Not to be confused with Odyssey.

Odysee is an American decentralized video hosting platform built on the LBRY blockchain.[1][2][3] It positions itself as an alternative to mainstream services like YouTube, but with a focus on free speech and decentralization.[4]

The platform enables users to upload, share, and monetize videos through crypto currency, while maintaining content persistence through a peer-to-peer network.[5]

History

Odysee was founded in 2020 by Julian Chandra.[5]

In June 2024, Odysee was acquired by Forward Research. The acquisition took place after Odysee's former parent company LBRY lost a lawsuit from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in July 2023.[6][7]

Technology

Odysee is driven by blockchain, a decentralized protocol that allows digital content to be distributed and stored without a central authority. This blockchain network supports a peer-to-peer infrastructure, which allows users to upload and share videos. The metadata of uploaded content is stored on the blockchain, while the videos themselves are hosted across a distributed network of users, referred to as nodes.[8]

Moderation

Since its launch in September 2020, Odysee has been at the center of several controversies, primarily due to its content moderation policies and decentralized structure,[9] which critics argue have allowed harmful content to flourish. The platform's approach to content moderation, which is significantly less restrictive compared to mainstream platforms like YouTube, has attracted a range of users, including far-right groups, conspiracy theorists, and individuals banned from other platforms.[5][10]

In addition to allegations of facilitating hate speech, Odysee has also been criticized for hosting disinformation, particularly around topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines, and political issues. The platform's decentralized nature makes it difficult for content to be effectively moderated or removed, allowing misinformation and disinformation to spread without significant resistance. This has raised concerns about the proliferation of conspiracy theories related to elections, public health, and other widely debunked claims.[5]

Odysee has faced geo-blocking restrictions in regions such as the European Union, where governments have raised concerns about content deemed harmful or disinformation.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Carless, Will. "It looks like a regular video-streaming site. It's fundraising for white supremacists, report says". USA TODAY.
  2. ^ "A website that provides a platform for neo-Nazis got its seed funding from Boston elites". GBH. September 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "Blockchain-based Odysee keeps your social media content online". ZDNET.
  4. ^ Ha, Anthony (2020-12-07). "Odysee aims to build a more independent video platform". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  5. ^ a b c d "Extremist-friendly tech company closes after legal fine". theguardian.com. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  6. ^ Wilson, Jason (2023-07-16). "Extremist-friendly tech company closes after legal fine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  7. ^ "SEC vs LBRY Summary Judgement Ruling (We Lost)". Odysee. 7 November 2022. Archived from the original on 16 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Digital Threat Report: Odysee". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  9. ^ P, Nelly (15 December 2022). "The maze of content moderation on Odysee". CheckFirst. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024.
  10. ^ "On Odysee: The Role of Blockchain Technology for Monetisation in the Far-Right Online Milieu". ISD. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  11. ^ "Odysee: list of geo-blocking requests shows the EU and EU Member States are far from doing enough to enforce the law". EU DisinfoLab. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysee
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