AIP-12:Updated with feedback for comment - 10 Days

10 day discussion completed. Here is the updated AIP-12 that will go to snapshot with discussion incorporated. Thanks to everyone for thoughtful contributions.

Summary

AssangeDAO has fulfilled its original purpose to help free Julian Assange. The DAO must now clarify its path forward. AIP-12 lays out a temporary transition process to evaluate and adopt new or updated governance frameworks in a way that remains aligned with Julian’s wishes, while mitigating potential attacks on the DAO or its mission.
In this revised version, the Consensus Unit (representing Julian) retains a proposal review role, ensuring any governance changes remain aligned with Assange’s interests. A temporary Governance Transition Unit (GTU) will work alongside (not replace) the Consensus Unit and the DAO community to gather, refine, and validate potential governance proposals. Once the DAO chooses a final framework, the GTU dissolves.

Background

Current AssangeDAO Governance

  • The DAO uses a Snapshot page, a forum (recently relaunched), and a multisig that manually implements approved proposals.
  • The Consensus Unit (Julian’s family or representatives) oversees alignment with Julian’s interests, providing final review before major proposals advance.
  • This structure can be improved by reducing reliance on a single multisig and expanding community-driven, on-chain mechanisms.

Need for a Governance Upgrade

  • Different proposals have circulated (e.g., moving to OpenZeppelin Governor).
  • Before deciding on any single model, the DAO must define a transparent process for evaluating and ultimately selecting a governance framework.

Community Input & Concerns

  • The Consensus Unit must be preserved to retain legitimacy as “AssangeDAO.”
  • Any transitional group (GTU) must be temporary with clear membership criteria.
  • Revisions must clarify that the Consensus Unit’s role is collaborative and review-focused (rather than a simple “veto”).

Revised AIP-12 Proposal Details

Governance Transition Process

  1. Ratify AIP-12 (Meta-Proposal)
  • Following the completion of the 10-day discussion period on the forum, proceed to Snapshot for a 2-day vote (5% quorum, simple majority).
  • If ratified, the following steps apply.
  1. Post Governance Proposals
  • Once AIP-12 is in effect, any DAO participant can draft an AssangeDAO Governance Proposal on the forum using the provided template (see Templates section).
  • Proposal authors are encouraged to seek input from the Consensus Unit during the drafting phase to ensure alignment with Julian’s interests.
  • Each proposal is discussed for 4 weeks, during which the GTU and Consensus Unit both provide guidance and feedback.
  1. Governance Transition Unit (GTU)
  • A temporary GTU will be formed to work alongside the Consensus Unit during the governance transition process.
  • Initial Composition: The GTU will initially consist of three founding members:
    • Silke Noa
    • Gabriel Shipton (Consensus Unit representative)
    • BZ
  • The GTU will be operational immediately upon ratification of AIP-12 with these three founding members. It will begin its work as outlined while additional members are added.
  • Final Composition: The GTU will ultimately consist of five members, including two additional members selected for their specific qualifications:
    • One community member with strong technical knowledge
    • One community member with a history of involvement in the DAO
  • Nomination and Acceptance Process for Additional GTU Members:
    • A new forum thread will be created for nominations immediately upon ratification of AIP-12.
    • Individuals may self-nominate by submitting the GTU Nomination Template (see Templates section) in the forum thread.
    • Community members can ask questions to nominees in the forum thread for 10 days.
    • After the 10-day nomination period, the three founding GTU members (Silke Noa, Gabriel Shipton, and BZ) will review nominees and select two additional members:
      • One with strong technical knowledge
      • One with a history of involvement in the DAO
    • To be selected, a nominee must receive at least two votes from the founding GTU members.
    • The selected additional members will be announced on the forum, finalizing the full GTU composition.
  • Role:
    • Analyze proposals for feasibility and security.
    • Collaborate with the Consensus Unit to ensure proposals align with Julian’s values.
    • Compile valid proposals for final voting on Snapshot.
  • The GTU dissolves automatically once the DAO adopts a final governance framework (see Step 6).
  1. Consensus Unit Proposal Review
  • The Consensus Unit (including Julian’s family or delegates) performs review of governance proposals for alignment with Julian’s best interests.
  • If a proposal appears to harm Julian’s legal/advocacy status or misalign the DAO with its founding mission, the Consensus Unit can request modifications or direct that it not proceed to the final vote.
  • In practice, the GTU and proposal authors should collaborate with the Consensus Unit throughout the discussion, ensuring proposals reflect Julian’s ideals and do not require a late-stage “block.”
  1. Validation of Proposals
  • After the 4-week forum period, the GTU completes a 2-week validation of each proposal’s:
    • Technical viability (code/tests or thorough plan)
    • Mitigation of likely attack vectors
    • Alignment with the DAO’s ethos and Julian’s values
  • The Consensus Unit collaborates in these discussions, providing final guidance or concerns.
  • Upon completion, the GTU will publish a validation report for each proposal on the forum, detailing their assessment and any feedback from the Consensus Unit.
  • Proposals deemed valid and aligned progress to the multi-option Snapshot vote.
  1. Multi-Option Snapshot Vote (AIP-13)
  • All validated proposals move to a single multi-option Snapshot (AIP-13), which runs 14 days with 10% quorum and utilizes private voting (e.g., Shutter).
  • The proposal with the most votes (and meeting quorum) passes.
  • The multisig then implements the winning proposal.
  • Once implementation is complete, the GTU dissolves.

Additional Notes

Temporary GTU

  • GTU membership is strictly time-limited to the duration of this transition.
  • Each GTU member must submit a public nomination on the forum, including:
    • Their identity or relevant background
    • History of contributions to AssangeDAO or related activism
    • Two vouches from recognized community figures or the Consensus Unit

Consensus Unit Retention

  • The DAO remains “AssangeDAO” only if Julian’s family or delegates have a central review role. This proposal formally reinforces that role.

Communication & Moderation

  • The forum remains the primary governance discussion venue.
  • The final governance frameworks chosen under AIP-13 must address how official community channels (Telegram/Discord, etc.) are moderated or established.

Technical & Legal Considerations

  • While some devs advocate an on-chain solution, AIP-12 is agnostic about the ultimate form. It only ensures that whichever approach is chosen is properly vetted by the GTU, the community, and the Consensus Unit.

Templates

GTU Nomination Template

  • Nominee: (Name/Pseudonym)
  • Public Profiles: (e.g., Twitter/X, GitHub)
  • Contribution History: Past involvement in AssangeDAO or activism
  • Alignment Statement: How you uphold Julian’s values
  • Optional: Vouches from recognized community figures (Consensus Unit, existing GTU, or respected participants)

AssangeDAO Governance Proposal Template

  • Summary (≤300 words): Plain-language explanation of the proposal
  • Proposal Details:
    • Technical & Implementation Plan
    • Governance Design (how proposals pass, how on/off-chain is structured, how the treasury is managed)
    • Attack Mitigation
    • Alignment with Julian (role of the Consensus Unit, etc.)
    • Communication & Moderation (forums, chat, moderator responsibilities/policies)

Conclusion

This updated AIP-12 respects the crucial role of the Consensus Unit in representing Julian’s interests, clarifies the temporary nature of the GTU, and establishes a community-driven path for finalizing a new governance model.
By ratifying this proposal, AssangeDAO can proceed confidently into the next phase, ensuring every voice is heard and that Julian’s values remain at the heart of AssangeDAO.

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