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Should the Fediverse welcome its new surveillance-capitalism overlords? Opinions differ!
(infosec.exchange)
this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2023
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"Should the Fediverse welcome its new surveillance-capitalism overlords? Opinions differ!" ⬆️
has links to perspectives from @vantablack @Seirdy @fancysandwiches @alice @viennawriter @oblomov @mcp @fosstodon @darnell @PoliticaConC @tchambers @deadsuperhero @ianbetteridge @dangillmor @smallpatatas @gcrkrause and more ... like I say, opinions differ, but no matter where you are on it, I appreciate the time everybody's put into articulating their positions.
Thanks also @cendawanita @jo @edendestroyer @ophiocephalic @oliphant @admin1 and @damon for the feedback and discussions!
BTW in the last section when I'm discussing Mastodon's moderation issues, one of the things I mention is the lack of an ability to control who can reply to tweets ... so apologies in advance if this generates a bunch of notifications! I left the acknowedgments out of the main post to try to limit the damage, we'll see how well it works.
https://infosec.exchange/@thenexusofprivacy/110594384248698967
@thenexusofprivacy@infosec.exchange @vantablack@beach.city @Seirdy@pleroma.envs.net @fancysandwiches@urbanists.social @alice@lgbtqia.space @viennawriter@literatur.social @oblomov@sociale.network @mcp@lgbtqia.space @fosstodon@fosstodon.org @darnell@one.darnell.one @PoliticaConC@social.politicaconciencia.org @tchambers@indieweb.social @deadsuperhero@social.treehouse.systems @ianbetteridge@writing.exchange @dangillmor@mastodon.social @smallpatatas@mstdn.patatas.ca @gcrkrause@lediver.se @cendawanita@mefi.social @jo@blahaj.zone @edendestroyer@social.chinwag.org @ophiocephalic@kolektiva.social @oliphant@oliphant.social @admin1@aoir.social @damon@calckey.social Great analysis! I am probably in the weird/odd camp who realizes that Meta embracing ActivityPub is a threat but also an opportunity.
Also, from what I read Threads (assuming Facebook calls it that) will be decentralized, as in other companies will be able to install the software upon their own servers. The only requirement is an Instagram login account (I do not think the software will be open source).
This is one of the reasons why blocking will be futile in the long run. It’s why I believe engaging with people on Threads & convincing them to join the greater Fediverse is a better long term strategy.
👉🏾 https://darnell.day/dear-fediverse-fediblocking-facebook-is-futile
I plan on using this opportunity to convince many of my friends & family to consider options like Misskey & Pixelfed (Mastodon too, but some have tried that & were not happy—I will reintroduce Mastodon to them again).
I believe the reason most large instances will not block is that their community will not be thrilled that they can not communicate with their relatives on Threads. Most people have great relations with their family & many in the Fediverse (myself included) are on big social platforms because our friends & family are on there.
But in the end we will have to wait & see when Instagram launches Threads.
#Instagram #Facebook #Meta #Threads #Misskey #Mastodon #Fediverse #Pixelfed
@darnell @darnell@one.darnell.one @oliphant @Seirdy @dangillmor @tchambers @deadsuperhero @oblomov @jo @vantablack @alice @viennawriter @admin1 @cendawanita @fosstodon @damon @gcrkrause @ianbetteridge @ophiocephalic @smallpatatas @thenexusofprivacy @mcp @PoliticaConC @edendestroyer
Where did you read that the software would be installable by 3rd parties? I've not seen that rumor anywhere. It wouldn't be their first open source project, for sure, but I don't think they've ever open sourced a whole app.
Thanks @darnell , glad you like the analysis! I also think it's an opportunity as well as a threat, and I agree that right now it looks like most large instances won't block, and most of all I agree that we'll have to wait and see what happens!
@fancysandwiches when Darnell and I discussed this before he pointed to some things they've said that certainly might imply that -- although also might not (which is back to the wait and see). It's certainly true that somebody like Oprah would have an IT department capable of running it and would see the advantages of being able to do that. But we don't really know,
all they've said is "decentralized".
@thenexusofprivacy@infosec.exchange @fancysandwiches@urbanists.social I believe the reason Threads (or whatever Meta decides to call it) by Instagram will be decentralized is to appeal to political figures & celebrities whose tech team would prefer to have the code run “in house” for obvious reasons.
Facebook however is still maintaining control by requiring an Instagram login which will serve two purposes:
☝🏾 It will create a standard for verification globally, which will make Instagram the de facto standard for online verification (a scary thought!)
✌🏾 It will allow Meta to enter the online transactions realm, as they will use the verification angle of individuals, companies, merchants, etcetera, as a “trust factor” when doing business.
Another benefit of Threads being decentralized is it gives Meta the opportunity to do what Twitter attempted to do: become the pulse of the planet.
One thing I did notice is that Threads will work with ActivityPub & be decentralized, but it will not be open source. It will be proprietary software & if successful we will probably see numerous companies adopt ActivityPub as the new subscription standard, the way RSS was promoted years ago.