Re: Crazy idea: How trust in darknets enables secure democratic censorship

On 7/12/05, Matthew Toseland <toad-EI5O+8PHWbJeeLb3ft/[email protected]> wrote:

> If the majority is wrong, it will disaffiliate from the minority. We are
> not talking about global voting here, we are talking about each node
> deciding on the basis of adjacent, trusted nodes. Yes there is some
> influence as far as majorities go, but the likely scenario is that the
> network splits into the two groups.

Doesn't this mean that in the normal course of events, the majority
keeps the main contiguous network, while the minority ends up with
many tiny islands (potentially only 1-2 nodes) instead of an
"alternate" network?  If that minority wishes to repair their network,
then they have to find each other through other, presumably more
vulnerable, channels, right?  It sounds to me like this has potential
to enforce groupthink through network value effects.

Also, there is a chilling effect even without outing nodes, right? 
Suppose I find freenet valuable as a source of semi-acceptable
content, but am also considering "marginally" acceptable content. 
Wouldn't I be tempted to self-censor out of fear of losing my good
connectivity?  It seems to me that self-censorship to stay within
*percieved* limits is potentially even more limiting than those same
limits actually are.

And finally, let's suppose I use freenet for a variety of non-illegal
things, and don't partake in local votes to censor content at all (on
libertarian grounds).  In the event the govt seizes my node looking
for (nonexistent) illegal activities, aren't I likely to find myself
liable for failing to vote correctly, since the network has provided a
convenient method to do so?  And isn't this threat also likely to
create more negative voting than would otherwise occur, and thus
exacerbate the chilling effects?

I must say, I would be hesitant to use a censorship-enabled freenet. 
Small communities with the ability to censor can be very oppressive,
and it seems entirely reasonable for me to want privacy from the same
friends I am connected to, even though I mostly trust them.

Evan