Libervia: Building an All-in-One Communication Platform Grounded in the Right to Privacy

• Libervia is a comprehensive, open-source communication platform designed to unify messaging, blogging, file sharing, and event management under a single, ethical framework.
• The project prioritizes privacy and transparency by utilizing the XMPP protocol, implementing advanced end-to-end encryption (OMEMO:2), and offering options to reduce metadata.
• Development is supported by NGI Zero (NGI0) grants, which focus on free software, open standards, and digital rights.

Platform Capabilities

• Supports multiple communication methods: text, audio/video calls, microblogging, and shared task management.
• Features universal, multi-platform compatibility including web, desktop, and CLI versions for various operating systems.
• Provides interoperability with other protocols like ActivityPub and offers an email gateway.
• Emphasizes user agency with features like Tor-based communication to mitigate metadata exposure.

Privacy and Standards

• Relies on XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol), an open, consensus-driven standard that avoids vendor lock-in.
• Libervia serves as an experimental hub, creating new specifications for features like remote desktop control to ensure others can build compatible software.
• Maintains a strict 'Social Contract' focusing on ethical values, supporting end-to-end encryption for both messaging and auxiliary data like forums and task lists.

Sustainability Challenges

• The project relies on temporary research and development grants (NGI0), which do not cover operational expenses like healthcare, retirement, or routine maintenance tasks.
• Payment schedules for grants can be unpredictable, making long-term financial planning for full-time development difficult.
• The creator is currently exploring ethical business models, such as SaaS, consulting, or training, to ensure the project remains sustainable without compromising its open-source principles.