One place I could see it being valuable is with an online archiving type service like Archive.org where the content doesn't change except when a new snapshot of that content is recorded displaying any changes made to that content.
One place I could see it being valuable is with an online archiving type service like Archive.org where the content doesn't change except when a new snapshot of that content is recorded displaying any changes made to that content.
Why? Well a lot of what I think is touted on the IPFS homepage, but to put it in my own words, I've become dismayed over how mutable the web is. It seems to entirely benefit those who seek to lie and disorient. Yet, if something from an "honest person" leaks onto the internet (nude photos, credit card, email, etc) it's nearly impossible to remove it.
This has less to do with the technology, and more to do with human nature. Facts are easy to mutate and spread misinformation about. Pages can be edited, blocked, DDOSed, etc. Yet often leaks of information that small actors, i.e. I upload my secret key, is basically permanently stolen on the web. So I feel like the mutable web is all cost to the public, with no benefit.
I feel/hope that IPFS and IPNS can allow for software to present a normal Reddit-like experience, where users never deal with weird hashes and etc, but underlying it all is an immutable and entirely audit-able paper trail. Information is key in this day and age, and if we can have an immutable web with no UX loss, I think it's a boon.
As it stands, people have identified trends among bad actors on the web - such as politicians botting Reddit to sway opinion, but the trail goes fuzzy quite quick when the entirety of the bots content can be deleted, mutated, etc.
Anyway, just sharing my thoughts / rambles.
Anything I leak is basically permanent on the current web. If that's the case already, why would I want a mutable system in place where people can edit what they said? Alter what was posted, alter votes, take ddos content, etc.
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