Introducing the Session Technology Foundation

Session is different from other tech platforms—it doesn’t answer to any single person. Instead, it operates on a decentralised protocol designed with a clear purpose: preserving and protecting privacy. Session’s code is completely open source, and its servers are operated by a diverse community of operators from around the world. It is a truly decentralised communication protocol. 

However, a steward is still required to handle duties like publishing to app stores, maintaining repositories, and writing documentation. The steward’s role is not to own or control Session, but to guide and support  it. However, given the current regulatory environment in Australia around privacy technology and encrypted messaging, Session’s original steward, the OPTF, has chosen to pass on its responsibilities as steward of the project. 

From now on, Session will be stewarded by a new Swiss foundation, the Session Technology Foundation.

The Swiss foundation model is aligned with Session’s mission, and the Session Technology Foundation brings stability and security as Session’s new steward.

Switzerland offers some of the most robust digital privacy regulations in the world, providing a home to many builders of privacy-tech, like Proton, Threema, and Nym. It’s a country with a long-standing tradition of respecting personal privacy and fostering technological innovation. 

The Session Technology Foundation’s mission is to promote digital innovation and rights, which it intends to fulfil through contributions to Session. As a steward of the Session ecosystem, it is essential for the Session Technology Foundation to embody the core principles of the protocol itself in its codes and practices.

The foundation’s purpose echoes Session’s: to promote digital rights and innovation. This is codified in the foundation’s constitutional documents. These legally binding and fixed purposes cannot be altered by board members or anyone else, ensuring that the foundation remains true to its original mission. This strict governance model reflects the seriousness and dedication with which the foundation treats its duty to privacy and digital rights.

Overall, the foundation’s contributions as a steward will bring additional security to the future of Session as an ecosystem. To find out more about the Session Technology Foundation, visit their website or read the President’s letter.

Scam warning: During this period of transition, only trust updates from https://session.foundation or @SessionTechFND on Twitter. Please look out for each other, and be mindful of bad actors. 

Session

Session and the Session protocol are not changing. Session will continue working the same way it always has—sending messages, not metadata.

However, there are some changes you should expect. If you notice anything that seems unusual and is not mentioned here, please clarify via official channels.

• On app publishing platforms, such as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the developer will now appear as ‘Session Technology Stiftung’ or “Session Technology Foundation”  (Stiftung is German for Foundation)

• GitHub repositories will be moved to session-foundation organisation

• Keys used to sign application packages will change to keys held by a member of the Session Technology Foundation 

• Transparency reports will now be published via Session Technology Foundation

Some important things which are not changing

• Session’s website will remain at https://getsession.org

• Session’s handle on Twitter will remain as @session_app

Although there aren’t immediate or major changes coming to Session, the Session Technology Foundation will contribute to the Session ecosystem through development, education, grant-making, and advocacy. You can find out more about their plans for contribution in their ecosystem vision document. 

The OPTF

The OPTF is the Australian non-profit which previously stewarded Session. Although the OPTF will no longer perform the same role, it will still support Session and other privacy technologies through advocacy and education. 

The OPTF will still publish a transparency report covering the July-September period, but beyond this time period any requests will be forwarded to the Session Technology Foundation. 

Session thanks the OPTF for its support throughout the project’s history and dedication to privacy technology and education. If you are curious about the OPTF’s reasoning for discontinuing its stewardship of Session, check out their post. 

Session going forward

This is an exciting time for Session. With the launch of a new and improved network incentive layer approaching, and the stewardship of a Swiss foundation, it is easy to be optimistic about the Session ecosystem’s future. 

As always, Session is dedicated to preserving privacy and digital rights. Although some things are changing—Session’s mission will not.