  We propose a research initiative to explore and evaluate end-user technology,
infrastructure, business imperatives, and regulatory policy to support the
privacy, dignity, and market power of individual persons in the context of the
emerging digital economy. Our work shall take a "system-level" approach to the
design of technology and policy, considering the outcomes associated with the
implementation and deployment of systems consisting of operational
infrastructure, policies, and protocols for humans and computers alike. We seek
to define and evaluate a set of approaches to the design and implementation of
systems whose features specifically support the rights and market power of
individual persons and local organisations, for the explicit goal of supporting
truly consensual trust relationships and empowering local communities and
organisations.
