08-16, 19:00–19:50 (US/Eastern), Little Theatre
Email is one of our most essential tools, yet it’s controlled by a handful of corporations that scan, monetize, and gate-keep our communication. In this talk, the presenters will introduce OpenEmail, a ground-up re-imagining of async communication built on a radically simple, open protocol. Designed for privacy, integrity, and interoperability, OpenEmail combines end-to-end encryption; decentralized delivery; and a public, extensible architecture to give users true ownership of their communication, and developers the freedom to build on top of an open social protocol. They will explore how a spam-free, surveillance-free inbox, where messages are trustworthy by design, can reclaim the Internet as a space for open, human connection, free from Big Tech. More than just a talk, this is a call to arms: to take back control of our communication and build a digital future that serves people, not profit.
Dejan Štrbac built and scaled a beloved global email hosting service (migadu.com) used by millions worldwide. Frustrated by the direction email has taken, he’s now a sworn enemy of SMTP.
William Lessard spent many years turning zeroes into ones, scaling companies from bootstrapped to IPO. He is now working to dismantle gatekeepers and put communication back in the hands of the people.