“A lot of our lives are digital, so when we talk about fair data it’s really important because it affects all of us,” said Benny. “We have to think deeply about what tools we’re using and building.”
At the center of the demonstration was Checkpoint, a physical photo booth featuring a camera, a single button, and a receipt printer. By taking a selfie, users are onboarded to the network. Users can also feed texts that will appear on other users’ printed selfie receipts, creating unexpected connections between members.
This Checkpoint is the first in the city, joining 20 devices installed across New York. The local concentration of these devices at social spaces, climbing gyms, cafes and bookstores, as well as cultural spaces like Printed Matter, creates an organic sense of connection that will seed the alternative social media culture of PERMA.
Giang also highlighted how, unlike traditional social media which manipulates attention through their algorithms, this alternative is not designed as a “black box” to strategically get users “hooked” onto the platform.
PERMA is one of many projects aligned with 221A’s mission to develop Fair Data prototypes and policies, with the goal to create decentralized infrastructure for public good. At the forefront of concerns discussed by attendees was AI-generated content and its implications for creators—one of 221A’s focus for fair data usage.
“A major driver and focus of this fair data work is providing new tools and better conditions for our sector in the AI-era,” says 221A Head of Strategy, Jesse McKee. “These conversations happening today are shaping the digital infrastructure of tomorrow. That’s what excites me about our Fair Data ecosystem —we’re not just critiquing what’s not working, we’re actively building the tools and systems that will support a more equitable digital culture for generations to come.”
Through digital research and development, 221A is stewarding technical and governance infrastructure for a FAIR data ecosystem where cultural data is:
- Findable through proper attribution
- Accessible through democratic governance
- Interoperable with applications or workflows for analysis, storage, and processing
- Reusable through ethical licensing frameworks
This event was the first in a series of Fair Data Dialogue around Web Summit Vancouver 2025, which also includes Building the Blocks of Culture: Objects, Narratives, Networks on Thursday, May 29, and a demo of the Fair Data Ecosystem at the B.C. Venture Spotlight on Friday May 30.
The conversation also touched on the economics of decentralized systems. which require solutions outside a single owner or entity to “pay the bill” Giang explained, referring to PERMA’s decentralized storage methods.
“Real power is within people and connecting people is the key to this power.” said attendee, Sadaf Amini, an animator and Coworking member, highlighting 221A’s approach to building a fair data ecosystem that strengthens connections and communities.
