Mastodon, a decentralized social network organization, has announced plans to create a new non-profit entity in Europe, marking a significant shift towards decentralized governance and community control. The move aims to ensure that no single individual, including its current CEO and creator Eugen Rochko, has control over the entire project.

The new entity will wholly own the Mastodon GmbH for-profit entity, and the organization is currently finalizing the jurisdiction and structure for the new setup. This change in governance is a deliberate effort to differentiate Mastodon from social networks controlled by CEOs like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, where a single person has significant influence over the platform.

Rochko, who founded Mastodon, will hand over management responsibilities to the new entity and focus on product strategy. The organization will continue to host the mastodon.social and mastodon.online servers, which users can sign up for and join the ActivityPub-based network. With 835,000 monthly active users spread across thousands of servers, Mastodon's decentralized approach has garnered significant attention and adoption.

In a blog post, Mastodon explained that its initial legal setup was a means to an end, allowing Rochko to continue operations. However, the organization has since recognized the need for a more sustainable and community-driven approach. Last year, Mastodon formed a U.S.-based non-profit to access more funds and grants, but this move resulted in the loss of its non-profit status in Germany.

The decision to create a new non-profit entity in Europe is seen as a response to the growing concern over the ownership and control of open-source projects. The issue has been highlighted in recent months, with questions raised about the control of certain WordPress community projects being in the hands of WordPress's co-creator Matt Mullenweg. By decentralizing its governance, Mastodon aims to avoid similar situations where a single person has decision-making powers.

The new governance structure is expected to establish appropriate leadership frameworks that reflect the nature and purpose of Mastodon as a whole, responsibly serving the community. As the organization navigates this significant change, it remains committed to its vision of creating a social media platform that is free from the control of a single wealthy individual.

The implications of Mastodon's shift towards decentralized governance are far-reaching, with potential to inspire similar changes in the tech industry. As the organization continues to evolve, its commitment to community control and transparency is likely to attract more users and developers who share its vision for a decentralized social media ecosystem.

In the broader context, Mastodon's move highlights the importance of governance and ownership structures in shaping the future of social media. As concerns over data privacy, algorithmic control, and online censorship continue to grow, decentralized platforms like Mastodon are emerging as viable alternatives to traditional social media networks.