The Digg Dilemma - The True Spirit of Web 2.0

Ah yes, we’ve all read or at least heard about the digg incident that occurred earlier this week. The story started out with the HD-DVD encryption code being broken and posted all over digg (eventually reached the top page of the site), then Jay Adelson, co-founder and CEO of digg posted a comment that stated they would delete all posted stories of the cracked encryption code from the digg site in order to avoid violation of intellectual property rights. Boy, was that enough to start an upheaval within the digg community! Later that day, after thousands of comments to Jay’s post were voiced by digg users, co-founder, Kevin Rose posted one last comment to the frustrated digg community that posts which contained the encryption code would once again be allowed back onto the site.

Kevin quoted: “We’ve always given site moderation (digging/burying) power to the community…after seeing hundreds of stories and reading thousands of comments, you’ve made it clear. You’d rather see Digg go down fighting than bow down to a bigger company. We hear you, and effective immediately we won’t delete stories or comments containing the code and will deal with whatever the consequences might be.”

Phew! That is power of the masses at its finest. But isn’t that what Web 2.0 is all about; power to the community? I think digg did a great job maintaining their Web 2.0 Spirit. In my mind, the Web 2.0 Spirit is the approach taken during times of trouble that uphold original core values throughout the entirety of the site and amongst the community…even if that means a leap into a fiery pit of digital-death!

In the end, the community will appreciate your dedication to it. The enduring drive, passion, and veracity of the community no matter the consequences are what ultimately define the Web 2.0 Spirit. And it’s in that spirit where ideas thrive and evolve. And it’s in these ideas where a future generation of web, community involvement, and spirit will blossom and prosper.

Intellectual property right violations did not start with digg, nor will they end with digg. Who will be the next Web 2.0 controversy? Who really knows? But the real question is how will the next Web 2.0 Company handle the controversy? Will they maintain their Web 2.0 Spirit or crumble against the pressure to conform to a greater authority?