Freenet: A New Approach to File-Sharing

Freenet, a technology touted to be a whole new approach to online file sharing and online privacy, has recently released its first alpha version for public testing.

Freenet is a decentralised “peer-to-peer” system designed to allow the anonymous sharing of information on the Internet … [a] free software which lets you publish and obtain information on the Internet without fear of censorship. To achieve this freedom, the network is entirely decentralized and publishers and consumers of information are anonymous. Without anonymity there can never be true freedom of speech, and without decentralization the network will be vulnerable to attack.

Akin to being an “internet within the internet,” Freenet can be used for purposes other than file sharing, where a user’s privacy might be of essence, such as web publishing, message boards, and content distribution.