240
11 The Self-Organizing Society
interest through a self-organized system of community moderators, who would
consider the externalities associated with decisions and actions. These community moderators will judge and foster compliance with local rules, while staying
within the framework of the fundamental, constitutional principles. They should
be instated for a limited time period, based on their previous record of respecting
both, fundamental principles and local (community) rules.
5. Establish a new data format based on the data cord principle to enable
informational self-determination and micro-payments. I have pointed out
that some of the current problems associated with the Internet extend beyond
issues of security and cybercrime. These problems mainly result from a lack of
user control over their personal data, a lack of accountability, and an inability
to easily reward companies and people for the data, ideas and cultural goods
they produce. I think that all of these problems could be solved by a combination of a Personal Data Store
34 (i.e. a personal mailbox for data) with special
encryption techniques and a new kind of data format based on the concept
of a “data cord”. This system would connect the contents of each data store
with the respective producer or owner and allow them to control access to their
data.
35 In case of personal data, the subject of the data should be considered the
owner, and he or she should be able to control the rights of third parties to use
it. Furthermore, a micro-payment system should enable a multi-dimensional
value exchange. The more often data is copied or used, the more (material or
immaterial) profit would be automatically distributed to the different beneficiaries on the value-generating chain. Such a micro-payment approach would be
superior to our current system of intellectual property rights (IPR), such as the
software patenting system. Current IPR approaches tend to inhibit the efficient
co-evolution of ideas, which is pivotal to the success of human culture.
36
6. Create a multi-dimensional financial system to have a backup system and
make our financial system more functional and resilient. We have seen that
our financial system is more fragile than we thought, and we cannot rule out
that it might collapse one day. It is essential, therefore, to establish a backup
financial system, which could facilitate economic exchange if our current system
fails. Therefore, I am calling for a complementary, multi-dimensional exchange
system. This would create welcome competition with our current financial
system, and thus help it to improve. In fact, we currently see peer-to-peer
payment and lending systems emerging. If they meet certain quality standards
and serve public interests (such as providing loans so that companies can invest),
governments could support the development of such systems. For example, such
payment systems could be subject to a special tax status and fewer regulations
34 World Economic Forum, Personal Data: The Emergence of a New Asset Class, see http://www.
weforum.org/reports/personal-data-emergence-new-asset-class and also de Montjoye et al. [10].
35 See Big data, privacy, and trusted web: What needs to be done, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/pap
ers.cfm?abstract_id=2322082.
36 Just suppose we would all own a few words and would have to negotiate about their use with
others. This would obstruct and limit our language and culture immensely!
11 The Self-Organizing Society
interest through a self-organized system of community moderators, who would
consider the externalities associated with decisions and actions. These community moderators will judge and foster compliance with local rules, while staying
within the framework of the fundamental, constitutional principles. They should
be instated for a limited time period, based on their previous record of respecting
both, fundamental principles and local (community) rules.
5. Establish a new data format based on the data cord principle to enable
informational self-determination and micro-payments. I have pointed out
that some of the current problems associated with the Internet extend beyond
issues of security and cybercrime. These problems mainly result from a lack of
user control over their personal data, a lack of accountability, and an inability
to easily reward companies and people for the data, ideas and cultural goods
they produce. I think that all of these problems could be solved by a combination of a Personal Data Store
34 (i.e. a personal mailbox for data) with special
encryption techniques and a new kind of data format based on the concept
of a “data cord”. This system would connect the contents of each data store
with the respective producer or owner and allow them to control access to their
data.
35 In case of personal data, the subject of the data should be considered the
owner, and he or she should be able to control the rights of third parties to use
it. Furthermore, a micro-payment system should enable a multi-dimensional
value exchange. The more often data is copied or used, the more (material or
immaterial) profit would be automatically distributed to the different beneficiaries on the value-generating chain. Such a micro-payment approach would be
superior to our current system of intellectual property rights (IPR), such as the
software patenting system. Current IPR approaches tend to inhibit the efficient
co-evolution of ideas, which is pivotal to the success of human culture.
36
6. Create a multi-dimensional financial system to have a backup system and
make our financial system more functional and resilient. We have seen that
our financial system is more fragile than we thought, and we cannot rule out
that it might collapse one day. It is essential, therefore, to establish a backup
financial system, which could facilitate economic exchange if our current system
fails. Therefore, I am calling for a complementary, multi-dimensional exchange
system. This would create welcome competition with our current financial
system, and thus help it to improve. In fact, we currently see peer-to-peer
payment and lending systems emerging. If they meet certain quality standards
and serve public interests (such as providing loans so that companies can invest),
governments could support the development of such systems. For example, such
payment systems could be subject to a special tax status and fewer regulations
34 World Economic Forum, Personal Data: The Emergence of a New Asset Class, see http://www.
weforum.org/reports/personal-data-emergence-new-asset-class and also de Montjoye et al. [10].
35 See Big data, privacy, and trusted web: What needs to be done, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/pap
ers.cfm?abstract_id=2322082.
36 Just suppose we would all own a few words and would have to negotiate about their use with
others. This would obstruct and limit our language and culture immensely!