I started working with computers during the golden age of home computing[0]. I'm noticing the return to closed systems that General Computing aimed to change. The centralization of computing by cloud services, forced AI, and the commercialization of general computing have pushed us toward a future that looks dystopic. With the rising costs of components (memory), the hardware we depend on for open platforms is at risk of becoming out of reach for the general population.

It seems to me that now is the time to come together as people interested in the future of technology. I have been mulling over the idea of either creating an organization that represents people interested in protecting general computing or joining an organization that has written transparent guidelines about their operations to put my support behind in affecting change in the industry.

EFF seems like they are strickly about the internet. Is there any organization like the EFF for general computing?

I know that I do not want to see my children's generation co-opted by attention-poisoning algorithms or be forced to use systems that are rented but not owned.

[0]: https://www.scottrlarson.com/memorials/memorial-my-home-computer-reflections-part-1/