wwwn

WWWn is a proposed global information infrastructure that extends the ideas of the World Wide Web by emphasizing decentralized content addressing, verifiable provenance, and interoperable data exchange across heterogeneous networks. While the traditional Web centers on documents and hyperlinks, WWWn envisions a network of interconnected data objects, each identified by a persistent, cryptographically verifiable address and accompanied by machine-readable metadata.

Its architecture is described as a layered stack consisting of a data layer, a naming and addressing layer, and a transport and routing layer. The data layer relies on content-addressable storage and distributed archives similar to contemporary decentralized file systems. The naming layer provides scalable identifiers with flexible namespaces, while the routing layer supports privacy-preserving graph routing and selective disclosure.

Key principles include decentralization, resilience, and user-controlled privacy. Content-addressable storage enables immutability and reproducibility; signed metadata provides authenticity and provenance; versioning and provenance trails support auditing and scholarly citation. WWWn aims to interoperate with existing Web services through gateways and adapters, allowing current HTTP-based applications to access WWWn data.

Development and governance are coordinated by a hypothetical WWWn Initiative and Standards Council, which publishes specifications for data formats, identifiers, cryptographic identity, and interoperability with legacy Web protocols. Pilot deployments have occurred in research archives, digital libraries, and disaster-resilient networks to evaluate scalability and governance.

Critics note potential increases in complexity and latency, possible fragmentation between implementations, and governance challenges. Proponents argue that WWWn could improve data longevity, reproducibility, and privacy, especially in insecure or offline environments.