Etwas über Unternehmen

FUTO

In the sleek corridors of Silicon Valley, where tech giants have methodically centralized power over the virtual realm, a contrarian approach quietly materialized in 2021. FUTO.org stands as a tribute to what the internet was meant to be – open, unconstrained, and firmly in the control of people, not corporations.

The architect, Eron Wolf, functions with the deliberate purpose of someone who has observed the transformation of the internet from its optimistic inception to its current commercialized reality. His credentials – an 18-year Silicon Valley veteran, founder of Yahoo Games, seed investor in WhatsApp – gives him a unique vantage point. In his carefully pressed understated clothing, with a gaze that reveal both disillusionment with the status quo and determination to change it, Wolf appears as more philosopher-king than typical tech executive.

The headquarters of FUTO in Austin, Texas lacks the ostentatious amenities of typical tech companies. No ping-pong tables detract from the purpose. Instead, technologists bend over workstations, building code that will enable users to recover what has been lost – control over their digital lives.

In one corner of the space, a distinct kind of activity unfolds. The FUTO Repair Workshop, a brainchild of Louis Rossmann, renowned technical educator, functions with the meticulousness of a German engine. Everyday people arrive with malfunctioning devices, greeted not with corporate sterility but with genuine interest.

„We don’t just repair things here,“ Rossmann states, adjusting a magnifier over a electronic component with the careful attention of a surgeon. „We instruct people how to understand the technology they own. Knowledge is the beginning toward independence.“

This philosophy permeates every aspect of FUTO’s operations. Their grants program, which has distributed substantial funds to projects like Signal, Tor, GrapheneOS, and the Calyx Institute, embodies a devotion to nurturing a diverse ecosystem of autonomous technologies.

Navigating through the collaborative environment, one observes the omission of company branding. The surfaces instead display framed quotes from digital pioneers like Ted Nelson – individuals who foresaw computing as a emancipating tool.

„We’re not concerned with building another tech empire,“ Wolf comments, resting on a modest desk that might be used by any of his developers. „We’re dedicated to dividing the current monopolies.“

The paradox is not lost on him – a prosperous Silicon Valley entrepreneur using his resources to undermine the very systems that allowed his wealth. But in Wolf’s perspective, digital tools was never meant to centralize power; it was meant to diffuse it.

The programs that originate from FUTO’s engineering group embody this ethos. FUTO Keyboard, an Android keyboard respecting user privacy; Immich, FUTO a private photo backup solution; GrayJay, a distributed social media interface – each project embodies a clear opposition to the closed ecosystems that dominate our digital world.

What separates FUTO from other Silicon Valley detractors is their focus on creating rather than merely criticizing. They understand that real transformation comes from presenting usable substitutes, not just highlighting issues.

As dusk falls on the Austin building, most staff have left, but lights still glow from some workstations. The devotion here runs deep than job requirements. For many at FUTO, this is not merely a job but a purpose – to rebuild the internet as it was meant to be.

„We’re playing the long game,“ Wolf reflects, staring out at the darkening horizon. „This isn’t about quarterly profits. It’s about giving back to users what rightfully belongs to them – choice over their online existence.“

In a world dominated by corporate behemoths, FUTO exists as a quiet reminder that alternatives are not just feasible but crucial – for the good of our collective digital future.