Social media and other user-generated content platforms — sometimes referred to as “web 2.0” — promised to empower individuals from around the world by providing new communication channels to bypass traditional media gatekeepers. Despite the egalitarian accolades heaped upon early content platform startups, access to this new world of media has become unbalanced and asymmetrical.

Contra Media Ecosystems of Control

Social media and other user-generated content platforms - sometimes referred to as “web 2.0” - promised to empower individuals from around the world by providing new communication channels to bypass traditional media gatekeepers. The ability for internet users to instantly upload content gave rise to an unprecedented look into political rallies, natural disasters, and military conflicts, but also daily life unfolding around the globe. People flocked to such platforms, so much so that, today, hundreds of hours of video content is added to social media platforms like YouTube each minute, while streaming services like Facebook Live have racked up over 2 billion viewers.

Social media and other user-generated content platforms — sometimes referred to as “web 2.0” — promised to empower individuals from around the world by providing new communication channels to bypass traditional media gatekeepers. The ability for internet users to instantly upload content gave rise to an unprecedented look into political rallies, natural disasters, and global events — but also daily life unfolding around the globe. People flocked to such platforms, so much so that, today, hundreds of hours of video content are added to platforms like YouTube each minute, while streaming services like Facebook Live have racked up over 2 billion viewers.

Delicate Memories

Despite their popularity, global technology companies cannot always be relied upon to protect users’ content or privacy. Communities and technologists must forge their own paths by building new tools and cultivating grassroots solutions. OpenArchive was born out of the need for a mobile tool that offers secure, long-term storage of photos, video, and audio captured on mobile devices. Our tool addresses the need to keep both individuals and their media safe, sustain access over time, and verify authenticity. In high-risk environments, this need becomes urgent. Individuals capturing sensitive mobile media may lack safe, alternative ways to manage and protect their content. In some cases, digital compromise can have real-world consequences.

Whose Media? Our Media!

Before users learn the hard way that they cannot trust YouTube, Facebook, iCloud, Google Photos, and other corporate platforms with valued and sensitive digital media, we offer an alternative secure archiving solution at scale. To further this goal, OpenArchive works with Guardian Project, who specialize in secure, open source technologies. Through this partnership — and with support from security usability experts — we aim to provide our global community with an easy-to-use, secure archiving app that helps mitigate threats like device confiscation, network blocking, and internet shutdowns. OpenArchive is committed to developing secure, ethical, and usable solutions for individuals and communities everywhere.

We’re listening!

• In order to make the strongest product for our users, we want to hear from you. If you have recommendations on how we can improve the OpenArchive experience, take a moment to email us at: info[at]open-archive.org
• If you would like to become involved with technical testing, let us know.