Doctorow: Interoperability Can Save the Open Web
Cory Doctorow's Case for Interoperability as the Web's Best Defense
Cory Doctorow's influential essay 'Interoperability Can Save the Open Web' has resurfaced on Hacker News (139 points, 38 comments), reigniting debate about how to counter Big Tech's walled gardens without relying solely on antitrust regulation.
The Core Argument
Doctorow argues that interoperability — the ability of different systems to work together — is the most powerful tool for preserving an open internet. Rather than waiting for regulators to break up tech monopolies, interoperability mandates would force platforms to let users move their data, connections, and content between competing services.
The Enshittification Framework
The essay builds on Doctorow's widely cited 'enshittification' theory: platforms follow a predictable lifecycle:
- Users first: Platforms subsidize users to lock them in
- Then suppliers: Once locked in, platforms squeeze suppliers (creators, merchants)
- Then users again: Finally, platforms squeeze users for maximum shareholder value
Interoperability breaks this cycle by giving users an escape hatch at every stage.
Technical vs. Legal Approaches
Two paths to interoperability:
- Technical: Reverse engineering, scraping, third-party clients (what happened with RSS, early Twitter)
- Legal: Regulatory mandates like the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA)
Doctorow argues legal mandates are more durable because platforms can't simply change APIs to break third-party tools.
Real-World Examples
- Email: Interoperable by design (SMTP) — no single company controls email
- SMS: Cross-carrier messaging worked because of interoperability mandates
- Fediverse/Mastodon: ActivityPub protocol enables decentralized social networking
- EU DMA: Forces gatekeepers to allow third-party interoperability
The Counterarguments
Critics argue that interoperability:
- Could reduce platform investment in innovation
- May create security risks (if platforms must open up)
- Doesn't address the root cause of platform power (network effects)
Why It's Relevant Now
With Meta and YouTube facing legal action for addiction, AI companies building closed ecosystems, and regulators worldwide targeting Big Tech, the interoperability debate has never been more timely.