The web <i>itself</i> is a federated system, running largely on Free software, built to open specifications. (Email, too.) The idea that we don&#x27;t have federated systems and that those that do exist are unused isn&#x27;t particularly based in reality.<p>It&#x27;s true that the Free Software federated systems that are more strongly based in ideology that bringing use-value to users have generally failed to experience uptake, but that should probably not be considered a surprise.