Jabber/XMPP: 25 Years of Digital Independence

Jabber/XMPP represents 25 years of digital independence built on open standards that allow users and organizations to avoid vendor lock-in in communication infrastructure. The article argues that digital services should be treated like essential infrastructure—owned collectively and built on interoperable standards rather than controlled by profit-driven corporations, similar to how roads, water supplies, and power grids operate. Open standards enable users to switch service providers without losing access to their networks, preventing the monopolistic control that currently dominates digital communication tools.