Can the cops get your online data? In short, yes. There are a variety of US federal and state laws which give law enforcement powers to obtain information that you provided to online services. But, there are steps you as a user and/or as a service provider can take to improve online privacy.Law...
Instagram collects scary amounts of your data 🫣 Mastodon on the other hand - None! ✅
What do we learn? There are great services available that do not abuse your data.
My kid just WhatsApped from his German exchange trip. They had to call an ambulance for him.
He has food poisoning, was very pale and nauseous. He was dehydrated and his blood pressure was dropping.
He's fine now but I wanted to share this because it has the most Western Europe Is a Civilized Place ending ever.
The paramedics came to the mall, took him into the ambulance, gave him an IV, checked him out, stayed with him until he felt better, then told him "No charge. Enjoy your trip to Germany." And if that wasn't enough, when they realized the group had had to move onto the train station without him, they gave him a ride over there to catch up with them.
I'm so ground down by the predatory realities of America in general in 2025 that this just about blew my fucking mind.
Finally framed and displayed instead of laying on my desk mixed in with bills
Mark Zuckerberg wants you to use AI as friends.
When you invest your time with AI instead of creating genuine bonds with real people, you become completely isolated without even noticing it.
This all serves capitalism and authoritarian regimes.
When you are isolated, you can't find humans to help you financially (AI won't).
When you are isolated, you can't find humans to rise up with you against abuse (AI won't).
You become completely alone (with AI friends), and completely vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation by the system implemented by those who control your AI "friends".
It seems obvious, I know. But how is Mark Zuckerberg able to market this insane idea at all then?