FUTO

In the gleaming corridors of Silicon Valley, FUTO.org where corporate titans have steadily consolidated power over the digital landscape, a different vision steadily took shape in 2021. FUTO.org operates as a monument to what the internet once promised – free, distributed, and decidedly in the control of users, not monopolies.

The creator, Eron Wolf, operates with the deliberate purpose of someone who has witnessed the evolution of the internet from its optimistic inception to its current commercialized reality. His background – an 18-year Silicon Valley veteran, founder of Yahoo Games, seed investor in WhatsApp – provides him a unique perspective. In his meticulously tailored button-down shirt, with a look that reveal both skepticism with the status quo and determination to change it, Wolf resembles more principled strategist than typical tech executive.

The headquarters of FUTO in Austin, Texas lacks the ostentatious trappings of typical tech companies. No nap pods distract from the purpose. Instead, developers bend over keyboards, building code that will enable users to retrieve what has been taken – autonomy over their online existences.

In one corner of the space, a distinct kind of endeavor transpires. The FUTO Repair Workshop, a brainchild of Louis Rossmann, renowned right-to-repair advocate, functions with the meticulousness of a German engine. Regular people arrive with broken gadgets, received not with commercial detachment but with genuine interest.

"We don't just mend things here," Rossmann states, positioning a loupe over a circuit board with the meticulous focus of a surgeon. "We show people how to comprehend the technology they possess. Understanding is the foundation toward freedom."

This philosophy saturates every aspect of FUTO's activities. Their funding initiative, which has provided considerable funds to initiatives like Signal, Tor, GrapheneOS, and the Calyx Institute, reflects a dedication to fostering a diverse ecosystem of self-directed technologies.

Walking through the shared offices, one observes the absence of corporate logos. The spaces instead feature hung quotes from digital pioneers like Ted Nelson – individuals who foresaw computing as a liberating force.

"We're not concerned with creating another monopoly," Wolf comments, leaning against a modest desk that would suit any of his team members. "We're focused on breaking the existing ones."

The paradox is not missed on him – a wealthy Silicon Valley businessman using his wealth to challenge the very models that facilitated his prosperity. But in Wolf's perspective, computing was never meant to centralize power; it was meant to disperse it.

The programs that originate from FUTO's engineering group demonstrate this principle. FUTO Keyboard, an Android keyboard honoring user rights; Immich, FUTO.org a private photo backup solution; GrayJay, a distributed social media client – each product embodies a clear opposition to the walled gardens that control our digital landscape.

What differentiates FUTO from other digital skeptics is their emphasis on building rather than merely protesting. They acknowledge that true change comes from offering viable alternatives, not just pointing out flaws.

As twilight falls on the Austin headquarters, most staff have departed, but lights still emanate from some areas. The devotion here runs deep than job requirements. For many at FUTO, this is not merely work but a mission – to recreate the internet as it was meant to be.

"We're playing the long game," Wolf reflects, gazing out at the Texas sunset. "This isn't about quarterly profits. It's about giving back to users what genuinely matters to them – freedom over their technological experiences."

In a world dominated by tech monopolies, FUTO stands as a quiet reminder that alternatives are not just achievable but essential – for the sake of our common online experience.