About the Civil Society Technology Foundation

The Civil Society Technology Foundation (CSTF) is a community-driven organization dedicated to empowering individuals and civil society organizations to reclaim digital sovereignty through open-source tools and self-hosted infrastructure.

Our Mission

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We believe that independent, community-controlled technology is essential for a vibrant civil society in the digital age. As digital systems increasingly mediate civic participation, it’s vital that these systems remain under the control of the communities they serve, rather than consolidated in the hands of governments or corporations.

The Civil Society Technology Foundation works to achieve this vision through:

• Creating Educational Resources that build technical literacy and sovereignty awareness
• Developing Reference Implementations like the Sovereign Cloud for self-hosted infrastructure
• Building Community around sovereign technology practices and principles
• Advancing Open Standards that enable interoperability without centralized control
• Supporting Civil Society Organizations in their journey toward digital independence

Who We Are

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• Charter - The comprehensive founding document for the organization, including structure, governance, and strategic focus areas
• Mission Statement - Our concise mission and approach to digital sovereignty
• Core Principles - Detailed explanations of our 11 guiding principles with practical implications

What We Believe

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• The Importance of Independent Technology - Cornerstone essay on why independent technology matters for civil society
• Why Digital Sovereignty Matters - Accessible primer on digital sovereignty and its importance
• Arguments Against Centralization - Comprehensive resource categorizing various arguments against digital centralization
• Position Statements - Our formal positions on key issues affecting digital sovereignty