Everything Open Everywhere All At Once
Keynote Theatre (2B09) | Fri 23 Jan 3:45 p.m.–4:45 p.m.
Presented by
-
Steven De Costa
https://linkdigital.com.au
Steven De Costa is a long-time advocate for open source as a foundation for public good and digital transparency. As the founder of Link Digital, he has been a key steward of the CKAN project for over a decade, helping grow the open-source data platform used by governments worldwide. His work is driven by the belief that open technology is crucial for accountability and innovation.
His latest venture, the Objective Observer Initiative, extends this mission by developing FOSS tools for verifiable, independent observation of digital public infrastructures that support open knowledge operations. At the 026 Everything Open conference, Steven is excited to connect with peers to discuss the future of open data, building sustainable community-driven projects, and the technical challenges of ensuring digital sovereignty. When not wrangling data platforms, he's usually exploring the intersection of technology, governance, and societal change. Don't hesitate to say hello, or to ping him via the handle @starl3n.
Steven De Costa
https://linkdigital.com.au
Steven De Costa is a long-time advocate for open source as a foundation for public good and digital transparency. As the founder of Link Digital, he has been a key steward of the CKAN project for over a decade, helping grow the open-source data platform used by governments worldwide. His work is driven by the belief that open technology is crucial for accountability and innovation.
His latest venture, the Objective Observer Initiative, extends this mission by developing FOSS tools for verifiable, independent observation of digital public infrastructures that support open knowledge operations. At the 026 Everything Open conference, Steven is excited to connect with peers to discuss the future of open data, building sustainable community-driven projects, and the technical challenges of ensuring digital sovereignty. When not wrangling data platforms, he's usually exploring the intersection of technology, governance, and societal change. Don't hesitate to say hello, or to ping him via the handle @starl3n.
Abstract
Openness is no longer enough.
In an era of black box algorithms and fractured narratives, what we are really losing is not access, but causal continuity. Causal continuity is the ability to agree on how the present came to be. This talk explores the idea that truth is not something we assert, it is something that emerges when systems remain observable, communicable, and externally accountable.
Drawing from number theory, network routing, and systems biology, we will examine three constraints that govern all stable systems and introduce the concept of a Causal Engine. A Causal Engine is a way of understanding reality as structured flow rather than static fact. Within this frame, the lie is revealed not as a moral failure, but as a structural break in the path that history takes through time.
When those paths are obscured, entropy rises. Meaning fragments. Trust becomes expensive.
The final part of the talk turns outward toward the commons through the Objective Observer Initiative and a model of Co-Construction based on transparent intent and shared cadence. We will explore how open communities can move beyond access toward coherence. The invitation is simple and demanding. It is an invitation to build systems and societies that are verifiably honest by design everywhere and all at once.
Openness is no longer enough.
In an era of black box algorithms and fractured narratives, what we are really losing is not access, but causal continuity. Causal continuity is the ability to agree on how the present came to be. This talk explores the idea that truth is not something we assert, it is something that emerges when systems remain observable, communicable, and externally accountable.
Drawing from number theory, network routing, and systems biology, we will examine three constraints that govern all stable systems and introduce the concept of a Causal Engine. A Causal Engine is a way of understanding reality as structured flow rather than static fact. Within this frame, the lie is revealed not as a moral failure, but as a structural break in the path that history takes through time.
When those paths are obscured, entropy rises. Meaning fragments. Trust becomes expensive.
The final part of the talk turns outward toward the commons through the Objective Observer Initiative and a model of Co-Construction based on transparent intent and shared cadence. We will explore how open communities can move beyond access toward coherence. The invitation is simple and demanding. It is an invitation to build systems and societies that are verifiably honest by design everywhere and all at once.