A fresh initiative is attempting to reshape how readers and institutions think about digital property. A new Kickstarter campaign from Flaming Hydra aims to herald the return of a more human-centered internet by challenging current digital publishing norms and securing genuine ownership rights for digital media.
The Vision of a Human Internet
According to Maria Bustillos, lead editor at Flaming Hydra, these various efforts are fundamentally interconnected by a shared objective. The goal is to safeguard the freedom of information while upholding the original promise of the early internet, where data was made widely available to the public without compromising the ability of authors and artists to earn a living. Bustillos noted that these concerns have frequently been highlighted directly on the publication platform.
For instance, when Tal Levin detailed discovering countless AI-generated clones of his book on Amazon, the vulnerabilities of the current digital marketplace became starkly apparent. By establishing an interconnected ecosystem built on collaborative human effort within a controlled environment that blocks the unauthorized creation and sale of AI clones, Bustillos explained that Flaming Hydra is actively contributing to a broader human project.
Combating Algorithmic and Mechanistic Control
Bustillos emphasized that artificial intelligence is not an insurmountable force. If people deliberately establish publishing networks and organizations dedicated to maintaining a human internet, readers seeking authentic content can access those networks entirely isolated from mechanistic interference. The Phoenix Project fits directly into this overarching vision by making the works of human writers far more accessible to public libraries.
Back in 2020, Bustillos wrote critically about the dominant e-book distribution systems controlling schools and libraries. She highlighted a troubling example where a school was forced to pay $27 per student annually just to maintain ongoing access to copies of The Diary of Anne Frank rather than owning the material outright. This practice highlights a systemic flaw that treats true digital ownership as a relic of the past, replacing it with restrictive licensing agreements where publishers retain the power to alter or revoke content at any moment.
Redefining Ownership and Guarding Against Censorship
In the view of Flaming Hydra's leadership, ownership boils down to a fundamental threshold. If an individual remains entirely at the mercy of an outside entity that possesses the capability to shut down or revoke a book, genuine ownership does not exist. E-books are books, Bustillos argued, and both individuals and libraries should retain the right to truly own them.
Beyond ongoing subscription costs, numerous high-profile instances have demonstrated how digital books can be altered by editors or wiped entirely from consumer devices long after purchase. While isolated adjustments might seem minor to some, scaling that vulnerability across every textbook and volume available creates a severe societal risk.
The Phoenix Project and Lenny for Libraries
To combat these restrictions, Flaming Hydra and The Phoenix Project are introducing a framework that enables libraries to permanently purchase and own e-books. Institutions can subsequently lend those purchased volumes out to patrons through an innovative, open-source library system known as Lenny for Libraries.
The Phoenix Project is launching with five initial e-books created by Flaming Hydra contributors, featuring essay collections from The Awl alongside writings by Tom Scocca and Bustillos herself. While the initial catalog is modest, Bustillos is actively consulting with library consortiums and writer groups to shift the broader conversation surrounding digital archiving, lending, and e-book commerce, paving the way for wider adoption.
Crowdfunding for Total Editorial Independence
Even before launching public crowdfunding, Flaming Hydra was laying the groundwork for these initiatives. Bustillos expressed appreciation for early financial backing from supporters like Anand Raganathan, Brewster Kahle, and Paul Ford. However, turning to crowdfunding ensures that the project can maintain long-term sustainability while fiercely protecting its editorial independence.
By removing financial reliance on outside corporate entities, the publication can safeguard its core mission. Flaming Hydra is aiming to raise $30,000 for The Phoenix Project through a campaign that concludes on November 27.
