A quick project update that has been somewhat overdue:
Openness has been a core building block and underlying philosophy of the web since its earliest days. However, the concept — and to an even larger degree, the term itself — have come under a lot of pressure. Largely that is because it carries many positive associations. In other words, Openness has become a victim of its own success.
So where are we now? Is this concept still relevant? Or is it going through a moment of midlife crisis? Does it need to be re-claimed, re-energized, evolved? What are the opportunities and risks at play?
These are just some of the questions we’re tackling in a research project I’ve been working on together with Open Knowledge Foundation, funded by Mercator. We’re in the research stage now, talking to experts, digging through the literature, and comparing notes. We hope to publish before the end of the first quarter of 2025. More soon!
