Netgain Challenge

The best foundations and philanthropies exist to address market failure, working to solve problems that business and government ignore or make worse. Now it's time for our major foundations and philanthropists to address an impending new failure. They can help save the kinds of open, decentralized systems that gave us personal computing and the internet. First, help the public understand. On issue after issue, major media tend to reflect corporate and governmental values, not the public's. Work to persuade traditional media, but also use newer forms of media, including social media. Help parents and educators teach children be critical thinkers and to trust liberty over control. Second, fund research and development of open technologies and services. Help re-create an infrastructure for tech liberty. Don't pick winners. Pick possibilities, and reinvest in what works. Projects should be decentralized; designed for users' control and personal security; and open-source.