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SharkNet is not a compatition to well-known social network applications.
It is not even sophisticated software and we know a lot of bugs.

SharkNet is a working proof.

It proofs that a social network can work without a server. It proofs that social network apps can comply to (e.g. privacy) laws even in Europe.

A lack of servers does not imply lack of functionality. A lack of servers implies that misuse of private data becomes nearly impossible, though. A lack of servers also implies that the usual social network business plans cannot be applied.

Commercial social network apps are more or less free charge on the first glimpse. They are payed indirectly. They are payed with users' private data which are analyzed. The results are sold to parties who can pay for it.

That's ok if user willingly agree. That's ok if we have alternatives and users can choose.

Unfortunately, there are rumors telling us that social apps must work that way. We were told there is no alternative to a huge server farm providing services like social network apps.

That's not true. Internet is the daily proof since 1970. Internet allows communication between computers, laptops, mobile phones and all those upcomming IoT (Internet of Thing) gadgets. Internet was designed as decentralized system. Data find their way as long as a single route exists between sender and receiver.

Why creating a bootleneck with those social network servers? Why must any message be routed over a single server? That's not the Internet idea.

Is it really normal and inevitable that users on one continent cannot exchange messages any longer if a server on another continent shuts down or is under a denial of service attack?

Is it really useful or convenient, that users in one country cannot exchange messages if somebody has the power to cut Internet connections to another countries or block connections to just some servers abroad?

Internet technology gives a clear answer: Of course not; what an insanity ;) Internet would say: Choose another route. And: Don't produce a single point of failure. Never rely on a single server if possible.

And from a legal perspective: Is it really necessary or legal that our service providers literaly knows anything about any of our activities?

Embrace this: Each message is routed over a server. Server provider knows time, sender and receiver of each message. Senders' and receivers' location can be figured out easily.

Encryption makes no difference. It is the pattern that counts despite the actual content: Who talked to whom, where and when?

That data is the feed of that Big Data Analysis thing what became a major fundament of a few numbers of huge IT companies and important tool for intelligence agencies. It's pretty obvious that those analysis results are valuable. Just have a look into the balance of one of the big IT concerns in that market.

That is not a complaint. It just an appeal: Be aware what we are doing. We should recognize the simple fact that the costs of social networks apps (and all those nice emoticons) are much lower than the worth of the knowledge of our social behavior. We should understand that bargain first. Than we can continue if we like.

SharkNet is a proof. It is a simple app, not even a sophisticated one. It has a release number lower than one. We haven't yet managed to support emoticons. There are still a lot of bugs in there.

But we are proud of it because SharkNet is a social app that works with the spirit of Internet: There is no server. The best data route is figured out each time a message is sent. We use spontaneous networks like Bluetooth and Wifi-direct if possible. We use e-mail. Choose your favorite (and trusted) mail provider. Change it as often as you like.

SharkNet is just an application. There is no SharkNet server, no SharkNet company. From a technical perspective, there is not even a SharkNet network. SharkNet is like human communication. We can talk when we meet. We can send letters or stick notes on our doors. In that way we span human networks since ancient times. These human networks are even invisible until we - hopefully willingly - tell each other.

SharkNet supports human networks instead of luring people into Web applications which make a lot money out of observing our social interaction (which could be also called stalking if we would be a bit polemic)

There is no business plan. And there is no SharkNet company. It is build at HTW Berlin with help of IFAF institute in Berlin, Scout24 and Cleopa GmbH. (Former) students implemented that piece of software with a lot of efforts and enthusiasm. Don't expect a perfect software.

Expect a proof instead. Expect a software that proofs an alternative.

Social networks can work without a server.
Social networks can comply to privacy.
SharkNet can work even without Internet by routing messages over peoples SharkNet instances. That is helpful in regions without an IT communication infrastructure (natural disaster, war, ..).
When using lokal networks only, SharkNet leaves no digital traces but on the mobiles phones. Observing communication patterns becomes really difficult.

We haven't yet thought about business plans. Social network analysis is not an options due to the lack of social network data. We like that :)

We know a lot of things which are not working. We appreciate any help and encouragement. Check that software out and let us know of failures. We try (!) to fix it soon. Or better: Join us, fork the project or just adopt/steel the idea. We think our IT world could use some alternatives.

Thomas Schwotzer
May, 15th 2017
Berlin / Germany

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasschwotzer/
https://www.xing.com/profile/Thomas_Schwotzer
https://www.htw-berlin.de/hochschule/personen/person/?eid=3665/
http://www.sharksystem.net