If we zoom out of current events or Russia/US for a second, think about the run-up to the Iraq War. Are we sure the US wouldn't invent a narrative about some foreign leader, technologically deplatform them, invade the country, and then say "mistakes were made" a few years later?
https://twitter.com/JenniferJJacobs/status/1349713771669938184
That's the kind of not-too-unlikely scenario that has other sovereigns concerned about US tech companies. After Tonkin Gulf, babies-in-incubators, and Iraq WMD, quite a few wars were started by false narratives. Now imagine a national leader couldn't even rebut these. 
If you buy (say) iron ore from a country, that's "decentralized". The vendor can't hit a key to melt the iron after they've sold it to you.
Software is very different. US tech companies retain root access and can kill-switch your communications grid if USG tells them to.
Software is very different. US tech companies retain root access and can kill-switch your communications grid if USG tells them to.
Many factors are driving a rise in national autarky, from COVID supply chain shock to SWIFT weaponization to NSA surveillance.
Those were somewhat behind the scenes, though. This one happened in front of billions of people, a 404 heard round the world.
Those were somewhat behind the scenes, though. This one happened in front of billions of people, a 404 heard round the world.
https://twitter.com/arampell/status/1250853223792955397
To be clear, I don't think the rise of a siloed nationalist splinternet is *good*. It's a predictable result of recent events, but it just switches out one problem for another.
If we want to preserve liberal values and an open internet we'll need decentralized crypto protocols.
If we want to preserve liberal values and an open internet we'll need decentralized crypto protocols.
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