Protocol

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Galloway, A. R. (2006). "Protocol". Theory Culture Society, 23, pp 317. doi: 10.1177/026327640602300241

Protocol is a technological problematic (317)

• Proposing challenges that future theorists will face

Contents 1 Distributed network 2 Protocol 3 Theoretical references 3.1 Leibniz, Monadology 3.2 Spinoza, Ethics 3.3 von Bertalanffy 3.4 Wiener, Cybernetics 3.5 Shannon, Weaver, Information theory 3.6 Graph theory 4 Emancipatory notions 4.1 Brecht, on radio 4.2 Enzensberger 4.3 Deleuze, Guattari 4.4 Galison 4.5 Arquilla, Ronfeldt 4.6 Baran, Davies, Packet-switching, 1964 5 Network hegemony 5.1 "Change" rather than "emancipation" 5.2 Interactivity 5.3 Surface over source 5.4 De-politicization of algorithms 6 Deleuze, Foucault 6.1 Society of control (Deleuze) 7 Internet protocols as historical documents 8 Key protocol features 9 Conclusion

Distributed network

• Equity between nodes
• Bi-directional links
• High degree of redundancy
• Lack of internal hierarchy

Protocol

The technology of organization and control operating in distributed networks

• Functions w/o hierarchical, pyramidal, or centralized mechanisms

Systems of material organization

• Structure relationships of bits and atoms
• Constrain their flow through distributed networks (319)

Theoretical references

Leibniz, Monadology

"a smooth, universal network of 'monads', each of which is singular but also contains within it a mirror of the totality (317)."

Note: selected by Wiener (317)

Spinoza, Ethics

Identifies a "universal substance"

• Infinite attributes
• Thought and extension emerge and form human body
• Complete with "distributed network of relations and counterrelations"

von Bertalanffy

"Science of general systems", 1976

• Along with Wiener...

Wiener, Cybernetics

Open v. closed systems

• Nested subsystems
• Communication and control

Shannon, Weaver, Information theory

Communication defined in terms of

• "relative integrity of symbolic patterns" (318)

Graph theory

A vocabulary for understanding

• Nodes
• Links
• Simply "graphs" and graph types
  • e.g. "connected graph"

Emancipatory notions

Assumed across a variety of literature

• Networks can enable de-hierarchization, de-centralization, fluidity

Brecht, on radio

Utopia reading of radio

• Interactivity
• Bi-directionality

Enzensberger

Extended Brecht

• Chart of emancipated versus repressive media

Deleuze, Guattari

• Rhizome (1987)

Galison

• "his war against the center" (318)

Arquilla, Ronfeldt

RAND researchers

• Theory of "netwar" (2001)

Baran, Davies, Packet-switching, 1964

Packet-switching distributed network design

• Implemented by ARPAnet
• Galloway calls Baran, "the father of protocological systems" (318)

Distributed networks create new(ly) "robust structures for organziation and control"

• They do not remove organization and control

Network hegemony

"[Today,] the distributed network is the new citadel, the new army, the new power. (318)"

• New systems of org/ctrl
• Incompatible with rigid pyramids, hierarchies
• But equally effective
  • Regulating flows
  • Coding objects
  • Sculpting life forms

"Change" rather than "emancipation"

Goal: (re: Foucault): is to understand the nature of this new logic of organization, not to become enamored of it. (318)

Interactivity

Interaction, communication req'd for survival

• Mined for "meaningful data, tracked for illegal data" (319)
• "Total participation, universal capture" (319)

Surface over source

Literally the danger of proprietary encapsulation

• Binary objects with APIs
• Web services with APIs
• Rather than open code libraries

"Open source movement is not enough [...] something like an 'open runtime' movement might be required. (319)"

De-politicization of algorithms

Political development of algorithms develops around utility, efficiency

• No critical movement
• No alternative, progressive movement

Deleuze, Foucault

Society of control (Deleuze)

"Ultra-radpid forms of free floating control" (319)

• Found in distributed networks
• May be computer based or biological (or hybrid form)

Internet protocols as historical documents

RFCs

• Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)

Key protocol features

Semantic indifference

• Data is "parsed" not read (319)
• Any content understanding on the part of the machine is
  • "derived as an epiphenomenon of human behavior" (319)

Media objects

• Intersection of two protocols
  • File format
  • Communication protocol

Conclusion

Viruses, worms reveal the homogeneity of distributed networks

• Ability to propagate info widely w ease

Need for new models of political intervention

• Networks, rhizomes, grassroots are co-opted
• Understanding protocological control
• Developing counter-protocological practices