Reclaiming the Internet’s Promise: A Call for Open, Private Messaging on ATproto

In the early days of the Internet, often referred to as Web1 or the dot-com era, a collaborative spirit prevailed among many companies. They worked together to develop interoperable protocols such as SMTP for email, DNS for name resolution, IPSEC for network encryption and VoIP for voice calls, embracing the mindset that "a rising tide lifts all boats." This cooperative approach fueled the Internet's exponential growth, creating abundant opportunities for prosperity. While some major players like Cisco exerted significant influence over certain protocols, the overall ethos was one of openness and shared progress.

However, the rise of social platforms in what many call Web2 marked a dramatic shift. These platforms focused on attracting as many users as possible and locking them into closed ecosystems, aiming to capture all the value generated by their user base. Even though a few open protocols like OAuth emerged during this period, some argue—including myself—that they only worsened the problems of centralization and surveillance. By and large, these social platforms became walled gardens, prioritizing control over collaboration.

Today, we’re witnessing a resurgence of interest in decentralized systems, driven by a variety of compelling reasons. While I won’t list them all here, I want to spotlight one that’s gaining serious momentum—potentially even reaching escape velocity: the AT Protocol (ATproto). Alongside its crypto-native counterpart, Farcaster, ATproto stands out for its innovative use of decentralized identities. This addresses a long-standing flaw of the Internet: the lack of a universal account system that users can carry across all their applications. Instead, we’ve been stuck with a fragmented mess of app-specific accounts tied to emails, phone numbers, or usernames and passwords—none of which offer true portability or user empowerment.

My mission is to create an open, decentralized messaging protocol that could eventually replace the outdated voice and SMS systems still used by billions worldwide. A cornerstone of this protocol is its commitment to privacy: you should be able to communicate with your friends, family or business partners without fear of your conversations being mined for data or exposed in a breach by hackers. I’ve sketched out how this could work using ATproto as a foundation, and I invite you to check out the details here:

A Vision for End-to-End Encrypted Messaging on ATproto - bosco loco

This was originally published on whtwnd.com March 26, 2025 at://did:plc:wtk7wq3y3i64z3umv44eutuj/com.whtwnd.blog.entry/3llcqqytyxz2r

The Internet’s early promise was built on collaboration and openness. With decentralized technologies like ATproto, we have a chance to reclaim that vision—creating a next-generation communication system that’s both open to all and fiercely protective of individual privacy. Take a look at the proposal, share your thoughts, and let’s work together to make it a reality.

You can follow me on Bluesky (built on the ATproto) here:

chrisb (@boscolo.co)

sojourning through the crazy woods (bosco loco) pondering rainbows and unicorns