The Facebook data privacy scandal flooding the news for the past couple of weeks is part of a broader movement against big corporations and their monopoly-like control over data—the most valuable resources in the modern-day economy. The message is clear: now is the time for data openness and transparency; centralized data control is a thing of the past.

Last week, Taiwan AI Labs, a Taipei-based AI research organization founded by Ethan Tu—Microsoft alum and the famed creator of Taiwan’s Reddit-like platform PTT—launched “ptt.ai” (in Chinese). Ptt.ai aims to facilitate data openness, avoid the misuse of user data, and realize what they call data justice on the social media platform.

PTT is a bulletin board system (BBS) founded 23 years ago with the mission to liberalize social media through an open platform. Its main site ptt.cc now sees over ten million daily active users. Even after Facebook and other platforms have become mainstream, it has retained its title as one of the largest social media platforms in Taiwan.

Start your free trial now. Get instant access to all our premium content, archives, newsletters, and online community. Monthly Membership $19/month Yearly Membership $149/year

What you get

Full access to all premium content and our full archives

Preferential access and discounts to all TechNode events

Direct access to the TechNode newsroom