Public Data
Commons
because public data is important.
Making public data more resilient, permanent, and cost-effective, while also increasing accessibility.
The Public Data Commons exists to support open data initiatives in partnership with governments and official organizations across the globe. This initiative brings together cutting-edge archival technologies and the most civic-minded public institutions to leverage the unique benefits of decentralized storage – because public data should be a useful resource, not a costly burden to store.
Open data in cities help foster trust in governments by allowing citizens and community organizations to play a role in advancing accountability for a more effective government.
Control over today’s centralized internet is concentrated in the hands of a few, for-profit power players.
These huge, ultra-powerful companies collect our data, control the information we get, and present vulnerable targets for malicious hackers.
All too often, we see some of these power players curate public data behind paywalls. This undermines the original intention of making the data public to begin with.
We have seen these companies suffer blackouts in which vast swaths of the Web go down for hours, including websites that are massive contributors to the economy. That’s the problem with having single points of failure.
We seek to help governments and official organizations ensure that information remains open and accessible to their communities and constituents. We believe citizens and cities deserve a better version of the web - a decentralized one.
What is decentralized storage?
Governments and communities need accessible and cost-effective ways to store public datasets. Filecoin makes decentralized storage easy, and it costs a fraction of the price of centralized cloud storage.
On the Filecoin network, files are stored on a distributed network of professional storage providers around the globe, with built-in economic incentives to ensure files are stored reliably over time. The mission of Filecoin is to create a decentralized, efficient, and robust foundation for humanity’s information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Filecoin is a decentralized network to store files, with built-in economic incentives to ensure files are stored reliably over time. The mission of Filecoin is to create a decentralized, efficient, and robust foundation for humanity’s information.
Filecoin Foundation (FF) is an independent organization that facilitates governance of the Filecoin network, funds critical development projects, supports the growth of the Filecoin ecosystem, and advocates for Filecoin and the decentralized web. FF does this by coordinating and supporting the creation and improvement of open-source software and open protocols for decentralized data storage and retrieval networks.
If you are a government official interested in having your city join the Public Data Commons, reach out to us.
If you are from a civic technology group and want to leverage public datasets hosted on decentralized storage, fill out this form and we will notify you if there is a Public Data Awards program launched for your city.
Filecoin is the world’s most transparent blockchain when it comes to electricity consumption. Check the network’s energy use right now at filecoin.energy! Learn more about the Filecoin community’s commitment to energy efficiency.
Stay Tuned
More information to come soon on future events, such as the World Economic Forum and SXSW in 2023.
Events at SXSW in 2022
Events ranged from NFT showcases and discussions on sustainability in blockchains to hackathons.
World Economic Forum
The Decentralized Web Gateway at the World Economic Forum in Davos was hosted by Filecoin Foundation and sponsored by CNBC International.
Smart Cities Expo
At Smart Cities Expo in Miami, Philadelphia CIO Mark Wheeler will be on a panel–with FF Founding Officer Clara Tsao–titled, ‘Open Data, Digital Privacy, and Citizen Trust’,
Smart Cities Expo: Filecoin Foundation Breakfast
We will be hosting a Filecoin Foundation Breakfast at Smart Cities Expo in Miami.
