Electronic Frontier FoundationJul 25, 2023
The Kolektiva raid reminds us that it’s important to stand with your users in the #fediverse too.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/07/fbi-seizure-mastodon-server-wakeup-call-fediverse-users-and-hosts-protect-their
FBI Seizure of Mastodon Server Data is a Wakeup Call to Fediverse Users and Hosts to Protect their Users

We’re in an exciting time for users who want to take back control from major platforms like Twitter and Facebook. However, this new environment comes with challenges and risks for user privacy, so we need to get it right and make sure networks like the Fediverse and Bluesky are mindful of past...

Electronic Frontier Foundation
Show threadMastodon MigrationJul 25, 2023
@eff Do not underestimate this CSAM matter. As the recent attention from Facebook/Threads illustrates, big tech is starting to wake up to the danger the Fediverse represents to their regime of surveillance capitalism. The ostensible justification for attacking the Fediverse in the name of "rooting out child pornography" is a threat we need to take seriously.
Show threadErik SchnetterJul 25, 2023

@mastodonmigration @eff Bittorrent was a nice protocol – until some people used it to distribute copyrighted material. These days, the Bittorrent protocol is blocked in many places.

This would work against ActivityPub as well: Claim there are "too many" people using it for an illegal purpose, and encourage/require ISPs to block it.

"No one controls how ActivityPub is used! We can't prevent abuse! We must block it!" Unfortunately, this kind of argument works against any decentralized setup.

Show threadMastodon MigrationJul 25, 2023
@eschnett @eff Yup. Combine that with what appears to be a sophisticated information campaign to paint the Fediverse as a hotbed of CSAM. This is not a new tactic. Already getting side eye: "Don't you do stuff on Mastodon? Heard it is full of child porn..."
Show threadSpeculaterJul 26, 2023
@mastodonmigration @eschnett @eff Washington Post made an entire article about Mastodon being solely for child exploitation. It's unreal. If you're seeing that material, fucking report it. I'm guessing you had to go looking for it though.
Show threadMei LinJul 26, 2023

@speculater @mastodonmigration @eschnett @eff
There needs to be an effort by the community to defend against such allegations.

But how do you defend yourself against a major new source? Especially of they print any 'we're sorry' message about a previous article on page N+1?

Show threadMastodon MigrationJul 26, 2023

@MeiLin @speculater @eschnett @eff Good question. Corporations have marketing communications departments with PR professionals who specialize in "crisis management". All we have is us. Think we will do just fine.

Already posts like this one are asking questions. We are not stupid, and we are not powerless. If this is a 'hit job,' we will figure it out. If we need to shore up our defenses, we will do that too. Its our network, and we are not going to let anyone mess with it.

Show threadMei LinJul 26, 2023

@mastodonmigration @speculater @eschnett @eff
Don't we have a few marketing and PR professionals stacked in some Mastodon server somewhere?

Sic them on this kind of narrative.

Show threadMastodon Migration
@MeiLin @speculater @eschnett @eff Yeah, there must be. Think it's already happening. One of the great things about an open social media collective like the Fediverse, is that everyone has agency and can act independently in what they see as the interest of the whole. People bring their respective skills to bear. It's somewhat chaotic, but very effective.
Jul 26, 2023 at 7:28amWeb