Crypto startup Dfinity is proving a point with LinkedUp, an open version of LinkedIn

Dfinity, a crypto-startup that caught headlines with its massive valuation even before launch, is showcasing an open social network called LinkedUp. 

LinkedUp is running on Dfinity's platform, which the company calls the Internet Computer. Instead of being hosted on a proprietary platform like Amazon AWS, it's hosted in a more decentralized manner (more on that later). And unlike LinkedIn, which is owned by Microsoft, LinkedUp is "not owned or controlled by a corporate entity," Dfinity claims. 

This announcement comes at a time when there's increased scrutiny on social networks with regard to user privacy. Facebook is the most egregious example, given its many privacy violations, for which it was ultimately fined $5 billion in July 2019. The prospect of a social network that can't mess with your data or betray your privacy (without anyone knowing it) is enticing.  Read more...