Merri-bek Tech builds local digital networks to bypass major tech

Jade Ambrose sits in a Melbourne rental home operating a palm-sized Raspberry Pi computer labeled for use in case of climate breakdown, ABC News reported. The software engineer and community organiser wants the gadget to serve as a lifeline for residents during potential power and internet outages driven by extreme weather events.

Building Local Digital Networks in Melbourne

Ambrose participates in a niche group named Merri-bek Tech. The collective aims to install renewable-powered servers across multiple community hubs. Ambrose explained that these locations would operate as designated spaces where citizens could access digital services and communicate with other local facilities even if mainstream electricity and internet grids fail.

Formed in 2023, the group has signed up 20 people to host the small devices in their homes. However, organizers have not yet convinced official community hubs, such as local libraries or neighborhood houses, to host the hardware. Technical hurdles also remain for the grassroots initiative.

Although wireless setups can technically transmit small data packets between devices without standard internet access, Ambrose noted that the group has not yet put its open-source software plan into practice. The software is designed to run locally and synchronize across multiple sites, but the system is not yet operational.

The Global Push for Digital Sovereignty

The Melbourne project forms part of a broader international movement aimed at establishing environmentally friendly, grassroots alternatives to major technology corporations. This push for digital sovereignty involves users gaining direct control over the infrastructure, hardware, and software that power their digital lives, moving away from systems dominated by a handful of US firms.

Ashwin Nagappa, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Digital Media Research Centre at QUT, pointed out that recent developments in artificial intelligence have accelerated sovereignty efforts worldwide. Governments and organizations are increasingly trying to wrest control from American tech giants due to privacy concerns and geopolitical tensions.

Specifically with the AI age in the last two, three years, everyone is consolidating this idea of being sovereign and independent, either for geopolitical reasons or privacy.

Ashwin Nagappa

Europe currently leads these efforts. The European Union has proposed a plan to reduce reliance on non-EU cloud providers and hardware. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the region cannot afford to depend on outside entities for technologies supporting hospitals, energy grids, and secure services.

We cannot afford to depend on others for the technologies that keep our hospitals running, our energy grids stable and our services secure.

Ursula von der Leyen

Critics of the European proposal argue that the transition will be neither easy nor inexpensive, and the plan still requires formal legislation. Meanwhile, Nagappa noted that Australia lags behind Europe in developing domestic alternative technologies, leaving local infrastructure vulnerable to foreign ownership and geopolitical friction. Federal officials previously highlighted potential risks associated with relying on foreign private satellite internet providers like Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Overcoming Friction in Decentralized Systems

Grassroots efforts to self-host data and build internet commons face distinct structural challenges. Nagappa explained that decentralized systems are difficult to scale and carry risks involving rogue operators. Convincing everyday users to switch from mainstream software platforms to unfamiliar alternatives remains a significant obstacle.

Ambrose acknowledged that stepping away from major technology companies introduces friction into everyday routines. He maintains that such shifts only occur when individuals consciously decide to set boundaries and reject less ethical options.