Dfinity founder Dominic Williams believes content creation platforms like OnlyFans are ripe for disruption now that decentralized technologies have become mainstream. He’s inviting developers to build a blockchain-driven content platform on Internet Computer (ICP) — a powerful general-purpose blockchain launched by Dfiniity Foundation earlier this year. In an interview with Cointelegraph, Williams discussed recent attempts by financial institutions to censor adult content creation on OnlyFans, as well as the general outlook on smart contract platforms. Creator-driven platforms are ideal for decentralization In August of this year, major financial institutions such as Bank of New York Mellon, Metro Bank and JPMorgan …

The saying, “Everything in moderation, including moderation,” has taken on new meaning since Facebook outsourced responsibility for content moderation to its Oversight Board following the violent events that occurred at the United States Capitol back on Jan. 6, 2021. First conceived in November 2018 as Facebook’s “Supreme Court” for public appeals, the social media giant’s Oversight Board was officially enacted on Oct. 22, 2020. In its time since, the Oversight Board has overturned many of Facebook’s own decisions on what is and is not free speech. Some of the board’s rulings include overturning decisions meant to limit hate speech and …

From June 20 1995 until June 23 2021, Hongkongers concerned about growing Chinese influence in the Special Administrative Region had at least one local media outlet in their corner. Apple Daily was known for its pro-democracy stance, when not covering sensationalist tabloid-style news — two editorial innovations that set it apart from almost all other media outlets in Hong Kong at the time of its launch. And although the publication survived a 2020 raid on its offices, when the CEO, COO, Editor in Chief and other executives were arrested by police on June 17 2021 on suspicion of violating Article …

It is no longer possible to download the Bitcoin Core software from Bitcoin.org if you visit the website with a United Kingdom internet protocol (IP) address. A notice on the website reads: “This software is presently not available for download in the UK, and download links will not work if you are located within the United Kingdom.” Indeed, attempting to proceed with downloading the Bitcoin (BTC) software from the site using a U.K. IP returns a “404 error.” Detailing the reason for blocking access to the software download for U.K. site visitors, Bitcoin.org’s pseudonymous owner Cøbra responded to a tweet …

Hong Kong cyber-activists are not giving up on the freedom of speech and are backing up articles from the pro-democracy tabloid newspaper Apple Daily using blockchain technology. Following a national security probe, Apple Daily printed its last edition on Thursday. But Hong Kong activists took it from there and uploaded the publication’s articles on a distributed network, Reuters reported. Ho, a 21-year-old anonymous activist working in tech, started uploading Apple Daily articles on decentralized file storage platform ARWeave this week. Backed by investors like Andreessen Horowitz, the platform deploys a blockchain-like structure called blockweave to enable the permanent storage of …

A new cryptocurrency-based streaming service is taking a holistic approach to the industry, combining a number of traditional features like a token-based financial ecosystem, censorship resistance and community governance with a strong and thoughtful focus on the user experience and supporting existing creators. Vabble’s crypto-powered video-on-demand plans take an interesting approach to the end user that isn’t common among streaming video services: It does not assume they are viewing alone. A number of features aim to reinvent the pre-Netflix days when going to a movie was a shared experience on a single screen that brought people together. This “co-watching flow” …

Ben Hunt, founder of Second Foundation Partners and lead author of the Epsilon Theory blog, is convinced institutional adoption poses an existential threat to Bitcoin's identity as an instrument of financial freedom. As investment funds, banks and tech companies continue getting involved in the space, Bitcoin's (BTC) fundamental properties — permissionless access and censorship resistance — are becoming increasingly marginalized, Hunt told Cointelegraph in an exclusive interview. “What we are seeing is the Facebook-ization of Bitcoin. And it becomes absolutely controlled and in service to Wall Street and the government,” said Hunt. According to Hunt, institutions have created “securitized,” “permissioned” …

Another rainy Sunday night. You’re browsing on Facebook and Twitter — inundated with photos of your friend’s new baby, jokes that have been copied from poor hard-working comedians, and memes that certainly were funny… when you first saw them four years ago. Undeterred, you keep scrolling. There’s a tweet that proclaims a hot new cryptocurrency is going to surge to $1 million, and another claiming the self-same altcoin is destined to plunge to zero. You then see links about the latest developments in the DeFi and NFTs space, and your eyes light up. Finally — content you’re interested in! Existing …

A new social media platform called Locals has drawn strong backing from leading crypto figures as part of a push to escape Big Tech censorship. Locals Technology Inc. announced a $3.8-million seed investment round on Tuesday and included backing from Morgan Creek Digital Assets co-founder Anthony Pompliano, former Coinbase chief technology officer Balaji S. Srinivasan, as well as Alexander Lloyd, co-author of The Little Bitcoin Book. Locals is an alternative platform that gives control to independent creators by allowing them to post content without wrestling with the ambiguous censorship standards on social media platforms such as YouTube and Patreon. Scott …

A new blockchain optimized for high frequency usage is going to be at the heart of a cutting-edge ecosystem that brings together social media, non-fungible tokens and decentralized finance — all while providing in-built privacy and minimal transaction fees. Howdoo says users, creators and advertisers are all demanding change from tech giants like Facebook and YouTube. Its decentralized, blockchain-fueled approach aims to offer an alternative to a world where algorithms are optimized for revenue instead of user experience, where advertisers are left disappointed by the performance of their campaigns, and where creators are remunerated poorly for the vibrant content they …

The executive body of the European Union has appointed a major financial services firm to lead a three-year initiative aimed at boosting the integrity of social media posts using blockchain technology. Dubbed “TruBlo,” the project will oversee a wealth of blockchain development as part of the European Commission’s Next Generation Internet initiative. The French financial services firm, Worldline, has been appointed to lead TruBlo. Worldline was founded in 1970 and generated 2.3 billion euros ($2.8 billion) in revenue in 2019. An estimated 450 proposals will be assessed in the coming years as part of the initiative’s goal of “developing trust …

Big Tech has been in the news a lot over the last decade. Initially, the coverage focused on the new possibilities that were created around communication and information sharing and the benefits that these would bring. New tech networks offered unprecedented tools, offering everything from reuniting families separated by emigration to assisting in the overthrow of autocratic regimes and restoring power to the people. Next, we heard about the tremendous value Big Tech was creating, bringing billions of dollars to founders and workers, as well as the pension funds that invested in them. We knew they were a force for …