The Internet Is Being Captured. Here's How We Take It Back.

The internet was built to be open—but today, a handful of companies control much of our digital lives. What happens when your account, audience, identity, or ability to communicate can be taken away overnight? In this episode of We Are Satoshi, I sit down with Derek Ross and MK Fain of Soapbox to explore the future of a free and open internet. We talk about the internet becoming increasingly permissioned through KYC, digital ID, censorship and centralized platforms—and how Bitcoin, NOSTR, open-source software and other freedom technologies can help build an alternative. Derek shares the story of building an audience of over 1 million people on Google+—only to have Google shut the platform down, and why that experience changed how he thinks about digital ownership. We also get into Bitcoin crowdfunding in Venezuela, building alternatives to Discord and GitHub, decentralized identity, censorship, moderation, AI, the challenges of true decentralization, and why cryptographic money and cryptographic communication belong together. If you're a Bitcoin holder, developer, creator, or simply someone who cares about owning your digital life, this conversation is worth watching. Connect with us:Soapbox website: https://soapbox.pub/blog/nostr101MK on Nostr: [email protected] on X: https://x.com/mkay_fainDerek on Nostr: [email protected] on X: https://x.com/derekmrossKyle on Nostr: [email protected] on X: https://x.com/thekylehuber Support the POD!   15% off at Born to Be Free Online Store: https://oshi.link/C2mHb0    Buy the Daylight Co DC-1: https://buy.daylightcomputer.com/WEARESATOSHI($25 off with code: WeAreSatoshi)   15% OFF your order of earthy energy : https://liveearthy.co?bg_ref=c8KTLsLeKv(code KHuber)   10% off Chroma Blue Light Glasses and Other Products: https://getchroma.co/?ref=ixabomjq(code: KYLE10)   SLNT Faraday Bags: https://slnt.com/?avad=428701_b45ea6cd1   Stream sats on Fountain: ⁠ https://fountain.fm/show/oNj9eSXpNudLR2XoMtKL   Watch + subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreSatoshiPod   If you are interested in buying Bitcoin, River is the best place to do so: ⁠ https://river.com/signup?r=4JAPK6Q2⁠