Subject: What's going on with Meta?

To: @Gargron, @ruud, @jerry, @supernovae, @stux, @trumpet, @kev and other large instance admins

Rumors are tearing this place apart out here about secret deals with #Meta. The latest is that Meta has held #NDA meetings with some of you and they will federate with large instances under contracts providing financial support (1) (2).

This is a time for leadership, not silence. Please, what's going on?

(1) https://mastodon.ar.al/@aral/110598855375585873
(2) https://mastodon.social/@alexeheath/110596207691212890

@mastodonmigration I am not aware of any secret deals with Meta. As far as I can tell people are just making stuff up. There is little to comment on until Meta's platform launches.

@Gargron @mastodonmigration

Hi Eugen. "Secret deals" would imply finalised agreements. Your post tells us that there are none at the moment.

But have there been meetings between instance admins and Meta, and in those meetings, was there a discussion of funding / cost-sharing arrangements? Are your own instances ruling out financial payments from Meta? These questions may be based on rumour and speculation, but the easier it should be to clear them up once and for all. Thank you.

@the_roamer
That's what we call a Suspiciously Specific Denial. No "I have not met with them", no "I have not heard any proposal from FB", no "I haven't signed any documents", just "I don't know of any secret deals".

I don't feel reassured.

@Gargron @mastodonmigration