Prav

Prav

A privacy focused messenger for the users, of the users and by the users

How many of you use messengers daily?

But why do you use it?

Because.. my friends use it?

And your friends use it because.. their friends use it?

So what is prav?

  • Prav is a libre chat app based on the federated XMPP protocol
  • Convenient to use, thanks to SMS based login
  • Decisions are democratically made by the users due to the co-operative structure
  • Legally required to work for benefit of users thanks to the co-operative.
  • No vendor lockin (you can move to any other XMPP provider and still talk with prav users)

Why Prav instead of Signal and co.?

  • Sustainable funding model
  • Features are democratically chosen through co-operative
  • Federated - You can talk with anyone on any other XMPP server

Ok, but what is this co-operative thing?

  • A multi-state co-operative is a legal entity which is controlled by its members
  • Every member owns a share of the co-op, currently set at ₹1000
  • Everyone gets 1 vote, regardless of how many shares they own
  • No person/entity can take over the co-op
  • Project Leader is elected every two years (currently) by members.
  • Project is steered based on need of members, not on what is most profitable

Collective Control


An example poll where members are exercising their co-operative rights

About XMPP and federation

  • XMPP is a federated messaging protocol that uses XML streams
  • Federation means you can talk to people on other XMPP servers
  • Thanks to inter-op you can use your prav account with any XMPP client
  • Battle hardened and scalable
  • Previously used as the backend of many big services like WhatsApp, but also AOL, Yahoo and Google Talk..

How can I help?

  • Legal work (co-operative, privacy policy etc.)
  • Translations through Codeberg Translation
  • Monetary contributions (pledging as a member, paying for our monthly expenses till formation of co-op etc.)
  • Code contributions and Server Maintenance
  • Tell others about Prav
  • Design posters to tell others about prav

See: https://prav.app/volunteer

Demo

Our next steps

  • Bank registration and formation of the co-operative
  • Username with SMS for better security (similar to telegram)
  • Translate our website and app into all major Indian languages
  • Remote backup for user-data (similar to WhatsApp's backup to google option)
  • Off-Site backup for prav servers
  • iOS and Desktop clients
  • QoL features like better key sharing, custom chat bg, clickable replies
  • Redesign of android client with the upcoming conversations v3
  • Proper privacy policy and ToS

The End

My Website: https://aryak.me

Prav Website: https://prav.app
Email: prav@fsci.in
Pledge to become a part of the co-op: https://prav.app/become-a-member/

Showcase observation that most of these are nonfree

Mention that this is what is known as network effect and how this used to be less in the era of Yahoo and AOL and all since they all used same protocol and could talk between each other mention that emial is still like this

Mention redhat and whatsapp takeovers