The OPTF and Session

The OPTF is transferring its responsibilities as steward of the Session project to the newly established Swiss foundation, the Session Technology Foundation. Although the OPTF’s role is changing, the Session project will continue through the newly established Session Technology Foundation and other contributors.

We have guided the Session project since its inception in 2018, and have immensely enjoyed our time as a contributor. In spite of this chapter ending, the OPTF remains an ardent supporter of digital privacy and decentralisation. These ideals lay at the heart of our organisation, and future programs will continue supporting technological advancement and innovation in these areas.

Looking back on Session’s success

Session started with four ordinary Australians and an ambitious idea scribbled on the back of a banh mi wrapper. Six years later, it is a global movement with a network of over 2,000 decentralised nodes connecting over 1,000,000 users.

Session has grown to be much larger than that original idea or indeed the OPTF itself. Every day, Session helps people connect with safety, security, and privacy.

It is used by activists to organise. It is used by friends to stay in touch and share special moments. It is used by colleagues to bring bold new ideas into the world. It is used by you, and by me. It is a remarkable technology, and we are glad to have contributed to its growth thus far. May it go on to even greater things.

Passing the torch

Session was designed to be self-sufficient. Of course Session can go on without the OPTF—that was the idea all along. 

The OPTF will always hold a place in Session’s history as its original steward, but let Session’s future hold as many stewards as it requires. The OPTF is not the one and only. One entity attempting, or even being perceived, to exert control over the protocol would be to Session’s detriment—it is not designed to be owned or controlled.

Recent events forced the OPTF to reflect on whether it can continue to effectively contribute to the Session project given its status as an Australian company. As part of these reflections, the board considered the kinds of development it could reasonably undertake, how this could change in the future, and whether a different organisation could better fulfil the role of steward. 

Right now, the proactive transfer of stewardship will benefit the protocol. We are proud to make that choice.

While the role of steward does not bestow special powers over Session or the network, it is an important symbol. As a Swiss foundation, the Session Technology Foundation will provide a stable, high-integrity entity to take over the stewardship of Session.

OPTF next

Although the OPTF will no longer contribute directly to Session itself, it will continue to pursue its mission through other programs. We will persist with our education and advocacy efforts, aiming to put secure and private technologies in the hands of at-risk peoples. 

More details will be shared about our next steps once we have completed the wrap-up for all our obligations to the Session project. Right now, we are focused on helping the Session Technology Foundation establish itself as the new steward. The next phase for the OPTF is an exciting one, and we remain as committed to privacy as ever.