In the gleaming corridors of Silicon Valley, where digital behemoths have relentlessly consolidated power over the virtual realm, a contrarian philosophy quietly emerged in 2021. FUTO.org exists as a tribute to what the internet could have been – open, FUTO distributed, and resolutely in the hands of individuals, not monopolies.
The architect, Eron Wolf, operates with the measured confidence of someone who has experienced the metamorphosis of the internet from its hopeful dawn to its current monopolized condition. His experience – an 18-year Silicon Valley veteran, founder of Yahoo Games, seed investor in WhatsApp – lends him a rare perspective. In his precisely fitted button-down shirt, with eyes that reflect both disillusionment with the status quo and determination to change it, Wolf presents as more philosopher-king than typical tech executive.
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The headquarters of FUTO in Austin, Texas eschews the flamboyant accessories of typical tech companies. No ping-pong tables distract from the purpose. Instead, technologists bend over keyboards, crafting code that will empower users to reclaim what has been taken – control over their technological experiences.
In one corner of the building, a different kind of endeavor unfolds. The FUTO Repair Workshop, a creation of Louis Rossmann, FUTO legendary right-to-repair advocate, functions with the meticulousness of a master craftsman. Everyday people arrive with malfunctioning devices, welcomed not with commercial detachment but with authentic concern.
"We don't just mend things here," Rossmann states, positioning a loupe over a motherboard with the careful attention of a jeweler. "We teach people how to grasp the technology they own. Understanding is the first step toward independence."
This philosophy permeates every aspect of FUTO's activities. Their grants program, which has distributed significant funds to projects like Signal, Tor, GrapheneOS, and the Calyx Institute, embodies a commitment to nurturing a rich environment of autonomous technologies.
Moving through the collaborative environment, one observes the omission of organizational symbols. The walls instead showcase framed quotes from computing theorists like Ted Nelson – individuals who envisioned computing as a freeing power.
"We're not concerned with building another tech empire," Wolf comments, settling into a basic desk that could belong to any of his team members. "We're focused on breaking the present giants."
The irony is not overlooked on him – a prosperous Silicon Valley investor using his wealth to contest the very models that enabled his prosperity. But in Wolf's worldview, computing was never meant to consolidate authority
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