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

[multi]

i need news i can read...
is it only audio i wonder?
i will be checking that 1 out thx

[JackSpratts]

thanks tg! we'll be seeing more and more of these clever applications as time goes by, assuming the cable barons and monopoly telcos keep net access somewhat free. each day that passes brings us farther from the centralized internet depicted in tv commercials and business plans and closer to the real internet, where each of us converses with as many or as few as we wish, as publicly or as intimately as we desire.

- js.

[SA_Dave]

This is an interesting and "legal" use for p2p, especially in the context of this other /. story. It basically echoes Jack's sentiments about future independance from ISP's.

Even in a supposedly "free" country such as the U.S.A., self-censorship and commercial interests play an alarming role in the media. MPN sounds like a valuable and necessary tool for bringing underground news to the general public, or at least illuminating the differing viewpoints on each story.