Onion is good, but it isn’t stopping corporations or bots. It just reroutes traffic and tries to make every user look the same. Onion on top of public infrastructure would be nice.

Meshtastic is not a good type of infrastructure for these kind of workloads though… and I don’t see how we’re going to lay lines as a community, unless it’s sponsored by the government via taxes. What would be the best way to kickstart a network like the Internet, but separate from it?

Edit: Guifi.net is interesting.

Guifi.net is a massive, citizen-driven community telecommunications network primarily based in Spain. Operating as a shared resource, it allows volunteers, local businesses, and municipalities to pool infrastructure and build a free, open, and neutral network outside traditional commercial ISPs.

How it Works

• The Commons Model: Participants agree to the Compact for a Free, Open, and Neutral Network (FONN). You build or connect a node to share connectivity; in return, you get access to the broader mesh network. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Infrastructure: The network relies heavily on point-to-point wireless links, but also includes widespread fiber optic deployments. [1]

• The Foundation: The Guifi.net Foundation provides governance tools, manages critical infrastructure, and ensures legal operation as a registered telecommunications operator. [1]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guifi.net

[2] https://www.apc.org/en/guifinet

[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389128615003436

[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/Barcelona/comments/2is9gf/do_you_guys_know_the_free_wifi_mesh_network/