I think the #matrix8 initiative sounds like it has potential. I wrote one post about anonymity already where addresses some concerns about being anonymous. I have thought of another potential issue and I don't have the time to go read through all the posts I can find to try to see how they addressed this. As such I am writing another post so they can address this.
NOTE/EDIT: I used Octtree all over the place. I believe the correct spelling is Octree.
What they are describing as Matrix8 to me sounds like a data structure in programming known as an OctTree. It is simply a situation where every NODE (in this case a person) is connected to up to 8 other people. All people would be put into this structure and it can infinitely expand.
(Image source: Researchgate.net)
(Image source: mshgrid.com)
This data structure is frequently used in Voxel and Procedural Level design where the links tend to be used to show what is in the direction of each vertice (i.e. point, corner, etc.) of a cube.
When making voxel worlds you look to see where EMPTY air is encountered to determine if you should render a side as visible or not. In some algorithms it can help determine the actual shape of that voxel as well depending upon the proximity of other data.
In the case of Matrix8 it sounds like a similar data structure is being used but rather than defining the corners of a visible voxel cube and using vertices it is instead using PEOPLE and in this sense each person in the Matrix8 would exist in the system as combination of the 8 people they are connected to.
(Image source: mathworks.com)
Potential problem...
Is it possible to move your position within the Matrix8, or the OctTree?
If not there could be a problem...
The way it looks like it is intended to work is the 8 people deliberate and then their deliberations can then lead to 8 other people deliberating as no two people would ever have the exact same members as each other. We all would essentially be members of essentially 8 other potential deliberation groups which are centered upon people.
Now it is useful to have this mental picture of Voxels for me as it is partially why I thought of the problem.
In reality each of us are unique...
Yet what if we were not... What if we were rather tribal? (sound familiar?)
What if we had some tribes...
A = Anarchist
L = Leftist
R = Right
C = Center
U = Matrix8 person
Perhaps your matrix8 looks something like
CCL
RUA
LRC
In that case your Matrix8 would consist of you, 3 Centrists, 2 Leftists, 1 Anarchist, and 2 Right leaning...
That should be some interesting diversity of thought. It might be some difficult discussions. Also realize that people's minds would change so I am ONLY using these as though they are static and unchanging positions to illustrate the idea.
With this in mind then cool things could happen.
However... here is the problem...
Consider me Center... in the next diagram
LLL
LUL
LLL
What happens when I happen to end up in a Martix8 configuration where all my direct links into the system end up being Leftist and I am not? (you and change this to being all Right, all centrist, or whatever makes you comfortable for this example)
In such a case I suspect my voice would fail to percolate and do much within the Matrix8 system.
I'd need to somehow need to shift my position in the Matrix8 matrices to have my voice begin to do what it needs to do...
Yet if we could freely move within the matrix8 then people could potentially game that as well and join ECHO CHAMBERS and intentionally create situations like the above. That would break the goals.
Is there a mechanism within #matrix8 to address this?
Now the problem could still exist slightly removed. If you visualize this all as terrain you could think things are great and when you view the data visually you might realize you are in a little pocket of green that happens to exist within a desert with no links beyond that desert.
How would your message and thoughts make it beyond that desert? You may have Matrix8 happening great within the pocket of green (Biome) and yet it never makes it beyond the desert regions that it is surrounded by.
I don't know if this makes sense or not to you. If you haven't dealt with voxels before this is likely VERY alien sounding. If you have dealt with voxels this may actually make sense to you.
(Image source: pinterest.com)
Imagine the block types each as being a specific ideological viewpoint...
In the image above... that little pool of water might be a specific viewpoint yet eventually all of its external viewpoints reach viewpoints they may not ever go beyond. It can be isolated.
Now one way I can think to potentially resolve this would be if several of your connected nodes are randomly/pseudo randomly swapped out so that there are always changes to your matrix8 group on at least a small amount. Then there would be changes to the group over time that would hopefully make this a non-issue. If your members of your matrix8 are constant though it seems like there could indeed be pockets of information that could be forever trapped.