MPN - a new p2p-based news network

[TankGirl]

Slashdot has an interesting story and discussion about a new p2p news distribution system Matrix Public Net (MPN) developed at the University of Bremen.

Here's the agenda of the developers:

Motivation

As file sharing and internetradio bring better music than ever straight into your home, there is still one reason left to listen to your local radio stations: local news. Just like the internet gave you more control over the music you hear, it will give you more control over the news you hear.

You want to hear news every 10 minutes? Fine.
You want to hear only one minute each hour? Also fine.
You want to hear the news as soon as possible? Why not.
You want news from another country? Who does not.
You want news from a specific person? Go ahead.
You want to know about a specific topic? Sure.
You want news you can trust in? That is our business.

MPN will not only change the way you select the news you hear, it will also change the way news are produced and spread over our planet. MPN makes it possible to deliver completely decentralized and independent news. Everyone has the possibility to be a reporter, no filtering publisher is required any more. We can decide on our own, what to hear and what not to. We do not need someone doing this for us. Neither do you.

Technically it's a hybrid system utilizing servers as 'stupid' data storages while the p2p clients establish a trust network among themselves. News are streamed as voice messages; there are clients for both Linux and Windows, including a plug-in for WinAmp that you can use to listen to the messages.

News distribution is an attractive target for 'Napsterization' but the trust and filtering mechanisms needed in an open p2p environment pose a whole new set of technical and social challenges to solve.

- tg