The web does not need gatekeepers: Cloudflare’s new “signed agents” pitch

12 days ago

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Cloudflare's 'signed agents' proposal is criticized for acting as a gatekeeper to the open web, requiring builders to apply for permission.
The web's success is attributed to its open nature, where no single company controls it, allowing for innovation and open standards to thrive.
Agents are predicted to become major users of the web, performing tasks like retrieving information and automating workflows, blurring the line between human and agent actions.
Authentication and authorization are distinct concepts; Cloudflare's approach conflates them, leading to flawed 'bot passport' ideas.
A decentralized, verifiable, and composable authentication system is proposed, leveraging public key cryptography without central gatekeepers.
Authorization for agents should be task-specific, not agent-specific, to ensure security and flexibility.
The future of the web should rely on open protocols rather than gatekeepers, ensuring interoperability and innovation.

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