Lasko
Improvement-Proposols
Lip 001

Lasko Improvement Proposal (LIP-001)

Title: Verified Author System, Backend Security Enhancements & AI Moderation Migration
Version: 4.0.0
Status: 🚧 In Progress
Author: Zach Price
Created: Feb 3 2025
Target Release: Lasko v4.0.0

Summary

This proposal outlines the transition from the name Lasko to Lasko, introduces a Verified Author System to improve content quality and security, and strengthens backend infrastructure by dockerizing the backend while restricting database access to internal requests. Additionally, this proposal includes migrating AI moderation to Flux for further decentralization and updating the Lasko branding with a new logo.

Objectives

  1. Implement a Verified Author System to prevent spam & elevate content quality.
  2. Ensure backend security by restricting direct Cassandra DB access.
  3. Leverage Telestai-message for cryptographic signing & verification.
  4. Rebrand Lasko to Lasko as part of the v4.0.0 release. 🟡
  5. Migrate AI moderation provider to Flux to decentralize moderation services. ✅
  6. Update Lasko branding with a new logo reflecting the new identity. 🟡

Added after LIP Creation

  1. Create Post Error Handling by reading the response body only once as text, attempt to parse it as JSON, and fall back to raw text if parsing fails, thus preventing the error of the body being consumed twice. ✅

📌 Verified Author System

How It Works

  • All users can sign into Lasko, read posts, and vote, but only approved Verified Authors can create new posts.
  • Node operators can choose to accept:
    • Verified Authors (default) – Pulled from a community-approved list.
    • Custom Author List – Operators can manually approve specific public keys (Telestai Addresses).

Governance & Onboarding

  • The system will operate similarly to Lasko-nodes, where authors submit a PR request to add their address as our early POC with plans to elaborate on this system later on for broader community accessibility and support.
  • Community reviews and approves author requests.
  • A verified icon will appear next to usernames for approved authors.

Reporting & Content Moderation

  • If a post is flagged 5 times, the author’s public key will be temporarily suspended.
  • The flagged metric might scale, i.e., if 200 people in the node, an X % would be required. Outside of scope for 4.0.0 though, can be implemented and perfected in the next sprint.
  • A governance appeal process will allow authors to regain posting privileges.

🔒 Backend Security & Infrastructure

  • Dockerizing the backend ensures Lasko nodes are easy to deploy securely.
  • Cassandra DB will no longer be exposed to the global internet—only FastAPI will be publicly accessible.
  • Post verification will require a Telestai-signed message, ensuring only properly signed posts enter the database.

🤖 AI Moderation Migration to Flux

  • Current AI moderation system relies on centralized services.
  • Lasko v4.0.0 will integrate Flux as the primary AI moderation provider, allowing for decentralized content filtering.
  • This enhances censorship resistance and ensures the moderation process is distributed across multiple independent nodes.

🎨 Branding & Logo Update

  • As part of the Lasko rebranding, a new logo will be introduced.
  • The logo will reflect the new decentralized-first vision of Lasko and align with Telestai’s broader ecosystem aesthetics.

🛠 Implementation & Dependencies

  • Frontend: Will display the Verified Author badge, integrate Flux moderation, and update branding.
  • Backend:
    • Update FastAPI layer to verify signed messages before adding posts.
    • Integrate a Telestai-message Python implementation to verify cryptographic signatures.
    • Fully dockerize the backend with proper security configurations.
    • Implement Flux-based AI moderation as the primary moderation engine.

🚀 Goals & Future Expansion

  • Prevent spam & abuse while keeping the system decentralized & scalable.
  • Encourage high-quality content by establishing a trusted author network.
  • Provide a sustainable on-ramp for new creators to enter the ecosystem.
  • Leverage AI moderation on a decentralized network for content filtering.

Next Steps

  1. Develop Python-based message verification for Telestai-message.
  2. Create Github Repo for onboarding creators via Pull Request.
  3. Implement frontend UI updates, including Verified Badges and Flux integration.
  4. Dockerize Lasko backend and restrict DB access.
  5. Update Lasko branding & logo.

Final Notes

Lasko v4.0.0 will be a major milestone in ensuring secure, high-quality content while maintaining decentralized principles. By incorporating Flux moderation, a Verified Author system, and security enhancements, this update will strengthen Lasko’s position as a leading decentralized content platform.

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