mhoye2d ago
Helping out some of my kids’ friends with tech, and once again am reminded that domestic abuse is absolutely the flagship threat model in this industry, the place the victim is closest to real physical harm and has the least recourse and resources available to them. The hardest problem, almost totally unaddressed, exaggerated when the victim is underage.
Show threadmhoye2d ago

Listen, if your kid trusts you enough to ask for a burner, help them. Wipe your old phone or find something cheap, teach them about threat models, private browsing and factory reset, then teach them how to teach these things to other people. The only question you need to ask is, is this for you or for someone else, and you don’t ask who or why.

You don’t need to make the first conversation perfect, you need to make the next conversation possible.

Show threadStoneBear 
@mhoye And if both you and they are up for it, teach them about alternate OSes for their phones... (I'm >< this close to re-OSing one of mine... )
Apr 12 at 9:03amWeb
Show threadLady Artemis2d ago

@stonebear2 @mhoye

My son recently set up his FOSS phone. I can't give much better detail than that, but those who know will know, and for those who don't - it is not an apple or an android or a windows phone. Nokia doesn't have an OS, right? If they do, it isn't that either.

He has zero log-ins for apps & accounts of any kind (except his mastodon account). He's actually pretty fantastic & groovy, my kid, but also, he's been willing to help others achieve the same!

Show threadmhoye2d ago
@missladyartemis @stonebear2 I wish more people would internalize the idea that using free software per se is not the same as helping people. Saying “You should install Linux” to somebody dealing with a domestic abuse situation is ignorant and insulting, it is deliberately, sanctimoniously unhelpful.
Show threadStoneBear 1d ago

@mhoye

(1) for most computers, it's not that hard.

(2) and for some it is; I just spent eight hours helping somebody get their refurbished box working. Money, mouth, co-located.

(3) There are often middle-ground solutions for extenuating circumstances, and I do recommend'em when I have specifics enough to do so correctly.

It strikes me as "sanctimonious" to _use that word_ at someone you don't know who is _actually_ trying to make the world better and not just wash my hands of the problem.

I invite you to consider asking questions before resorting to a convenient dismissal.

@missladyartemis

Show threadmhoye1d ago

@stonebear2 @missladyartemis

"(1) for most computers, it's not that hard."

The domestic abuse scenario involves people who do not have control of their own hardware and are at physical risk of immediate violence from the people who do control it. You might as well be telling somebody whose parachute won't open mid-jump that _actually_ replacement parachutes are very affordable.

Show threadLady Artemis1d ago

@mhoye @stonebear2

He is willing to help people away from corporate overlord cell phone control. I was not commenting that he is helping people with domestic abuse problems. However, I do believe FOSS software could help in some of those situations. Having apps that are not tracking you or having the better ability to control your software could definitely help!

I appreciate you sharing your concern. That is a point to make. Frankly, any departure from corporate overlords is a boon to us all.