Jon Worth

I’m rather 🤷‍♂️ about going after Twitter using the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Sure, the framework is there, but Musk is tearing through Twitter at such a rate that what is going to be left by the time action can be taken?

Same re. the initiative to invite Musk to the European Parliament - there’ll be plenty of grandstanding but it’s not going to save the network.

Dec 22, 2022 at 10:13amWeb
Show threadJon WorthDec 22, 2022

It all feels like… closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Sure I get why - even now - being seen to do and say the right thing is politically appealing.

I also get why some politicians would like a bit of theatre by grilling Musk in the European Parliament.

But the damage is done. It can’t be repaired. We need better systems and networks moving forward - prevention rather than cures.

Show threadJon WorthDec 22, 2022

Or putting it another way: the rhetoric of EU politicians is somehow to save Twitter as a network. To right the wrongs.

Perhaps the alternative is preferable? Grind it into insolvency as fast as possible - as a warning to others as to what happens if you mess with the EU on digital policy in future.

It’s one hell of a big sacrificial lamb though…

Show threadJan Wildeboer 😷Dec 22, 2022
@jon IMHO the best solution is for the EU to invest in creating legislation that allows federated solutions to thrive and become better :)
Show threadOliver SchönrockDec 22, 2022

@jwildeboer @jon

and for some people experienced at scaling and securing webapps to start work on viable platform ASAP....

this thing here looks like it needs serious work.

Show threadOliver SchönrockDec 22, 2022

@jwildeboer @jon

So maybe not just "investing in legislation", but also "funding open source development" of scalable / secure platforms (such as improvements to mastodon). Always with the condition to "keep it open source" of course.

On legislation front: What sources of funding are acceptable to cover running costs? Are fully commercial operators / merges / acquisitions (pawoo.net style) desirable / allowed?

Show thread8lettersukDec 22, 2022
@jon I'd be happy with that. I don't believe it is something we should save for the sake of it
Show threadJosh ShererDec 22, 2022
@jon Jon, is Mastadon in scope for the DSA/DMA?
Show threadJon WorthDec 22, 2022
@joshsherer As a whole, no. But some instances are, yes. Depends on the size of the instance.
Show threadJosh ShererDec 22, 2022
@jon thanks. Interesting that the “platform” isn’t analysed as a singularity but on a per instance basis. It would probably make sense for the whole platform to ensure it is compliant though.
Show threadCraig GrannellDec 22, 2022

@jon What we need is people to own their own spaces and for them to be able to control them. But that butts up against multiple issues: time/interest in managing; money to afford such things; technical know-how.

Mastodon represents a kind of middle ground, but it has its own problems, such as unknown scaling re service and moderation, admins sometimes blocking major servers (which many users have no idea about), etc.

Show threadJon WorthDec 22, 2022
@craiggrannell Right. Totally. So if politicians like @sven_giegold want to be genuinely useful then they need to find legal and financial frameworks to support the alternative way of doing things.
Show threadEmma • 🇳🇱🇬🇧🇩🇪Dec 22, 2022
@jon we should stop money ruling the world. The fact that money can buy EVERYTHING, and rich people can borrow billions by themselves, is a big problem.
Show threadJon WorthDec 22, 2022
@spems In terms of ethics, yes. As to how you legislate for that… that’s harder!
Show threadEmma • 🇳🇱🇬🇧🇩🇪Dec 22, 2022
@jon very!! It shows how far our ethics and the reality are apart.
Show threadOliver SchönrockDec 22, 2022
@jon TBF no regulatory could have been fast enough to "save twitter" at the rate that Musk destroyed it.
Show threadJon WorthDec 22, 2022
@oschonrock Right. Exactly.
Show threadBjörnDec 22, 2022
@jon I don't think the horse has bolted. If someone's reason to leave Twitter has been Musks doings - and those get undo or even Musk gets out of charge there is nothing between them and rejoining the platform.
Show threadPaul DavidsonDec 22, 2022
@gt670dn @jon Agreed. Twitter would quickly rebound and maybe become bigger than ever if Musk sold the company to someone reasonable.
Show threadAdalwinDec 22, 2022
@jon Twitter is dead and Musk killed it.
Show threadCraig GrannellDec 22, 2022

@AdalwinAmillion @jon I think it’ll be OK, after a fashion. Worst-case scenario is probably that it goes splat and someone scoops it up for pennies. So it ends up another Tumblr or something.

Of course, whoever it lands with would be an issue. Musk as shown that there’s only a certain type/level of AH that can own one of these networks without it going to shit.

Show threadJon WorthDec 22, 2022
@AdalwinAmillion @craiggrannell The danger for the EU is it does crumble, but facing the threat of fines from the EU getting something built on the rubble is then extra hard. We’ll see.
Show threadTom WalkerDec 22, 2022
@jon Yeah, altogether it's a pretty good law for exactly this situation, but people getting excited haven't noticed the timelines on all of it are very long.
Show threadJon WorthDec 22, 2022
@tomw Right. It can do little against something happening at this speed.
Show threadTim PantonDec 22, 2022
@jon I think it is critically important that his shareholders know that his monopolistic 'everything app' built on twitter user's personal data categorically won't fly in the EU.
Show threadFirefighterGeek Dec 22, 2022
@jon Taking the pressure of by not going after him gives him room to refinance, reorganize, go through bankruptcy, and come out with something less but just as terrible.