The framework is conceptually similar to IPFS and Tor, but faster and designed from the ground-up to provide all services over a privately routed network.
The framework enables development of fully-distributed applications without a 'blockchain' or a 'transactional layer' at their base.
The framework can be included as part of user-facing applications or run as a 'headless node' for power users who wish to help build the network.
If you don't know, CDC are old-school hackers and rabble-rousers. Every so often, they do activist stuff, too. This just came across on HN and looks interesting, especially given the discussion yesterday.