FBI Seizure of Mastodon Server Data is a Wakeup Call to Fediverse Users and Hosts to Protect their Users (2023)

In May [2023], Mastodon server Kolektiva.social was compromised when one of the server’s admins had their home raided by the FBI for unrelated charges. All of their electronics, including a backup of the instance database, were seized.

It’s a chillingly familiar story which should serve as a reminder for the hosts, users, and developers of decentralized platforms: if you care about privacy, you have to do the work to protect it. We have a chance to do better from the start in the fediverse, so let’s take it. ...

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/07/fbi-seizure-mastodon-server-wakeup-call-fediverse-users-and-hosts-protect-their

HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41434600

This is an issue that's troubled me since joining the Fediverse in 2016, and as one of the people heavily involved in the "Plexodus" diaspora from the late unlamented #GooglePlus. Whilst large commercial providers have their failure points concerning privacy and law enforcement, they've also often stood up to over-broad attempts to surveil peoples' online activity. Small instances on distributed systems often run as hobbies or very small-scale subscription / donation-based operations might avoid the roving eye of such efforts, but also lack resources, knowledge, and procedures for how to respond when such seizures occur. As the EFF notes, Kolektiva failed to alert its members (and remote contacts) until months after the FBI raid.

The EFF does have a promising guide to legal rights and considerations specifically tailored at the Fediverse:

"User Generated Content and the Fediverse: A Legal Primer"
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/12/user-generated-content-and-fediverse-legal-primer

#KolektivaSocial #Kolektiva #EFF #ElectronicFrontierFoundation #CyberRights #FBI #OnlineRights #JacksonGames

Edit: This is a 2023 story.

**Headline:** Examining the Dead Internet Theory: Perspectives on the Evolution of the Online Sphere

**Keywords:** Dead Internet Theory, internet evolution, surveillance, corporate control, censorship, digital rights

**Analysis:**
- The report provides a balanced overview of the Dead Internet Theory, presenting both arguments in favor of and against its validity.
- Assertions made in the report are largely unbiased, presenting various viewpoints without significant misrepresentation of facts.
- The arguments presented align logically with the premise of the Dead Internet Theory, acknowledging the erosion of certain original ideals of the internet.
- Emotional coloration in the report is neutral, focusing more on factual presentation rather than evoking strong emotional responses.
- The editorial opinion of the text is minimal, allowing readers to form their own conclusions based on the information provided.

**Approximate percentage of misrepresentation:** 0%

**Semantic analysis:** 50 (Neutral)

**Editorial opinion:** The text maintains objectivity, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the Dead Internet Theory and its implications without imposing a specific editorial stance.

**Rewrite:**
Exploring the Dead Internet Theory: Assessing the Evolution of Online Dynamics

Dive into the discourse surrounding the Dead Internet Theory, which suggests that the internet, in its current form, is in decline. Discover how factors like surveillance, corporate influence, and censorship have challenged the original ideals of a free and open online space. Delve into arguments from proponents and critics alike, and consider the ongoing efforts to address digital rights and preserve internet freedoms.

#DeadInternetTheory #DigitalEvolution #OnlineRights

**Conclusion:**
The Dead Internet Theory provides a thought-provoking framework for understanding the changing landscape of the online world. By examining the challenges and opportunities presented by factors like surveillance and corporate control, we can engage in critical reflection on how to uphold the principles of openness and accessibility in the digital age. Explore further resources to delve deeper into this complex and evolving discussion.

[Learn more about the Dead Internet Theory](link)
#OnlineFreedom #DigitalRights #InternetEvolution

Just came across this app. Has anyone experimented with it? If so, any comments? InviZible Pro: application for on-line privacy and security.

https://f-droid.org/packages/pan.alexander.tordnscrypt.stable/

#security #privacy #OnlineSurveillance #OnlineRights

The New York Times Company is joining tech companies in an attempt to block a new children’s online safety law in California: “The Act would do real harm to the First Amendment rights of minors and to news organizations and should be enjoined.” The law restricts companies making over $25 million a year from collecting personal information and locations of children online and adds a layer of compliance rules.
#privacy #journalism #children #USA #california #onlinerights

https://www.semafor.com/article/08/16/2023/new-york-times-wants-to-help-tech-companies-block-a-new-child-privacy-law

https://www.howtogeek.com/845798/how-advertisers-track-you-across-the-web-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/

This article may be old news to some, but for those new, or curious it does a good job of giving the broad strokes of various tracking technologies in use, from cookies to fingerprinting.

#Privacy #OnlinePrivacy #OnlineRights #Tracking #InternetTracking

https://tutanota.com/blog/posts/facebook-tracking-business-model-illegal-europe/

EU privacy Regulators have ruled that Meta/Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp can NOT force users to agree to being tracked by putting this requirement into their Terms-of-Service.

#Privacy #OnlinePrivacy #OnlineRights #Meta #Facebook #Instagram #WhatsApp #EU #EuropeanUnion

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/10/internet-not-facebook-why-infrastructure-providers-should-stay-out-content

We all agree, hate-speech is bad, Harassment is bad, but EFF makes the case that this should NOT be the job of infrastructure companies. Facebook, Twitter, etc, should police their platforms, however core infrastructure entities such as Cloudflare, GoDaddy, and the like, probably should not.

#EFF #ContentPolicing #OnlineRights #OnlineFreedom #FreeSpeech