@oliphant
@HistoPol @snarfed
@snarfed.org @luca @PCOWandre @fedidevs @fediversenews @chronohart @activitypubblueskybridge
I’m wondering if that means there may be a functional difference between blocking the bridge vs adding the #nobridge tag?
@oliphant
@HistoPol @snarfed
@snarfed.org @luca @PCOWandre @fedidevs @fediversenews @chronohart @activitypubblueskybridge
I’m wondering if that means there may be a functional difference between blocking the bridge vs adding the #nobridge tag?
@HistoPol @jamie @oliphant @snarfed.org @luca @PCOWandre @chronohart @snarfed The gist is that if you want to prevent your posts from being shared outside of screenshots and quote-posts (where the contents of the post are just copied) the only option is to join a whitelist-only server.
These are servers that federate only with explicitly approved servers, ie. if someone tries to connect from any instance not on that list they’re blocked by default.
That’s kinda the root of the argument here where a great many people have a false assumption that the fediverse is about control of your data when it is quite the opposite. It’s like trying to protect your art from being used by others… by marking it Creative Commons.
The entire design of all federated systems is around open sharing, you can only get control over how your posts spread in a closed system with little or no federation.
As far as whether or not you use those platforms, my example was regardless of whether you’re a user.
My server federates across multiple different protocols, if I boost your post then your post is probably being made available to multiple different networks automatically.
The protections and control involved in federated networks is not in how your data is shared, but in how your access is controlled.
In the fediverse you don’t have to worry about a bad admin blocking your access to everyone you know, you can freely move accounts between instances. If you piss of Elon for instance, you’re cut off from Twitter and everyone on it… full stop… but if you piss off your instance admin, you just move instances and can still connect with everyone.
It’s also control over your experience in that you’re not relying purely on what their algorithms think you should see. If the instance your on has an algorithm set up that you don’t like, then you can move instances to one that has the algorithm you like.
You also have protections against enshittification (the process by which those other networks will draw you in with great features, and then once you’re locked in slowly shut down or degrade those features). If features that are important to you start getting shut down on your server… you can move to one that keeps them. If a platform developer does it, another developer can fork the project to keep those features alive.
You also have choice in terms of clients and experiences. You’re using Mastodon and I’m on Friendica (I know your instance type because Friendica shows me a little icon beside posts). I vastly prefer the Friendica experience, and I have the choice to use that. And I can use that without forcing you to use the same interface.
@shiri @jamie @oliphant @snarfed.org @luca @PCOWandre @chronohart @snarfed
(1/n)
I think I owe you a quick #INTRO, as I have not been in contact with you before, so you might better understand my concerns.
I am a political commentator, as well as an activist. This is why I cannot remain silent:
This is a global super-election year. #Democracy is up for grabs in about 50 countries.1)–This is how the billionaires and the #autocrats like #Putin and #Xi see it, or how #YoelRoth…
@shiri @jamie @oliphant @snarfed.org @luca @PCOWandre @chronohart @snarfed
(2/n)
…former head of #Twitter’s Trust and Security department, might have phrased it. 2)
We have all seen what has happened to #Twitter. What many still don’t know, is why he is supposedly burning a lot of money with the purchase: 3).
#Musk and his #TESCREAL 4) adherents from Silicon Valley are vying for world domination. #Elmo already is the world’s most…
@shiri @jamie @oliphant @snarfed.org @luca @PCOWandre @chronohart @snarfed
(3/n)
…influential fascist, just considering his market power regarding #SpaceX 5) and the “voice” he has as #X owner. By turning off his #StarLink service in #Crimea, he has successfully prevented potentially victorious strikes by #Ukraine against #Russia’s invasion force.
But they are not the only #billionaire group vying for even more power. The most…
@shiri @jamie @oliphant @snarfed.org @luca @PCOWandre @chronohart @snarfed
(4/n)
… successful has so far been the #FederalistSociety in conjunction with the #CenterForNationalPolicy (#CNP), among whose major feats are putting #Trump in the #WhiteHouse and hijacking the #US #SupremeCourt. 6)
#Autocrats like #Putin and #Xi trying to gain influence through military and economic means are the other group of people trying to destroy #Western #democracies by disseminating…
@shiri @jamie @oliphant @snarfed.org @luca @PCOWandre @chronohart @snarfed
(5/n)
… #disinformation and carrying out #CyberWarfare.
And, last but not least, another, even more dangerous #PayPal of #Elmo, #PeterThiel, is enabling governments around the globe to get rid of opponents. The dangerous spyware he owns, #Palantir, is being used e.g. to hunt down investigative journalists in #SouthAmerica 8) and elsewhere 7) and for #discriminatory…
@shiri @jamie @oliphant @snarfed.org @luca @PCOWandre @chronohart @snarfed
(6/n)
…#PredictivePolicing. 8)
*2024 certainly isn’t the year to remain silent:*
#Poland lost and regained its democracy twice already.
The *US* might lose it to a ruthless autocrat in 2025.
And #Ukraine is fighting tooth and nail for its #democracy.
//
FOOTNOTES:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/12/2024-elections-around-world/
https://mastodon.social/@HistoPol/111086529042597457
https://mastodon.social/@HistoPol/110079043525873237
https://mastodon.social/@HistoPol/110565890923413442
…
For journalists the value of the fediverse is in not getting silenced. It’s here to amplify voices in that fashion so that nobody can be silenced, for good or ill (ie. you can block Nazi instances so you don’t see them, but you can’t stop a Nazi instance from existing or sharing content).
If you operate in a “I control where my message goes” manner, then you’re operating in a manner that can be very easily silenced. It drastically limits your reach.
It’s one of those fundamental things where you can’t have it both ways, control over your reach is inherently limiting to your reach.
And when talking about the fight against fascism, uncontrolled spread is very much preferable as they can’t silence you. If you are careful in your security you can post from an account until the fascists shut down your server… but the post will still be out there floating around. And you can just as easily stay on the network by starting a new account every time they shut down a server… they’d have to shut down the whole network to stop you.
Bridges make it even harder for them because then you can also jump between platforms and if they can’t shut down your server they’d have to shut down every single bridge… which new ones can be started with trivial ease (a lot less work and resources than starting up normal instances).
There’s nothing they can do to you over a bridge that they can’t already do without a bridge, in fact they have less control through a bridge. But you on the other hand have your voice amplified even further.
Additionally the whole fediverse gets stronger as it encourages development on both sides, if one starts lagging behind in features/quality it permits users to move without “leaving” the fediverse.
If Bluesky starts pumping hardcore propaganda and silencing leftist voices… then the bridge offers a light, showing the abuse and giving them a way out that doesn’t involve starting over from scratch.
@HistoPol @jamie @oliphant @snarfed.org @luca @PCOWandre @chronohart @snarfed
@shiri
(1/2)
“If Bluesky starts pumping hardcore propaganda and silencing leftist voices… then the bridge offers a light, showing the abuse and giving them a way out that doesn’t involve starting over from scratch.”
How so? I have not read that you can migrate you #BlueSky account to another #Fediverse platform, say, #friendica
However, for me the single biggest #exit barrier is, that I…
@jamie @oliphant @snarfed.org @luca @PCOWandre @chronohart @snarfed