Over a decade ago, the inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee, expressed his concern about how tech giants like Facebook were reshaping the internet. He warned that these companies were turning the interconnected web into fragmented islands where users were held captive. Facebook, for example, allowed users to connect with friends and engage in various activities but made it difficult for them to move their information to other platforms. This resulted in users becoming trapped on Facebook’s platform, leaving behind valuable data that the company could profit from. Other tech platforms, like Apple’s iTunes, also created their own isolated environments, limiting user freedom and choice. These fragmented islands, or “walled gardens” as Berners-Lee referred to them, have only become more secluded over time due to the dominance of these tech giants.
However, there has been a recent shift in the behavior of these powerful tech companies. As they face increasing antitrust scrutiny and navigate the development of generative AI technology, they are attempting to signal their commitment to openness. Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has been particularly vocal about this. They recently announced a partnership with Microsoft to release their latest language model, Llama 2, for free, allowing developers to download and modify its code. This move expands access to generative AI technology, potentially putting OpenAI at a disadvantage. Meta also announced plans to make its Twitter-like platform, Threads, interoperable with smaller competitors such as Mastodon and WordPress.
While these gestures towards openness may seem like a positive step towards collaboration, they are actually aimed at solidifying Meta’s power and ensuring its continued dominance in the next era of computing. Mark Zuckerberg, in his announcement of the Llama 2 release, argued that openness would lead to progress and improved safety in generative AI. However, it’s important to note that Facebook has a history of controlling and restricting access to its platform, stifling competition, and making it difficult for rival platforms to use its features. Zuckerberg’s embrace of openness is likely motivated by the need to compete with other companies and maintain Meta’s position of power.
Meta’s decision to offer Llama 2 for free is also a strategic move to speed up adoption and compete with OpenAI. It aligns with Meta’s past practice of offering powerful tools for free and finding ways to monetize them later on. The idea of decentralized social media, where different networks can connect with each other, is gaining popularity, partly due to Twitter’s recent controversies. Meta is already positioning itself to take advantage of this shift by making Threads interoperable with other platforms.
Credit should be given to Meta for its history of open-source development in machine learning. While most of its business remains behind walls, these barriers have helped protect user privacy and enforce standards and policies. However, Meta’s enforcement of these rules has been inconsistent at best. By making Threads interoperable and releasing Llama 2, Meta’s ability to enforce its own rules will become even more challenging. The possibility of rule-breakers from other networks entering Meta’s platforms presents a moderation nightmare. Moreover, the fine print of the Llama 2 community agreement reveals that it isn’t entirely open source. Developers with more than 700 million monthly users will still require a license from Meta, excluding competitors like Snap and Telegram.
In conclusion, the idea of an open web is appealing to many, but it’s important to recognize the strategic motives behind Meta’s recent gestures towards openness. While they may claim to support open platforms and innovation, these actions ultimately serve to maintain Meta’s power and control. The release of Llama 2 and interoperability of Threads should be viewed with caution, as they raise concerns about moderation, responsibility, and the true extent of openness offered by Meta.
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