Federation

Federation enables our community to connect with other like-minded communities while maintaining our autonomy and values. Through federated protocols, we can build bridges without compromising our sovereignty.

Federation Principles

Autonomous Community Network

  • Independent Operation: Each community operates independently
  • Voluntary Participation: Communities choose their federation partnerships
  • Shared Values: Federation based on shared values and compatible governance
  • Mutual Respect: Respect for each community's autonomy and decisions

Federated Services

  • Matrix Protocol: Federated chat and messaging with other Matrix servers
  • Future Protocols: Potential federation with other decentralized platforms
  • Selective Federation: Choice in which services participate in federation
  • Community Control: Community decides federation policies and partnerships

Current Federation Status

Matrix Federation

  • Protocol: Uses Matrix protocol for federated messaging
  • Selective Federation: Currently limited to approved Maidan Cloud instances
  • Quality Control: Ensures federated communities share similar values
  • Future Expansion: Potential for broader federation with compatible communities

Federation Allowlist

# Current federation partners
maidan_cloud_federation_allowlist:
  # Add approved federation partners here
  # - "matrix.partner-community.org"
  # - "matrix.another-community.maidan.cloud"

Non-Federated Services

  • Internal Services: Most services currently operate independently
  • Privacy Protection: Non-federation protects member privacy
  • Community Focus: Maintains focus on internal community building
  • Future Consideration: May consider federation as community grows

Federation Benefits

Inter-Community Communication

  • Cross-Community Chat: Direct communication with members of federated communities
  • Knowledge Sharing: Share expertise and experiences across communities
  • Collaborative Projects: Joint projects between federated communities
  • Cultural Exchange: Learn from different community approaches and cultures

Resilience and Redundancy

  • Distributed Network: No single point of failure for the community network
  • Backup Communities: Federated partners can provide refuge if needed
  • Resource Sharing: Share technical resources and expertise
  • Collective Defense: Mutual support against threats to digital sovereignty

Federation Risks and Mitigation

Content Moderation Challenges

  • Different Standards: Federated communities may have different content policies
  • Moderation Burden: Increased need for moderation of external content
  • Policy Conflicts: Potential conflicts between community standards
  • Mitigation: Clear federation agreements and moderation protocols

Technical Considerations

  • Resource Usage: Federation increases server resource requirements
  • Security Surface: Larger attack surface with external connections
  • Data Leakage: Potential for unintended data sharing
  • Mitigation: Careful configuration and security monitoring

Federation Decision Process

Community Approval Required

  1. Proposal: Any member can propose federation with another community
  2. Evaluation: Technical and values alignment assessment
  3. Discussion: Community-wide discussion of benefits and risks
  4. Vote: Community vote required for federation approval
  5. Trial Period: Initial limited federation before full implementation

Evaluation Criteria

  • Values Alignment: Compatible community values and governance
  • Technical Compatibility: Compatible software and protocols
  • Security Standards: Adequate security practices
  • Community Health: Active, well-moderated community
  • Mutual Benefit: Clear benefits for both communities

Implementing Federation

Matrix Federation Setup

# Federation configuration for Matrix/Synapse
federation_domain_whitelist:
  - "maidan.cloud"  # Our own domain
  # Add approved partner domains here

Monitoring Federation

  • Traffic Analysis: Monitor federation traffic patterns
  • Content Review: Regular review of federated content
  • Performance Impact: Track resource usage from federation
  • Community Feedback: Regular community input on federation experience

Future Federation Possibilities

Potential Protocols

  • ActivityPub: Federation for social media platforms (Lemmy, PeerTube)
  • XMPP: Alternative messaging federation
  • Email: Federated email services
  • Collaborative Editing: Federated document collaboration

Building the Network

  • Maidan Cloud Network: Growing network of communities using our stack
  • Shared Governance Models: Learning from each other's approaches
  • Technical Collaboration: Joint development of platform features
  • Movement Building: Strengthening digital sovereignty movement

Federation Best Practices

Starting Small

  • Test Partnerships: Start with one or two trusted communities
  • Limited Scope: Begin with Matrix federation only
  • Gradual Expansion: Slowly add services and partners
  • Learn and Adapt: Adjust based on experience

Clear Communication

  • Federation Status: Clear documentation of who we federate with
  • User Education: Help members understand federation implications
  • Opt-in Features: Allow members to choose federation participation
  • Transparency: Regular reports on federation activities

Federation is a journey, not a destination. We build connections carefully, prioritizing community values and member safety while expanding our horizons through meaningful partnerships.