I'm a fan of the "local first" ethos for software.

But I think it's only a part of the problem.

The local first movement observes that our data is put in the cage of a 3rd party server.

By bringing it local first, we increase our agency over it, and make it harder for the data to be used in ways we don't like.

But data isn't just in a 3rd party server cage.

It's also in the origin's cage.

Data has combinatorial possibility.

When combined with other data, it can create new value.

The unconstrained combination outside of your turf is dangerous (e.g. advertisers).

When someone else does the combinations, they own the upside… which might be upside to them that's downside to you.

But if you could combine your own data, within policies you control, you could unleash more potential energy from your own data, in a way that would benefit only you.

Let's free our data from the origin that happened to create it!