Notices by World Wide Web Consortium (w3c@w3c.social)

The Portable Network Graphics (PNG) Working Group published Portable Network Graphics (PNG) Specification (Third Edition) as a W3C Proposed Recommendation. This document describes PNG (Portable Network Graphics), an extensible file format for the lossless, portable, well-compressed storage of static and animated raster images.This spec defines two Internet Media Types, image/png and image/apng.

https://www.w3.org/news/2025/portable-network-graphics-png-specification-third-edition-is-a-w3c-proposed-recommendation/

🎂 the W3C Patent Policy was adopted 22 years ago today 🎉

https://www.w3.org/press-releases/2003/patentpolicy/

"Royalty-free" is meant to boost adoption, implementation, and ultimately growth of the web as a platform.

W3C standards may be used by anyone at no cost; if they were not free, developers would ignore them.

📆 6 May 2025 14:00–15:30 UTC
Authentic Web workshop

Today! The Credible Web Community Group will hold part 2 of the Authentic Web workshop with speakers Leonard Rosenthol and Brendan Quinn.
https://www.w3.org/events/meetings/8235290b-3029-4252-a962-9988b74cc862/

The Devices and Sensors Working Group has published Compute Pressure Level 1 as W3C Candidate Recommendation. The Compute Pressure API provides a way for websites to react to changes in the CPU pressure of the target device, such that websites can trade off resources for an improved user experience.
https://www.w3.org/news/2025/w3c-invites-implementations-of-compute-pressure-level-1/

"Third Party Cookies Must Be Removed" has been published as a W3C Draft finding by @tag

"Third-party (AKA cross-site) cookies are harmful to the web, and must be removed from the web platform. This finding explains why they must be removed, and examines the challenges in removing them. We highlight some use cases that depend on third-party cookies and offer some examples of designed-for-purpose technologies that can replace them."
https://w3ctag.github.io/web-without-3p-cookies/

On 30 April 1993, CERN's Directors declared that the three components of Web software (the basic line-mode client, the basic server and the library of common code) that Tim Berners-Lee @timbl had first proposed in 1989, were to be put in the Public Domain.

We are grateful to CERN and to Tim for this world changing decision which has enabled the W3C community to create open, accessible, international web standards which make the web work, for everyone.
https://home.web.cern.ch/science/computing/birth-web/licensing-web

W3C @wai published the Authorized Brazilian Portuguese Translation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Diretrizes de Acessibilidade para Conteúdo Web (WCAG) 2.2.

The Lead Translation Organization for this Authorized Translation was https://Ceweb.br. WAI particularly encourages the development of Authorized Translations of WCAG 2.2 to facilitate their adoption and implementation internationally. See more at:
https://www.w3.org/news/2025/authorized-translation-of-wcag-2-2-in-brazilian-portuguese/

W3C tech in the news: "A Long-Shot Bet to Bypass the Middlemen of Social Media"

"The energy around ActivityPub reminds me of the early days of the Web,” Mr. Nelson said in a recent interview, “where anything seemed possible, and innovation was around every corner.”
https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20250307210844/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/technology/mike-mccue-surf-browser-decentralized-internet.html

Today is the anniversary of the invention of the World Wide Web in 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee.

W3C has continued to expand on what the web does by our mission to make the web work, for everyone. We bring together global stakeholders to develop open standards that enable a World Wide Web that connects and empowers humanity.
https://www.w3.org/mission/

Welcome back our Chinese friends in the web community after the vibrant celebrations of the Year of the Snake.

May the qualities of the Snake—wisdom, agility, power, grace, and determination—inspire us all to embrace change and innovation as we navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead. We wish everyone a prosperous start in 2025!

The Verifiable Credentials Working Group invites implementations of the following Candidate Recommendation Snapshot: Controlled Identifiers (CIDs) v1.0.

A controlled identifier document contains cryptographic material and lists service endpoints for the purposes of verifying cryptographic proofs from, and interacting with, the controller of an identifier.
https://www.w3.org/news/2025/w3c-invites-implementations-of-controlled-identifiers-cids-v1-0/

On International Privacy Day we invite you to check out "Privacy Principles" for the web by @tag

"Privacy is an essential part of the web. This document provides definitions for privacy and related concepts that are applicable worldwide as well as a set of privacy principles that should guide the development of the web as a trustworthy platform."
https://www.w3.org/TR/privacy-principles/

The CSS Working Group has published the First Public Working Draft of CSS Display Module Level 4. This module describes how the CSS formatting box tree is generated from the document element tree and defines the display property that controls it.
https://www.w3.org/news/2024/first-public-working-draft-css-display-module-level-4/

The Verifiable Credentials Working Group invites implementations of the second Candidate Recommendation Snapshots for the following documents:

Verifiable Credentials Data Model v2.0
Verifiable Credential Data Integrity 1.0
Data Integrity EdDSA Cryptosuites v1.0
Data Integrity ECDSA Cryptosuites v1.0
Securing Verifiable Credentials using JOSE and COSE

Comments are welcome via the GitHub issues by 19 January 2025.
https://www.w3.org/news/2024/five-candidate-recommendation-snapshots-published-by-the-verifiable-credentials-working-group/

As the year 2024 comes to an end, the Web Consortium presents our 30th anniversary year holiday card to once more express our gratitude:

“With you, our W3C community, we have achieved a lot in the past 30 years and we look forward to many more opportunities to work together and continue to build a web that works, for everyone”

Read more in a blog post from our CEO @seth:
https://www.w3.org/blog/2024/happy-holidays-from-the-world-wide-web-consortium/

@torgo discusses how the ideals of the Ethical Web Principles must translate into real world impacts. He suggests that our review processes help enforce ethics and move from words to actions.

Dan adds "we can’t do this alone. We need your help. If the Ethical Web Principles resonates with you, let it,,, guide how you design web products and services. And while you’re at it, please get involved in web standards. Join a group. Comment on an issue. Add your voice"

https://www.w3.org/blog/2024/ethical-web-principles-building-a-better-web/

Our role is to get people to agree. We can't police. We don't legislate. Adoption of our Web Standards is voluntary. Web Standards are free for all to adopt. We are working with Members and the public on how the web CAN work, for everyone. #aboutW3C

These Principles include:
* There is one web
* The web does not cause harm to society
* The web supports healthy community and debate
* The web is for all people
* The web is secure and respects people's privacy
* The web enables freedom of expression
* The web makes it possible to verify information
* The web enhances individuals' control and power
* The web is an environmentally sustainable platform
* The web is transparent
* The web is multi-browser, multi-OS, and multi-device 3/4

* The web can be consumed in any way that people choose

As members of the web community, we each play a part in shaping its future. The Ethical Web Principles remind us that the web extends beyond technology—it’s a reflection of the values we hold as a global society. Let us adopt this guide to enhance a web that connects and empowers us all.

Thank you to the TAG and all at W3C who made this momentous Statement of W3C Principles possible.
4/4

Read more at: https://www.w3.org/blog/2024/w3c-statement-on-ethical-web-principles-guides-the-community-to-build-a-better-web/

The W3C @tag has published a Statement of Ethical Web Principles to guide the community to build a better web.

@torgo and @wz43rtx noted:

The web is a fundamental part of our lives, shaping how we work, connect, and learn. We understand that with this profound impact comes the responsibility to ensure that the web serves as a platform that benefits people and delivers positive social outcomes. 1/4

https://www.w3.org/blog/2024/w3c-statement-on-ethical-web-principles-guides-the-community-to-build-a-better-web/