’re working to ensure that Europe’s digital foundations remain open, resilient, and sovereign.” - Adriana Groh, Sovereign Tech Agency CEO.
1/3

Offiziell gegründet: EU-Konsortium für Digitale Gemeingüter (DC-EDIC)

🤝 Die Gründung eines #EDIC („European Digital Infrastructure Consortium“) für Digitale Gemeingüter („#DigitalCommons“) wurde durch die EU-Kommission heute offiziell bestätigt.

Frankreich, Deutschland, Italien und die Niederlande sind Gründungsmitglieder der neuen Organisation.

1/2

Die @EUCommission hat heute die Gründung des #EDIC #DigitalCommons bekanntgegeben, ein wichtiger Meilenstein in einem mehrjährigen europäischen Vorhaben, das die Sovereign Tech Agency von Beginn an mitgestaltet hat. 1/4

➡️ From the EU Commission: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-launch-digital-commons-edic-support-sovereign-european-digital-infrastructure-and 3/3

#EDIC #DigitalCommons #EuropeanUnion

The #EDIC #DigitalCommons, launched by France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy, reflects a shared ambition: building the foundations for a strong, open and sustainable European digital landscape. The Sovereign Tech Agency’s experience in strengthening open digital infrastructure directly informs this work, having developed structures and programs with international reach and impact.

Find out more:

➡️ In our blog: https://www.sovereign.tech/news/open-resilient-european-the-edic-digital-commons

➡️ Press release: https://www.sovereign.tech/press/edic-digital-commons

2/3

Today @EUCommission announced the creation of the #EDIC #DigitalCommons, a major milestone in a multi-year European effort the #SovereignTechAgency helped shape from the start.

“The confirmation of the Digital Commons EDIC marks a new chapter in Europe’s digital journey — one built on collaboration, transparency, and shared responsibility. Together, we’re working to ensure that Europe’s digital foundations remain open, resilient, and sovereign.” - Adriana Groh, Sovereign Tech Agency CEO.
1/3

Today, the European Commission announced the adoption of a decision to establish a legal structure supported by France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy to stimulate and support the growth of Digital Commons — open components governed by communities of contributors:
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-launch-digital-commons-edic-support-sovereign-european-digital-infrastructure-and
We look forward to creating synergies with the EC’s Next Generation Internet initiative and its successor, the Open Internet Stack. #opensource #digitalcommons @dinum @zendis

Today, the European Commission announced the adoption of a decision to establish a legal structure supported by France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy to stimulate and support the growth of Digital Commons — open components governed by communities of contributors:
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-launch-digital-commons-edic-support-sovereign-european-digital-infrastructure-and
We look forward to creating synergies with the EC’s Next Generation Internet initiative and its successor, the Open Internet Stack. #opensource #digitalcommons @dinum @zendis

Quick heads-up—a fuller update about the proposed co-op will be shared later tonight.

The Steering Committee has agreed that we won’t define ourselves by any single platform. PeerTube will be our starting point, but not our identity.

To reflect that broader vision, we’re changing the working name from PeerTube Co-op Initiative to Federated Video Co-op Initiative.

#PeerTube #cooperative #digitalcommons #VideoCoop

Quick heads-up—a fuller update about the proposed co-op will be shared later tonight.

The Steering Committee has agreed that we won’t define ourselves by any single platform. PeerTube will be our starting point, but not our identity.

To reflect that broader vision, we’re changing the working name from PeerTube Co-op Initiative to Federated Video Co-op Initiative.

#PeerTube #cooperative #digitalcommons #VideoCoop

PeerTube Co-op Initiative: Week 2 Update

Two weeks ago, this was just an idea. Now, it’s becoming an organization.

Since launching the call for a PeerTube co-op, momentum has turned into structure. Over 35 people have expressed interest in becoming founding member-owners, and the Steering Committee has now been formalized. We’re in the orientation phase, preparing to define the co-op’s mission, vision, and bylaws before incorporation in BC.

We’re also working closely with GIA Consulting Co-op, who will join our first Steering Committee meeting to help orient the group and guide early governance discussions.

Beyond that, conversations are expanding. I’ve been in touch with CoSocial.ca (a Canadian Mastodon co-op) about collaboration, BT Free (a Fediverse non-profit PeerTube host) about resource-sharing, and @damon from We Distribute about the initiative more broadly.

Next step: Steering Committee orientation, followed by our first working session on Vision & Mission.

If you’d like to stay informed or get involved, DM me your email address and I’ll make sure you’re included in future updates.

#PeerTubeCoop #Cooperative #PeerTube #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

🚀 Register now for the Digital Commons Policy Summit 2025!

🗓️ 20–21 Nov 2025 | ⏰ 13:30 CET
📍 Brussels 🇧🇪 + online

🇪🇺 Organised by @NGIcommons@mastodon.social
with the 🇪🇺 European Commission, this summit brings together policymakers, funders & doers to shape the future of #DigitalCommons in Europe.

🔗https://commons.ngi.eu/event/digital-commons-policy-summit-2025/

#DigitalSovereignty #OpenSource #NGI #EUdigital #PolicySummit #NextGenerationInternet #FOSS

@martelinnovate
@cnrs
@openfuture
@OpenForumEurope
@linuxfoundation

PeerTube Co-op Initiative: Week 2 Update

Two weeks ago, this was just an idea. Now, it’s becoming an organization.

Since launching the call for a PeerTube co-op, momentum has turned into structure. Over 35 people have expressed interest in becoming founding member-owners, and the Steering Committee has now been formalized. We’re in the orientation phase, preparing to define the co-op’s mission, vision, and bylaws before incorporation in BC.

We’re also working closely with GIA Consulting Co-op, who will join our first Steering Committee meeting to help orient the group and guide early governance discussions.

Beyond that, conversations are expanding. I’ve been in touch with CoSocial.ca (a Canadian Mastodon co-op) about collaboration, BT Free (a Fediverse non-profit PeerTube host) about resource-sharing, and @damon from We Distribute about the initiative more broadly.

Next step: Steering Committee orientation, followed by our first working session on Vision & Mission.

If you’d like to stay informed or get involved, DM me your email address and I’ll make sure you’re included in future updates.

#PeerTubeCoop #Cooperative #PeerTube #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

PeerTube Co-op Initiative: Week 2 Update

Two weeks ago, this was just an idea. Now, it’s becoming an organization.

Since launching the call for a PeerTube co-op, momentum has turned into structure. Over 35 people have expressed interest in becoming founding member-owners, and the Steering Committee has now been formalized. We’re in the orientation phase, preparing to define the co-op’s mission, vision, and bylaws before incorporation in BC.

We’re also working closely with GIA Consulting Co-op, who will join our first Steering Committee meeting to help orient the group and guide early governance discussions.

Beyond that, conversations are expanding. I’ve been in touch with CoSocial.ca (a Canadian Mastodon co-op) about collaboration, BT Free (a Fediverse non-profit PeerTube host) about resource-sharing, and @damon from We Distribute about the initiative more broadly.

Next step: Steering Committee orientation, followed by our first working session on Vision & Mission.

If you’d like to stay informed or get involved, DM me your email address and I’ll make sure you’re included in future updates.

#PeerTubeCoop #Cooperative #PeerTube #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

PeerTube Co-op Initiative: Week 2 Update

Two weeks ago, this was just an idea. Now, it’s becoming an organization.

Since launching the call for a PeerTube co-op, momentum has turned into structure. Over 35 people have expressed interest in becoming founding member-owners, and the Steering Committee has now been formalized. We’re in the orientation phase, preparing to define the co-op’s mission, vision, and bylaws before incorporation in BC.

We’re also working closely with GIA Consulting Co-op, who will join our first Steering Committee meeting to help orient the group and guide early governance discussions.

Beyond that, conversations are expanding. I’ve been in touch with CoSocial.ca (a Canadian Mastodon co-op) about collaboration, BT Free (a Fediverse non-profit PeerTube host) about resource-sharing, and @damon from We Distribute about the initiative more broadly.

Next step: Steering Committee orientation, followed by our first working session on Vision & Mission.

If you’d like to stay informed or get involved, DM me your email address and I’ll make sure you’re included in future updates.

#PeerTubeCoop #Cooperative #PeerTube #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

BIG PEERTUBE CO-OP UPDATE:

Last night, I interviewed the final steering committee candidate.

And just like that—it’s official. We now have seven incredible people (plus me) who’ve come together to co-organize this co-op.

Every single person brings something unique—skills, experience, heart—and it honestly feels like we’re assembling a dream team.

This moment is a turning point. We’re no longer just talking about starting a co-op. We are one in the making. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be shaping our mission, vision, and bylaws—the foundation for what will eventually become a fully incorporated BC co-operative.

It’s wild to think how far this idea has come in just two weeks. And we’re only getting started.

#PeerTubeCoop #PeerTube #Cooperative #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

RE: https://atomicpoet.org/objects/2289eb47-0f39-463d-a056-8568e12e70f3

BIG PEERTUBE CO-OP UPDATE:

Last night, I interviewed the final steering committee candidate.

And just like that—it’s official. We now have seven incredible people (plus me) who’ve come together to co-organize this co-op.

Every single person brings something unique—skills, experience, heart—and it honestly feels like we’re assembling a dream team.

This moment is a turning point. We’re no longer just talking about starting a co-op. We are one in the making. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be shaping our mission, vision, and bylaws—the foundation for what will eventually become a fully incorporated BC co-operative.

It’s wild to think how far this idea has come in just two weeks. And we’re only getting started.

#PeerTubeCoop #PeerTube #Cooperative #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

RE: https://atomicpoet.org/objects/2289eb47-0f39-463d-a056-8568e12e70f3

BIG PEERTUBE CO-OP UPDATE:

Last night, I interviewed the final steering committee candidate.

And just like that—it’s official. We now have seven incredible people (plus me) who’ve come together to co-organize this co-op.

Every single person brings something unique—skills, experience, heart—and it honestly feels like we’re assembling a dream team.

This moment is a turning point. We’re no longer just talking about starting a co-op. We are one in the making. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be shaping our mission, vision, and bylaws—the foundation for what will eventually become a fully incorporated BC co-operative.

It’s wild to think how far this idea has come in just two weeks. And we’re only getting started.

#PeerTubeCoop #PeerTube #Cooperative #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

RE: https://atomicpoet.org/objects/2289eb47-0f39-463d-a056-8568e12e70f3

BIG PEERTUBE CO-OP UPDATE:

Last night, I interviewed the final steering committee candidate.

And just like that—it’s official. We now have seven incredible people (plus me) who’ve come together to co-organize this co-op.

Every single person brings something unique—skills, experience, heart—and it honestly feels like we’re assembling a dream team.

This moment is a turning point. We’re no longer just talking about starting a co-op. We are one in the making. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be shaping our mission, vision, and bylaws—the foundation for what will eventually become a fully incorporated BC co-operative.

It’s wild to think how far this idea has come in just two weeks. And we’re only getting started.

#PeerTubeCoop #PeerTube #Cooperative #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

RE: https://atomicpoet.org/objects/2289eb47-0f39-463d-a056-8568e12e70f3

Right now, I’m in the middle of interviewing steering committee candidates for the potential PeerTube co-op. And one thing stands out about this process:

Every single person I’ve spoken with hasn’t just said, “I want to be a member-owner.” They’ve said, “I want to be a member-owner—and I’m willing to roll up my sleeves, donate my time, and help make this business real.”

In the start-up world, founders spend enormous amounts of time on something called validation—figuring out whether there’s a genuine product-market fit. It’s slow, uncertain work. Even after launch, many founders have to pivot more than once before landing on what people actually want.

Forming a co-op is often described as labour- and capital-intensive—and for good reason. In Canada, you can register a conventional corporation with a single incorporator. But to incorporate a co-operative, you need at least three founding members. You must also agree on bylaws, define your mission and vision, and establish governance and membership structures before anything exists.

Yet this extra effort brings a unique advantage: validation is built in. A co-op exists to serve its member-owners. The people joining are the market. Their participation defines how the product fits. In other words, the process of organizing the co-op doubles as a live test of demand and alignment.

That’s why I’ve been asking every steering committee candidate the same question:

“What do you hope a PeerTube co-op will do for you?”

The answers have been diverse, but a clear pattern has emerged. People want creative freedom. They want fairer terms than YouTube offers. And above all, they want a platform that feels truly theirs—not subject to opaque algorithms or arbitrary policy shifts.

That, I believe, is what authentic product-market fit looks like. In a co-op, the owners and the users are—if not perfectly identical—fundamentally aligned. The market validates itself.

#PeerTubeCoop #PeerTube #Cooperative #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

Right now, I’m in the middle of interviewing steering committee candidates for the potential PeerTube co-op. And one thing stands out about this process:

Every single person I’ve spoken with hasn’t just said, “I want to be a member-owner.” They’ve said, “I want to be a member-owner—and I’m willing to roll up my sleeves, donate my time, and help make this business real.”

In the start-up world, founders spend enormous amounts of time on something called validation—figuring out whether there’s a genuine product-market fit. It’s slow, uncertain work. Even after launch, many founders have to pivot more than once before landing on what people actually want.

Forming a co-op is often described as labour- and capital-intensive—and for good reason. In Canada, you can register a conventional corporation with a single incorporator. But to incorporate a co-operative, you need at least three founding members. You must also agree on bylaws, define your mission and vision, and establish governance and membership structures before anything exists.

Yet this extra effort brings a unique advantage: validation is built in. A co-op exists to serve its member-owners. The people joining are the market. Their participation defines how the product fits. In other words, the process of organizing the co-op doubles as a live test of demand and alignment.

That’s why I’ve been asking every steering committee candidate the same question:

“What do you hope a PeerTube co-op will do for you?”

The answers have been diverse, but a clear pattern has emerged. People want creative freedom. They want fairer terms than YouTube offers. And above all, they want a platform that feels truly theirs—not subject to opaque algorithms or arbitrary policy shifts.

That, I believe, is what authentic product-market fit looks like. In a co-op, the owners and the users are—if not perfectly identical—fundamentally aligned. The market validates itself.

#PeerTubeCoop #PeerTube #Cooperative #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

Right now, I’m in the middle of interviewing steering committee candidates for the potential PeerTube co-op. And one thing stands out about this process:

Every single person I’ve spoken with hasn’t just said, “I want to be a member-owner.” They’ve said, “I want to be a member-owner—and I’m willing to roll up my sleeves, donate my time, and help make this business real.”

In the start-up world, founders spend enormous amounts of time on something called validation—figuring out whether there’s a genuine product-market fit. It’s slow, uncertain work. Even after launch, many founders have to pivot more than once before landing on what people actually want.

Forming a co-op is often described as labour- and capital-intensive—and for good reason. In Canada, you can register a conventional corporation with a single incorporator. But to incorporate a co-operative, you need at least three founding members. You must also agree on bylaws, define your mission and vision, and establish governance and membership structures before anything exists.

Yet this extra effort brings a unique advantage: validation is built in. A co-op exists to serve its member-owners. The people joining are the market. Their participation defines how the product fits. In other words, the process of organizing the co-op doubles as a live test of demand and alignment.

That’s why I’ve been asking every steering committee candidate the same question:

“What do you hope a PeerTube co-op will do for you?”

The answers have been diverse, but a clear pattern has emerged. People want creative freedom. They want fairer terms than YouTube offers. And above all, they want a platform that feels truly theirs—not subject to opaque algorithms or arbitrary policy shifts.

That, I believe, is what authentic product-market fit looks like. In a co-op, the owners and the users are—if not perfectly identical—fundamentally aligned. The market validates itself.

#PeerTubeCoop #PeerTube #Cooperative #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

💡 Governments play a crucial role to support the #DigitalCommons.

@ChristopherWilson (from @MyDataglobal) highlights their vital role and emphasises that the design challenge is also a key consideration.

Let’s build systems that serve people, not platforms.
https://commons.ngi.eu/videos/

#FOSS #PublicTech #Interoperability #Data #DigitalCommons

@martelinnovate @OpenForumEurope @openfuture @cnrs @linuxfoundation @ngi

📢 Save the date!
🗓️ NGI Policy Summit — 20 Nov 2025
📍 Brussels, Belgium

Organised by @NGICommons 🌍

💬 Join policymakers, technologists, and commons advocates in shaping the future!

🔗 More details coming soon — stay tuned! https://commons.ngi.eu/event/ngi-policy-summit-2025/

#NGIPolicySummit #DigitalCommons #InternetCommons #Fediverse #OpenTech #PublicDigitalInfrastructure
@martelinnovate @openfuture @OpenForumEurope @cnrs @linuxfoundation @ngi @EC_NGI

Tom Lehrer (1928–2025) made musical satire sing…and sting. His songs were funny, outrageous, & often uncomfortably true.

He died recently at 97. Years earlier, he disclaimed copyright to all his lyrics and compositions; a gesture as radical as his songs.

We remember his life, his legacy, & what it means for the #digitalcommons ⤵️
https://blog.archive.org/2025/08/01/tom-lehrer-1928-2025-a-life-in-satire-a-legacy-in-the-commons/

#TomLehrer #Satire #PublicDomain #Copyright #InternetArchive

Tom Lehrer (1928–2025) made musical satire sing…and sting. His songs were funny, outrageous, & often uncomfortably true.

He died recently at 97. Years earlier, he disclaimed copyright to all his lyrics and compositions; a gesture as radical as his songs.

We remember his life, his legacy, & what it means for the #digitalcommons ⤵️
https://blog.archive.org/2025/08/01/tom-lehrer-1928-2025-a-life-in-satire-a-legacy-in-the-commons/

#TomLehrer #Satire #PublicDomain #Copyright #InternetArchive

✅ #NGIForum2025 put #DigitalCommons and @NGICommons at the heart of the conversation!
Held in Brussels, the event showcased how open infrastructure, public code, and collective governance are shaping the future of the internet.

📖 Catch up: https://commons.ngi.eu/2025/06/30/digital-commons-take-centre-stage-at-ngi-forum-2025-opening-in-brussels/

#DigitalCommons #OpenSource #TechForGood #InternetForPeople #NGi

@linuxfoundation @openfuture @OpenForumEurope
@cnrs
@martelinnovate
@ngi

✅ #NGIForum2025 put #DigitalCommons and @NGICommons at the heart of the conversation!
Held in Brussels, the event showcased how open infrastructure, public code, and collective governance are shaping the future of the internet.

📖 Catch up: https://commons.ngi.eu/2025/06/30/digital-commons-take-centre-stage-at-ngi-forum-2025-opening-in-brussels/

#DigitalCommons #OpenSource #TechForGood #InternetForPeople #NGi

@linuxfoundation @openfuture @OpenForumEurope
@cnrs
@martelinnovate
@ngi

“They might be the best developer in the world, if they get hit by a bus, the software will still stop being developed.” — @senficon making the case for #DigitalCommons over plain #OpenSource (my rephrasing) 😉
#NGIForum25

Just listening to the speech of the @EUCommission's DG Connect Director Thibaut Kleiner, who celebrates #FOSS and the global ecosystem of #opensource developers as well as the #NGI programme but somehow his convictions seem to not be enough for the Commission to massively scale up investments in the #digitalcommons. What am I missing? 🤔

#NGIForum25

“Building #DigitalCommons is not sexy. You need to clean up legacy features, update the doc, do the things no one wants to pay for” but everybody needs, and that's what NGI funding enables.
💯
We can get the features and most of the bug fixes by contributors and can find funding for reviewing and doing parts of that work. But the social and technical infrastructure work that is critical, nobody wants to pay for. That can be “overhead costs” for features but exhausting to fundraise.
#NGIForum2025

“The problem is that we don't have the institutions for industrial sovereignty, so we rely instead on project governance. So we need to think about things like levying a tax”, or in general ways to capture some of the €€ that is made at the end of the chain from #FLOSS and #DigitalCommons. — Lukasz Klejnowski
Yep, I'm tired to have to think of business models that cost a lot to establish to capture some of the value provided to society. DPI funding should be like physical infra: tax!
#NGIForum25

“Building #DigitalCommons is not sexy. You need to clean up legacy features, update the doc, do the things no one wants to pay for” but everybody needs, and that's what NGI funding enables.
💯
We can get the features and most of the bug fixes by contributors and can find funding for reviewing and doing parts of that work. But the social and technical infrastructure work that is critical, nobody wants to pay for. That can be “overhead costs” for features but exhausting to fundraise.
#NGIForum2025

“@decidim has an average of 56 commits a day, is translated in 55 languages, even though we're not a company and no one is paying us to implement anything.” — Ali Gonzalez
The contributions come from contributors and users because they fix their own problem and there is proper coordination. That's what #DigitalCommons look like and what I'm trying to scale with @openfisca 🙂
#NGIForum2025

The NGI Forum starts tomorrow!
@jaromil from @dyne will speak at the NGI Commons Session!

He’s pushing the envelope with algorithmic sovereignty — not just using open source, but rethinking who controls and defines how tech works.
https://commons.ngi.eu/event/ngi-forum-2025/

Come join the conversation about the future of public digital infrastructure! 🌐

#DigitalCommons #OpenSource #NGI #DyneOrg #Sovereignty

🎉 We're officially LIVE at #NGIForum25! Welcome remarks just wrapped, and 200+ innovators from across Europe are ready to build the future 🚀

Next 2 days are dedicated to:
🔧 #DigitalCommons & open #infrastructure
🔒 Trust tech & decentralized systems
📋 Policy frameworks
🤝 Collaborative innovation

Can't make to Brussels? Plenary sessions are live-streamed 📺 on the #NGI website: https://ngi.eu/ngi-forum25/

#NGIForum2025 #DigitalSovereignty #OpenInternet #EuropeanInnovation #OpenSource

The NGI Forum starts tomorrow!
@jaromil from @dyne will speak at the NGI Commons Session!

He’s pushing the envelope with algorithmic sovereignty — not just using open source, but rethinking who controls and defines how tech works.
https://commons.ngi.eu/event/ngi-forum-2025/

Come join the conversation about the future of public digital infrastructure! 🌐

#DigitalCommons #OpenSource #NGI #DyneOrg #Sovereignty

🚀 At this week’s #NGIForum, join us for the second NGI Commons Session:
"Towards a Strategic Agenda for the Digital Commons" – happening Thursday at 12:00 CEST!

🎤 Featuring Lukasz Klejnowski, assistant to MEP Michał Kobosko, sharing insights from the European Parliament.

https://commons.ngi.eu/event/ngi-forum-2025/

Let’s shape the future of open, fair digital ecosystems!
#DigitalCommons #OpenWeb #EU #TechPolicy

@martelinnovate @openfuture @OpenForumEurope @cnrs @linuxfoundation
@EC_NGI

🚀 At this week’s #NGIForum, join us for the second NGI Commons Session:
"Towards a Strategic Agenda for the Digital Commons" – happening Thursday at 12:00 CEST!

🎤 Featuring Lukasz Klejnowski, assistant to MEP Michał Kobosko, sharing insights from the European Parliament.

https://commons.ngi.eu/event/ngi-forum-2025/

Let’s shape the future of open, fair digital ecosystems!
#DigitalCommons #OpenWeb #EU #TechPolicy

@martelinnovate @openfuture @OpenForumEurope @cnrs @linuxfoundation
@EC_NGI

Emma Ghariani: 'Why didn't the digital commons not scale to the whole population?'

We think we should start with that in school, next to working on convenience in opensource.
https://conference.publicspaces.net/session/putting-digital-sovereignty-into-practice

#PubConf2025 #DigitaleSoevereiniteit #opensource #DigitalCommons

A very good analysis by @bert_hubert of what #OpenSource and #DigitalCommons are too often missing to compete for usage in government and large companies.
https://berthub.eu/articles/posts/what-the-open-world-must-do-better/
The length of that list, as it is all very relevant, just goes to show how much #DigitalSovereignty won’t be achieved without massive funding and other forms of support: the level of professionalisation necessary simply cannot be reached by free labour, because it's not fun anymore!

📣 At #NGIForum2025, the future of @NGICommons

🗓️ June 19 | 🕘 09:30 | 📍 Brussels

🔎 Don’t miss Dr @moniquecalisti Calisti (CEO @martel & Director @NGIeu Outreach) moderating the session:

"Digital Commons Tools for Digital Sovereignty"

A vital discussion on open tools, interoperability & digital commons as the foundation of EU's digital autonomy.

https://commons.ngi.eu/event/ngi-forum-2025/

#DigitalCommons#OpenTech #EUdigital #MoniqueCalisti #NextGenerationInternet #DigitalSovereignty

🌍 Interested in shaping Europe's digital future through the power of Digital Commons and sovereign tech?
Join @NGICommons at #NGIForum25 to explore strategies for Digital Sovereignty and support for open digital infrastructures.
📆 19–20 June 2025
📍 Brussels, Albert Borschette Congress Center
🎟️ Get your ticket: https://commons.ngi.eu/event/ngi-forum-2025/

#OpenInternet #DigitalCommons # #FOSS #InternetGovernance #DigitalSovereignty

@martelinnovate @openfuture @OpenForumEurope @cnrs @linuxfoundation @ngi

#Introduction
We are Open Terms Archive.
We publicly record every version of the terms of digital services to enable democratic oversight on #BigTech (and any digital service).
https://opentermsarchive.org
As a decentralised #DigitalCommons working towards better #InternetGovernance, we are thrilled to be on the fediverse 😃
We will share here regular product updates, and sometimes interesting changes to terms with the hashtag #TermsSpotting —and encourage you to do the same!

🔊 Registration for the #NGIForum are now open!

💡 @NGICommons will take part with two different sessions which will be #digitalcommons focused!

🤟 Do you want to come?

📩 Please register here: https://commons.ngi.eu/event/ngi-forum-2025/

🇧🇪 It's in Brussels on the 19+20th June📅
@EC_NGI
@EC_DIGIT
@martelinnovate
@linuxfoundation
@cnrs
@openfuture
@OpenForumEurope

🔊 Registration for the #NGIForum are now open!

💡 @NGICommons will take part with two different sessions which will be #digitalcommons focused!

🤟 Do you want to come?

📩 Please register here: https://commons.ngi.eu/event/ngi-forum-2025/

🇧🇪 It's in Brussels on the 19+20th June📅
@EC_NGI
@EC_DIGIT
@martelinnovate
@linuxfoundation
@cnrs
@openfuture
@OpenForumEurope

👥 Highlights from the April #CommunityCall!

Thank you to the 8 community members who called in to talk about dating apps, tracked by Marie-Pierre Vidonne in the #Dating Collection, and about ways to improve internal processes for maintainers and contributors.

📅 Save the date: Join our next #CommunityCall on May 7th !

#DigitalCommons #Transparency #TechForGood #DatingApps #SafetyPolicy #DataProtection

@MattiSG @clementbiron

🚀 SAVE THE DATE: NGI FORUM 2025!

Mark your calendars! The NGI Forum 2025 is coming to Brussels on 19-20 June, bringing together experts, innovators, and policymakers to shape the future of Europe’s digital landscape

Expect:
🔹 Workshops on Digital Commons & Web Search
🔹 Discussions on Open Internet Infrastructure
🔹 Opportunities to network & collaborate

📍 Brussels
📅 19-20 June 2025

🔗 Stay tuned https://ngi.eu/ngi-forum25/ @EC_NGI

#NGIForum2025 #OpenInternet #DigitalSovereignty #DigitalCommons

"Coming Together to Inspire Monumental Change on #socialmedia

@saskia writes:

The strength of the #socialweb is the people behind it. 🙏 It's not the vision of a single person. It's not built for profit. It's a collective of ideas and people who want to see change. ✨ To grow the social web further, we must work together.

👉 https://forbetter.ghost.io/coming-together-to-inspire-monumental-change-on-social-media/

#Fediverse #publicsocialnetworks
#digitalcommons

"Coming Together to Inspire Monumental Change on #socialmedia

@saskia writes:

The strength of the #socialweb is the people behind it. 🙏 It's not the vision of a single person. It's not built for profit. It's a collective of ideas and people who want to see change. ✨ To grow the social web further, we must work together.

👉 https://forbetter.ghost.io/coming-together-to-inspire-monumental-change-on-social-media/

#Fediverse #publicsocialnetworks
#digitalcommons

🤝 Experts in #DataGovernance examine how data for #OpenSourceAI can be managed to prioritize public access over private commodification.

📑 Read the white paper: "Data Governance in Open Source AI"–A joint publication by @osi and Open Future, by @tarkowski. https://openfuture.eu/publication/data-governance-in-open-source-ai/

#DigitalCommons #opensourceAI

#DigitalCommons #TheParadoxOfOpen

🔎 @paulk analyzes @Mastodon and #FreeOurFeeds initiatives aimed at creating social media infrastructure that serves the public interest.

https://openfuture.eu/blog/publicly-governed-infrastructure-is-the-key-to-sustainable-social-media/

#DigitalCommons #TheParadoxOfOpen

🔎 @paulk analyzes @Mastodon and #FreeOurFeeds initiatives aimed at creating social media infrastructure that serves the public interest.

https://openfuture.eu/blog/publicly-governed-infrastructure-is-the-key-to-sustainable-social-media/

The resilience of and sovereignty over digital infrastructure is under great pressure in the Netherlands and Europe. In this post, we unpack how the #Digitalcommons can help in this!

To learn more, read our fifth explainer ’Sovereignity and Resilient Ecosystems’ on the Commons Network website.🧵

@UU_Geo_Data_Team @SURF
social.edu.nl (Mastodon 🐘) is available for all:
👩🏾‍💼employee’s,
🔬researchers
🧑🏽‍🎓and students
in the Netherlands🇳🇱!

They can use their existing institutional account without creating new credentials or sign-up! Just choose your username and go go go😻!

37 (and counting) research and educational institutions in the Netherlands co-own this Mastodon instance through SURF! #digitalcommons #surf #research💪 #publicvalues

#Introduction
We are Open Terms Archive.
We publicly record every version of the terms of digital services to enable democratic oversight on #BigTech (and any digital service).
https://opentermsarchive.org
As a decentralised #DigitalCommons working towards better #InternetGovernance, we are thrilled to be on the fediverse 😃
We will share here regular product updates, and sometimes interesting changes to terms with the hashtag #TermsSpotting —and encourage you to do the same!

#introduction We are the French "Copie Publique" initiative. We gather French companies who pledged to give a % of their revenues to support #FLOSS and digital commons.

We have raised €136k for 119 projects so far. Our members are @codelutin @Nereide @John_Livingston @ouestware @ouvaton and more will join soon.

Our website is now available in English at https://copiepublique.fr/en/

Please share to anyone who cares about #funding digital commons.

#fundraising #commons #digitalCommons

The idea of meaningful voluntary contribution of private companies to #OpenSource is growing:
• 🇫🇷: https://copiepublique.fr (@copiepublique)
• 🇺🇸: https://osspledge.com (official launch in October)
Do you know of similar initiatives in other jurisdictions? 🙂
#DigitalCommons #sustainability #FOSS

I've just published my first ever blog: "The Tragedy of the Non-Commons"

I wrote it in July, frustrated by a Twitter thread about how the Tragedy of the #Commons continues to be taught at universities. I then left it (it's somewhat experiemental) but with #COP27 and #Twittermigration coinciding this week, I just wanted it to be out there. Would love for it to be shared here on our #digitalcommons and grateful for any comments

https://medium.com/@p.vonhellermann/the-tragedy-of-the-non-commons-4bfad884cdbe

Known as #DigitalCommons, communities that self-organize to build & maintain digital resources provide essential infrastructure. They deserve investment and support to become more sustainable and inclusive - writes @jankrewer in his latest post 👉 https://openfuture.eu/blog/on-public-support-and-community-responsibility-for-digital-infrastructures/