@pinkforest thus the only correct reaction is multiple approaches:

Otherwiae we get the #Enshittification cycle going...

@freedomofpress #Signal Messenger is still #centralized, it does not let people run their own servers to intercommunicate on the network, it still requires a phone number to use, and it is not transparent with their server code, so the public does not know exactly what is running on the server... so why tell people to use it with all these risks?

There are #decentralized solutions, such as #Matrix, which fit the same use case. If you really do #love someone, then do not tell them to use #SignalMessenger & instead encourage adoption of real #FLOSS.

#ValentinesDay #FOSS

@decryption that's a good deal, m8.

Personally, I want to #DIY myself something like #Tarsnap (which is why I refuse to look at it's source code!) but with custom endpoints to store stuff in...

I mean, without #GDPR, #BDSG (if not even stricter rules and a moody US Government) I'd be more inclined just to pay for Tarsnap et. al. cuz @cperciva made a really good service with it...

Following the winter chaos that engulfed Berlin in recent weeks, the CDU and SPD coalition is planning a comprehensive reform of sidewalk snow‑clearing procedur... https://news.osna.fm/?p=33635 | #news #alliance #berlin #centralized #chaos
Berlin Alliance Unveils Centralized Snow‑Removal Plan to End Winter Walkway Chaos - Osna.FM

Berlin's CDU and SPD are revamping winter sidewalk maintenance after chaotic recent snow, aiming to overhaul clear-path rules and boost public safety.

Osna.FM

@zeljkazorz why am I not surprised?

Granted, they target #TechIlliterates that use #centralized bs like #Signal Instead of real #E2EE with full #SelfCustody & #SelfHosting-capability…

@stman @theruran @50htz @vidak @forthy42 @brume @gorekhaa so yeah, we need a modern equivalent of the original PX-1000, something that isn't an overly complex and backdoored shitbox, but that is simple af.

With options for:

  • PS/2 [or USB] Keyboard
  • serial (thermal) printer
  • parallel (20x4) LC-Display (or Braille Screen)
  • acoustic modem (AFSK, using 3,5mm TRRS connector and adapters to line in/out and RJ-9 (handset)/RJ-11 (POTS/PSTN) phone.
  • IrDA & Consumer-IR & QR-code reader module for public key exchange
  • SDR reciever/transmitter (for paging).

Basically a encryption/decryption unit that has:

  • User input [PS/2](keyboard, QR-Code reader)
  • User output [Screen, Printer]
  • Remote input [IR, IrDA, Modem, SDR-Reciever]
  • Remote output [IR, IrDA, Modem, SDR Transciever]

Something that just acts as a "Clear Box" (aka. "black box", but transparent) to do critical comms. Something that literally wipes it's memory after use and doesn't store anything on it, but requires the user to keep their key safe!

You know, something that looks like a sleek communicator and isn't a proprietary shitbox that depends on *"#TrustMeBro!" - #centralized, #SingleVendor / #SingleProvider architecture!*…

Kevin Karhan :verified: (@kkarhan@infosec.space)

@stman@mastodon.social @theruran@masto.hackers.town @50htz@cathode.church @vidak@social.solarpunk.au @forthy42@mastodon.net2o.de [I know the story…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYgHiYDKrFU&t=2279) #TLDW: #TextLite made a good device and #Phillips as a #CIA puppet was tasked to obtain all those devices, remove them from circulation and replace them with an #insecure variant. https://cryptomuseum.com/crypto/philips/px1000/index.htm

Infosec.Space

Do #selfhosted #rss #relay exist.

As i centralize unavoidable US rss on my VPS, so i can easily plug them into TOR in anything happen to regain access.

I know i can do it with traefik, but i prefer an easy centralised way (if exist).

#rss #vps #us #tor #relay #selfhosted #centralized #traefik

@Soeren_loeg the fact that @signalapp not only does "#KYC with extra steps" by mandating a #PhoneNumber to this day as well as being solely under #CloudAct whilst basically being a #centralized, #proprietary, #SingleVendor & #SingleProvider solution makes them the ideal candidate for a longterm #HoneyPot like #ANØM aka. #OperationIronside aka. #OperationTrøjanShield.

Not to mention #Signal ticks way too many "#sus" boxes…

Kevin Karhan :verified: (@kkarhan@infosec.space)

My [reservations](https://infosec.space/@kkarhan/114234551915193036) and [criticism](https://infosec.space/@kkarhan/114862595629371002) re: #Signal are not just valid, but the reality is *even worse than I thought*: - The fact that @signalapp@mastodon.world requires not only their shitty #Android #App, and a #PhoneNumber but literally won't allow people to use their shitty #Desktop-App unless they have an Android device with a camera pointed at it makes it utterly unuseable for certain users *who don't have a fucking #camera in their Android*… Seriously, do they expect folks to deal with that shit? - It's already worse in terms of #UX than #telegram and #discord and that too makes #XMPP+#OMEMO clients like @monocles@monocles.social / #monoclesChat & @gajim@fosstodon.org / #gajim easier and faster to onboard #TechIlliterates onto. - Whichever asshole decided that a *replacement for #SMS* should mandate #PII like a #PhoneNumber & not be natively cross-platform should be banned from doing any #tech in their life. Trying to circumvent this shit and helping folks with it makes me so fucking angry that I'm now explicitly refusing to support it! FIX THAT SHIT, @Mer__edith@mastodon.world, and if it means you need to kick some devs in their crouch then consider this a necessary *"investment"*… #sarcasm #TechSupport #TalesFromTechSupport #Enshittification #SignalSucks #TelegramSucks #Messengers

Infosec.Space

TikTok getting MAGA spawns new social media services.

UpScrolled is apparently built from scratch as a centralized platform, not based on ActivityPub or ATProto. They explicitly state that current decentralized protocols don't deliver what they need for a video-forward app, whatever that means. It's run by Palestinian-Australian developer Issam Hijazi with support from the Tech for Palestine incubator, launched in June 2025. Positioned as an Instagram and TikTok alternative without shadowbanning, with chronological feeds.

UpScrolled saw a massive surge after TikTok's US ownership restructure in January 2026, when Oracle and other US investors took controlling stake while ByteDance retained only 19.9%. Some users accused TikTok of censoring posts critical of ICE under the new ownership, which drove people to alternatives.

Monnett is also built from scratch, centralized, with no federation. Run by Monnet Social SA based in Luxembourg, founded in 2024 by a team of European technologists and activists. It's their answer to surveillance capitalism, GDPR-compliant, hosted in Germany, with user-controlled algorithm sliders and no psychological profiling. Basically the European sovereignty play.

W is the newest one, announced at Davos just days ago. Another centralized platform built from scratch, run by Anna Zeiter, former eBay chief privacy officer. It's legally a subsidiary of We Don't Have Time, a Swedish climate activist organization backed by IKEA, Volvo, Unilever, WWF, and Salesforce. The advisory board includes former German Vice Chancellor Philipp Rösler and Club of Rome chair Sandrine Dixson-Declève. Requires identity verification with photo and ID to combat bots. European-hosted data only.

The name of W supposedly stands for "We" with two hidden V's for "Values" and "Verified" - and they cheerfully admit that W coming before X in the alphabet is "a welcome coincidence". Beta in February, public launch late 2026. Zeiter said the platform would already count as a success if "political Brussels" posts on W instead of X.

So all three are new walled gardens with different policies and ownership, but none contribute to the Fediverse, ActivityPub or ATProto.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Makes me want to shout, "Hey, look here, we're here!". But nobody listens.

Sources:
https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news-corner/new-european-x-alternative-backed-by-climate-activists
https://www.wionews.com/technology/europeans-plan-to-launch-w-their-own-social-media-platform-to-rival-elon-musk-s-x-1769165110324
https://monnett.social/faq/
https://80.lv/articles/european-politicians-unveil-w-an-upcoming-twitter-x-alternative
https://updates.techforpalestine.org/upscrolled-is-live-the-instagram-alternative-thats-actually-on-your-side/

#SocialMedia #W #UpScrolled #Monnett #Centralized #TikTok