Battalion<p><strong>Destroying Autocracy – April 10, 2025</strong></p><p><strong>Welcome to this week’s “Destroying Autocracy”.</strong></p><p>It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting it. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.</p><p>DA comes out on Thursday and is updated through the end of day on Friday. Then we start over. So take your time in perusing it and check back in over the weekend.</p><p><strong>FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck ’em.</strong></p> <p><strong>Featured Item</strong></p> <p>Hamish Campbell writes:</p><p>We need to build a grassroots counterforce, grounded in the principles of the 4 opens, to cultivate digital and physical spaces of resistance. The openweb offers us a framework for doing this, a messy, imperfect garden where we plant alternatives and nurture them with care. But it only grows if people use it. We need joined-up thinking, not the fractured, piecemeal approach of the fashernista crowd. We need people to commit to using and building tools outside the corporate silos, even when it’s inconvenient. Because in the end our communities are all that matters, in the end every click, every post, every conversation shapes the landscape we inhabit.</p><p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/the-rise-of-neofascism-and-the-need-for-a-openweb-response/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The rise of fascism and the openweb response</a></p><p><strong>This approach is a very large part of techno-anarchism.</strong></p> <p><strong>We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.</strong></p> <p><strong>The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery</strong></p> <p>DevLink Tips shares:</p><p><a href="https://medium.com/@devlink/top-10-european-open-source-projects-to-watch-in-2025-3322c67a9506" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Top 10 European Open-Source Projects to Watch in 2025</a></p><p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.techpolicy.press/understanding-the-eus-digital-services-act-enforcement-against-x/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Understanding the EU’s Digital Services Act Enforcement Against X</a></p><p><a href="https://techpolicy.press/leveraging-international-standards-to-protect-us-consumers-online-no-congress-required" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Leveraging International Standards to Protect US Consumers Online, No Congress Required</a></p><p>EuroNews reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/04/08/tiktok-made-changes-ahead-of-re-run-of-romanian-election-says-eu-tech-chief" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">TikTok made changes ahead of re-run of Romanian election, says EU tech chief<br>EU Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen speaking at a European Parliament plenary session.</a></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/07/eu_to_target_us_tech/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">EU may target US tech giants in tariff response</a></p><p>The Guardian reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/04/us-authors-copyright-lawsuits-against-openai-and-microsoft-combined-in-new-york-with-newspaper-actions" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">US authors’ copyright lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft combined in New York with newspaper actions</a></p><p>The BBC reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgn1lz3v4no" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Apple’s encryption row with UK should not be secret, court rules</a></p><p>CTV News reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-scotia/article/halifax-to-phase-out-use-of-x-as-official-social-media-platform/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Halifax to phase out use of X as official social media platform</a></p><p><strong>Great news from one of my favorite cities.</strong></p> <p><strong>Neutral</strong></p><p>Rest of the World reports:</p><p><a href="https://restofworld.org/2025/global-elections-ai-use/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">What we learned from tracking AI use in global elections</a></p> <p><strong>The Evil Empire Strikes Back</strong></p> <p>So-called newspaper, The New York Times reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/us/politics/trump-loomer-haugh-cyberattacks-elections.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9U4.EtWQ.bifG0-CeRfWF&smid=url-share" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump Weakens U.S. Cyberdefenses at a Moment of Rising Danger</a></p><p>Mother Jones reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/04/clearview-ai-immigration-ice-fbi-surveillance-facial-recognition-hoan-ton-that-hal-lambert-trump/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Shocking Far-Right Agenda Behind the Facial Recognition Tech Used by ICE and the FBI</a></p><p>Reuters reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/musks-doge-using-ai-snoop-us-federal-workers-sources-say-2025-04-08/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Exclusive: Musk’s DOGE using AI to snoop on U.S. federal workers, sources say</a></p><p>The Guardian reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/06/trump-musk-billionaires-influence-national-security" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Under Trump and Musk, billionaires wield unprecedented influence over US national security</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/08/uk-creating-prediction-tool-to-identify-people-most-likely-to-kill" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">UK creating ‘murder prediction’ tool to identify people most likely to kill</a></p><p>Citation Needed reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.citationneeded.news/issue-81/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Issue 81 – Crypto crime is legal</a></p><p><strong>Jesus.</strong></p> <p><strong>Pariah States</strong></p> <p>Bit Defender reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/russian-bots-hard-at-work-spreading-political-unrest-on-romanias-internet" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Russian bots hard at work spreading political unrest on Romania’s internet</a></p><p>Ars Technica reports:</p><p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/04/leaked-messages-expose-trade-secrets-of-prolific-black-basta-ransomware-group/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">“The girl should be calling men.” Leak exposes Black Basta’s influence tactics.</a></p><p>DarkReading reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/china-continues-harassing-ethnic-groups-spyware" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">China-Linked Hackers Continue Harassing Ethnic Groups With Spyware</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/09/governments-identify-dozens-of-android-apps-bundled-with-spyware/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Governments identify dozens of Android apps bundled with spyware</a></p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/09/court-document-reveals-locations-of-whatsapp-victims-targeted-by-nso-spyware/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Court document reveals locations of WhatsApp victims targeted by NSO spyware</a></p> <p><strong>Big Media</strong></p> <p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a href="https://techpolicy.press/independent-media-has-an-infrastructural-problem" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Independent Media Has an Infrastructural Problem</a></p><p>DigiDay reports:</p><p><a href="https://digiday.com/media/former-substack-creators-say-theyre-earning-more-on-new-platforms-that-offer-larger-shares-of-subscription-revenue/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Former Substack creators say they’re earning more on new platforms that offer larger shares of subscription revenue</a></p> <p><strong>Big Tech</strong></p> <p>Speaking of, Snopes reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/04/04/heather-cox-richardson-facebook/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Historian Heather Cox Richardson said Facebook removed her posts. Here’s what we know</a></p><p><strong>My advice to her is to get the fuck off Facebook and get the fuck off Substack.</strong></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/10/apple_agrees_to_settle_unfair/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Apple settles unfair labor charges brought by fired engineering manager</a></p><p>Ars Technica reports:</p><p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/04/congress-to-question-whistleblower-who-accused-meta-of-helping-china-in-ai-race/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Meta secretly helped China advance AI, ex-Facebooker will tell Congress</a></p><p>404 Media has:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/careless-people-is-the-book-about-facebook-ive-wanted-for-a-decade/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">‘Careless People’ Is the Book About Facebook I’ve Wanted for a Decade</a></p><p>The Guardian reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/03/meta-faces-18bn-lawsuit-over-claims-it-inflamed-violence-in-ethiopia" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Meta faces £1.8bn lawsuit over claims it inflamed violence in Ethiopia</a></p><p>The Dair Institute reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.dair-institute.org/blog/tigray-social/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Social Media Platforms Are Spreading Violent Warmongering Content Encouraging All-Out War Between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Again</a></p><p>Jeremy Keith has:</p><p><a href="https://adactio.com/journal/21831" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Denial</a></p><p><strong>Nothing personal, but it you use LLMs, you are contributing to this c^ntitry.</strong></p> <p><strong>Terror</strong></p> <p>The Kyiv Independent reports:</p><p><a href="https://kyivindependent.com/neo-nazi-terrorist-group-offering-locals-payment-to-carry-out-attacks-guardian-reports/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">US neo-Nazi terrorist group pays recruits to carry out attacks in Ukraine, Guardian reports</a></p><p>Mother Jones reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/04/joe-kent-tulsi-gabbard-national-counterterrorism-center-first-amendment-praetorian-robert-patrick-lewis/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Gabbard’s Pick to Run Counterterrorism Center Aided Start of a Right-Wing Paramilitary Group</a></p> <p><strong>Cybersecurity/Privacy</strong></p> <p>Bleeping Computer reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/malicious-vscode-extensions-infect-windows-with-cryptominers/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Malicious VSCode extensions infect Windows with cryptominers</a></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/07/github_supply_chain_attack" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">That massive GitHub supply chain attack? It all started with a stolen SpotBugs token</a></p><p><strong>If you are using Microsoft software, you almost deserve this.</strong></p><p>Clubic reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.clubic.com/actualite-559848-surveillance-fin-du-chiffrement-proton-pourrait-quitter-la-suisse.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Surveillance, fin du chiffrement : Proton pourrait quitter la Suisse</a></p><p>The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announces:</p><p><a href="https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-30.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">OCC Notifies Congress of Incident Involving Email System</a></p><p>Consumer Reports has:</p><p><a href="https://innovation.consumerreports.org/Mixed-Signals-Many-Companies-May-Be-Ignoring-Opt-Out-Requests-Under-State-Privacy-Laws.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Mixed Signals: Many Companies May Be Ignoring Opt-Out Requests Under State Privacy Laws</a></p> <p><strong>Fediverse</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a href="https://fediversereport.com/fediverse-report-111/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Fediverse Report – #111</a></p><p>IFTAS is:</p><p>[Staying the Course: Our Continuing Mission]<br>(<a href="https://about.iftas.org/2025/04/08/staying-the-course-our-continuing-mission/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://about.iftas.org/2025/04/08/staying-the-course-our-continuing-mission/</a>)</p><p><strong>If you care about the Fediverse, please join me and make a financial contribution to IFTAS.</strong></p><p>Mastodon shares:</p><p><a href="https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/04/trunk-tidbits-march-2025/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trunk & Tidbits, March 2025</a></p><p>CogDogBlog has:</p><p><a href="https://cogdogblog.com/2025/04/wordpress-serving-activity-pub/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">WordPress Serving Posts at the Activity Pub</a></p><p>Tim Bray looks at:</p><p><a href="https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/202x/2025/04/05/The-CoSocialist-Future" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The CoSocialist Future</a></p><p>Ghost has:</p><p><a href="https://activitypub.ghost.org/you-think-youre-following-us-but-you-might-not-be/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">You think you’re following us, but you might not be</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/08/tapestrys-app-can-now-de-dupe-your-social-feeds/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Tapestry’s app can now de-dupe your social feeds</a></p> <p><strong>CTAs (aka show us some free love)</strong></p> <ul><li>That’s it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.</li><li><a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a>. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/feed/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RSS</a>.</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/battalion64.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Or follow Battalion on Bluesky</a>.</li></ul> <p>Keep fighting!</p> <p><strong><em>Ringleader, Battalion</em></strong><br>Reuben Walker<br> <a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/111/" target="_blank">#111</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ai/" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-protocol/" target="_blank">#ATProtocol</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/autocracy/" target="_blank">#Autocracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-journalism/" target="_blank">#BigJournalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-tech/" target="_blank">#BigTech</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/democracy/" target="_blank">#Democracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fascism/" target="_blank">#Fascism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ghost/" target="_blank">#Ghost</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/mastodon/" target="_blank">#Mastodon</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-china/" target="_blank">#StopChina</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-israel/" target="_blank">#StopIsrael</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-red-america/" target="_blank">#StopRedAmerica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-russia/" target="_blank">#StopRussia</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/support-ukraine/" target="_blank">#SupportUkraine</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/tapestry/" target="_blank">#Tapestry</a></p><p><a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=1716" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=17</span><span class="invisible">16</span></a></p>
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Battalion<p><strong>Destroying Autocracy – April 3, 2025</strong></p><p><strong>Welcome to this week’s “Destroying Autocracy”.</strong></p><p>It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting it. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.</p><p>DA comes out on Thursday and is updated through the end of day on Friday. Then we start over. So take your time in perusing it and check back in over the weekend.</p><p><strong>FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck ’em.</strong></p> <p><strong>Featured Item</strong></p> <p>Heydonworks shares:</p><p><a href="https://heydonworks.com/article/poisoning-well/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Poisoning Well</a></p><p><strong>AI can’t do spite. </strong>😈</p> <p><strong>We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.</strong></p> <p><strong>The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery</strong></p> <p>The Kyiv Independent reports:</p><p><a href="https://kyivindependent.com/moscow-metro-website-displays-appeal-from-recently-hacked-ukrainian-railways/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Moscow Metro website displays appeal from recently hacked Ukrainian Railways</a></p><p>EuroNews reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/31/help-us-develop-non-englishchinese-ai-models-japan-asks-eu" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Help us develop non-English/Chinese AI models, Japan asks EU</a></p><p><a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/31/french-antitrust-watchdog-fines-apple-150-million-over-data-collection-tool" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">French antitrust watchdog fines Apple €150 million over data collection tool</a></p><p>The Reframe has:</p><p><a href="https://www.the-reframe.com/1-year-after-substack/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">1 Year After Substack</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/open-source-genetic-database-opensnp-shuts-down-to-protect-users-from-authoritarian-governments/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Open Source Genetic Database Shuts Down to Protect Users From ‘Authoritarian Governments’</a></p><p>EuroNews reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/04/01/googles-ai-feature-on-hold-in-most-eu-member-states-due-to-strict-rules" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Google’s AI feature on hold in most EU member states due to ‘strict rules’</a></p><p>Reuters reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/elon-musk-must-face-fraud-lawsuit-over-disclosure-twitter-stake-2025-03-28/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Elon Musk must face fraud lawsuit over disclosure of Twitter stake</a></p><p><strong>He’s not allowed to fuck over rich people.</strong></p><p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a href="https://techpolicy.press/as-brazil-seeks-to-enforce-competition-law-against-digital-platforms-heres-what-it-could-learn-from-the-eu" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">As Brazil Seeks to Enforce Competition Law Against Digital Platforms, Here’s What it Could Learn from the EU</a></p><p>The UK announces:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/foreign-influence-registration-scheme-implementation" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Foreign Influence Registration Scheme implementation</a></p><p>Gaël Duval shares:</p><p><a href="https://gaelduval.com/practical-payment-solutions-for-murena-and-e-os-users/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Practical Payment Solutions for Murena and /e/OS Users</a></p><p><strong>That’s surveillance and Google-free Android if you aren’t familiar.</strong></p><p>Geo Coop reports:</p><p><a href="https://geo.coop/articles/worker-owned-news-outlets-are-changing-media-industry" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Worker-Owned News Outlets Are Changing the Media Industry</a></p><p>The Wrap has:</p><p><a href="https://www.thewrap.com/laurene-powell-jobs-atlantic-praise-signalgate/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">In Praise of Laurene Powell Jobs, Owner of The Atlantic, Superhero of Signalgate</a></p> <p><strong>Neutral</strong></p><p>The Guardian reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/01/data-privacy-campaigners-warn-of-henry-viii-powers" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Data protection bill leaves room for governmental abuse, campaigners warn</a></p><p>Open Source Initiative reports on:</p><p><a href="https://opensource.org/blog/overcoming-barriers-to-open-source-procurement-in-the-european-union" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Overcoming barriers to Open Source procurement in the European Union</a></p> <p><strong>The Evil Empire Strikes Back</strong></p> <p>TechDirt reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.techdirt.com/2025/03/31/the-real-cost-of-doge-musks-government-cuts-creating-massive-new-expenses/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Real Cost Of DOGE: Musk’s Government Cuts Creating Massive New Expenses</a></p><p>NBC News reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/trump-immigration-detained-visitors-border-search-device-visa-passport-rcna197736" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Denied, deported, detained: U.S. border incidents have travelers thinking twice</a></p> <p><strong>Pariah States</strong></p> <p>The Next Web reports:</p><p><a href="https://thenextweb.com/news/macpaw-survives-missile-strike-to-power-ukraine-tech-legacy" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The day a Russian missile hit a Ukrainian tech giant</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/north-korean-hackers-adopt-clickfix-attacks-to-target-crypto-firms/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">North Korean hackers adopt ClickFix attacks to target crypto firms</a></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/04/02/north_korean_fake_techies_target_europe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">North Korea’s fake tech workers now targeting European employers</a></p><p>DarkReading reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/israel-stage-3-cyber-wars-with-iran-proxies" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Israel Enters ‘Stage 3’ of Cyber Wars With Iran Proxies</a></p> <p><strong>Big Media</strong></p> <p>Tech Policy reports on:</p><p><a href="https://www.techpolicy.press/technology-democracy-and-power-journalisms-role-in-a-time-of-crisis/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Technology, Democracy, and Power: Journalism’s Role in a Time of Crisis</a></p><p>The Guardian reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/apr/01/i-cant-cope-with-it-any-more-newsrooms-scramble-to-retain-audiences-amid-the-big-switch-off" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">‘I can’t cope with it any more’: newsrooms scramble to retain audiences amid the big switch-off</a></p> <p><strong>Big Tech</strong></p> <p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a href="https://techpolicy.press/where-does-trumps-takeover-of-the-ftc-leave-the-regulation-of-big-tech" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Where Does Trump’s Takeover of the FTC Leave the Regulation of Big Tech?</a></p><p>The Verge reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/640368/mark-zuckerberg-meta-eu-fine-trump" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">It’s the moment of truth for Zuckerberg’s Trump bet</a></p><p>Epicenter reports:</p><p><a href="https://epicenter.works/en/content/eu-commission-undermines-eidas-protections-again" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">EU Commission Undermines eIDAS Protections, again!</a></p><p>Pivot to AI reports:</p><p><a href="https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/04/01/ai-in-the-enterprise-is-failing-over-twice-as-fast-in-2025-as-it-was-in-2024/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">AI in the enterprise is failing over twice as fast in 2025 as it was in 2024</a></p> <p><strong>Cybersecurity/Privacy</strong></p> <p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/01/uk_100k_fines_csr/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">UK threatens £100K-a-day fines under new cyber bill</a></p> <p><strong>Fediverse</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a href="https://fediversereport.com/fediverse-report-110/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Fediverse Report – #110</a></p><p>We Distriube reports:</p><p><a href="https://wedistribute.org/2025/03/fediforum-canceled/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">FediForum Has Been Canceled</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/02/a-new-security-fund-opens-up-to-help-protect-the-fediverse/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">A new security fund opens up to help protect the fediverse</a></p><p>Emelia Smith has:</p><p><a href="https://writings.thisismissem.social/open-source-tools-for-the-future-of-decentralized-moderation/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Open-source tools needed for the future of decentralized moderation</a></p><p><a href="https://writings.thisismissem.social/moving-beyond-the-false-dichotomy-for-federation-management/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Moving Beyond the False Dichotomy for Federation Management</a></p><p>The Nexus of Privacy shares:</p><p><a href="https://privacy.thenexus.today/more-notes-on-organizing/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">More notes on Organizing, Mutual Aid, and Activism on decentralized social networks</a></p><p>Ghost has an announcement:</p><p><a href="https://ghost.org/changelog/social-web-beta/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Social web (beta)</a></p><p>Funkwhale announces:</p><p><a href="https://blog.funkwhale.audio/2025-funkwhale-2-news.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Funkwhale 2.0 Alpha candidate</a></p><p>Steven Berson has:</p><p><a href="https://diasporasocial.net/posts/68e89e20f16e013d71e50a04ffb1b246" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Thoughts on Diaspora</a></p> <p><strong>Other Slightly Federated Social Media</strong></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/30/beyond-bluesky-these-are-the-apps-building-social-experiences-on-the-at-protocol/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Beyond Bluesky: These are the apps building social experiences on the AT Protocol</a></p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/01/mark-cuban-backs-skylight-a-tiktok-alternative-built-on-blueskys-underlying-technology/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Mark Cuban backs Skylight, a TikTok alternative built on Bluesky’s underlying technology</a></p> <p><strong>CTAs (aka show us some free love)</strong></p> <ul><li>That’s it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.</li><li><a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a>. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/feed/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RSS</a>.</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/battalion64.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Or follow Battalion on Bluesky</a>.</li></ul> <p>Keep fighting!</p> <p><strong><em>Ringleader, Battalion</em></strong><br>Reuben Walker<br> <a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/110/" target="_blank">#110</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ai/" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-protocol/" target="_blank">#ATProtocol</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/autocracy/" target="_blank">#Autocracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-journalism/" target="_blank">#BigJournalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-tech/" target="_blank">#BigTech</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/democracy/" target="_blank">#Democracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/diaspora/" target="_blank">#Diaspora</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fascism/" target="_blank">#Fascism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ghost/" target="_blank">#Ghost</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/mastodon/" target="_blank">#Mastodon</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-china/" target="_blank">#StopChina</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-iran/" target="_blank">#StopIran</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-israel/" target="_blank">#StopIsrael</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-red-america/" target="_blank">#StopRedAmerica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-russia/" target="_blank">#StopRussia</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/support-ukraine/" target="_blank">#SupportUkraine</a></p><p><a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=1681" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=16</span><span class="invisible">81</span></a></p>
Battalion<p><strong>Destroying Autocracy – 27 March 2025</strong></p><p><strong>Welcome to this week’s “Destroying Autocracy”.</strong></p><p>It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting it. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.</p><p>DA comes out on Thursday and is updated through the end of day on Friday. Then we start over. So take your time in perusing it and check back in over the weekend.</p><p><strong>FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck ’em.</strong></p> <p><strong>Featured Item</strong></p> <p>The Register reports:</p><p>EU OS is a proposal for an immutable KDE-based Linux distribution with a Windows-like desktop, designed for use in European public-sector organizations.</p><p>Rather than a new distro, it’s a website that documents planning such a thing, what functions the OS might need, how to deploy and manage it, and how to handle users.</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/25/eu_os_free_govt_desktop/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">EU OS drafts a locked-down Linux blueprint for Eurocrats</a></p><p><strong>This needs to be implemented quickly and then exported to non-EU, non-fascist states as well.</strong></p> <p><strong>We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.</strong></p> <p><strong>The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery</strong></p> <p>The Kyiv Independent reports:</p><p><a href="https://kyivindependent.com/italy-suspends-starlink-purchase-negotiations-with-spacex-amid-musk-controversy/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Italy suspends Starlink purchase negotiations with SpaceX amid Musk controversy</a></p><p><a href="https://kyivindependent.com/voice-of-america-sues-trump-administration-over-funding-cuts/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Voice of America journalists sue Trump administration following president’s order to gut free press</a></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/25/otf_tor_lets_encrypt_funding_lawsuit/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">OTF, which backs Tor, Let’s Encrypt and more, sues to save funding from Trump cuts</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/26/us_defense_contractor/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">US defense contractor cops to sloppy security, settles after infosec lead blows whistle</a></p><p>Wired reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/trump-era-digital-expat/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">How to Avoid US-Based Digital Services—and Why You Might Want To</a></p><p><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/trump-us-cloud-services-europe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump’s Aggression Sours Europe on US Cloud Giants</a></p><p>MIT Technology Review reports on:</p><p><a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/25/1113696/why-the-world-is-looking-to-ditch-us-ai-models/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Why the world is looking to ditch US AI models</a></p><p>NPR reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/23/nx-s1-5326573/internet-archive-wayback-machine-trump" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">As the Trump administration purges web pages, this group is rushing to save them</a></p><p>California announces:</p><p><a href="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-urgently-issues-consumer-alert-23andme-customers" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Attorney General Bonta Urgently Issues Consumer Alert for 23andMe Customers</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/mozilla-foundation-calls-on-tech-industry-to-block-ice-contractor/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Mozilla Foundation Calls on Tech Industry to Block ICE Contractor</a></p><p>The Guardian reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/24/french-university-scientific-asylum-american-talent-brain-drain" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">A French university is offering ‘scientific asylum’ for US talent. The brain drain has started</a></p><p>The Huffington Post reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pete-hegseth-sued-over-signal-text-debacle_n_67e2f9b5e4b074f0c26efadc" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pete Hegseth Sued Over Signal Text Debacle</a></p><p>The Kyiv Post reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.kyivpost.com/post/49510" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">First Surveillance Satellite of Planned Czechia-Ukrainian Constellation in Orbit</a></p> <p><strong>Neutral</strong></p><p>Tech Policy has:</p><p><a href="https://www.techpolicy.press/scientists-respond-to-ftc-inquiry-into-tech-censorship/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Scientists Respond to FTC Inquiry into Tech Censorship</a></p> <p><strong>The Evil Empire Strikes Back</strong></p> <p>The Verge asks:</p><p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/634264/customs-border-protection-search-phone-airport-rights" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Is it safe to travel with your phone right now?</a></p><p><strong>It’s not safe to travel to the U.S. period. Or even within it by air.</strong></p><p>DarkReading reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/us-weakens-disinformation-defenses-russia-china-ramp-up" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">US Weakens Disinformation Defenses, as Russia & China Ramp Up</a></p><p>Heisse reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.heise.de/news/Nach-Trump-Dekret-Kampf-um-US-Foerdermittel-fuer-Tor-F-Droid-und-Let-s-Encrypt-10328226.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">US-Behörde stoppt Gelder für Let’s Encrypt und Tor ‒ Open Tech Fund wehrt sich</a></p><p>Tech Policy reports on:</p><p><a href="https://techpolicy.press/ai-surveillance-on-the-rise-in-us-but-tactics-of-repression-not-new" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">AI Surveillance on the Rise in US, but Tactics of Repression Not New</a></p><p><a href="https://techpolicy.press/how-the-white-house-is-gaslighting-the-world-about-europes-digital-laws" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">How the White House is Gaslighting the World About Europe’s Digital Laws</a></p><p>On a related note to The Guardian article above, Not a Tech Bro has:</p><p><a href="https://not-a-tech-bro.ghost.io/not-invented-here-2/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Not invented here</a></p> <p><strong>Pariah States</strong></p> <p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cyberattack-takes-down-ukrainian-state-railways-online-services/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Cyberattack takes down Ukrainian state railway’s online services</a></p><p>DarkReading reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/access-broker-russian-state-cybercrime" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Meet the Low-Key Access Broker Supercharging Russian State Cybercrime</a></p><p><a href="https://www.darkreading.com/cybersecurity-operations/fcc-investigates-chinese-telecom-providers-evading-operations-ban" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">FCC Investigates China-Backed Tech Suppliers for Evading US Operations Ban</a></p> <p><strong>Big Media</strong></p> <p>America2 reports:</p><p><a href="https://america2.news/the-substack-dilemma-how-creators-are-inadvertently-fueling-americas-failure/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Substack Dilemma: How Creators Are Inadvertently Fueling America’s Failure</a></p><p><strong>Nothing personal but if you are on Substack, you’re a fascist or uninformed or an amoral c^nt.</strong></p> <p><strong>Big Tech</strong></p> <p>Politico reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/musks-x-suspends-opposition-accounts-turkey-protest-civil-unrest-erdogan-imamoglu-istanbul-mayor/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Musk’s X suspends opposition accounts in Turkey amid civil unrest</a></p><p><strong>How surprising. Two set of c^nts work together.</strong></p><p>MIT Technology Review reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/24/1113647/why-handing-over-total-control-to-ai-agents-would-be-a-huge-mistake/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Why handing over total control to AI agents would be a huge mistake</a></p><p>Tech Policy asks:</p><p><a href="https://techpolicy.press/will-ireland-be-big-techs-lapdog-yet-again" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Will Ireland be Big Tech’s Lapdog Yet Again?</a></p> <p><strong>Cybersecurity/Privacy</strong></p> <p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/24/nation_state_supply_chain_attack/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">As nation-state hacking becomes ‘more in your face,’ are supply chains secure?</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-vanhelsing-ransomware-targets-windows-arm-esxi-systems/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">New VanHelsing ransomware targets Windows, ARM, ESXi systems</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/25/how-to-tell-if-your-online-accounts-have-been-hacked/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">How to tell if your online accounts have been hacked</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/when-your-threat-model-is-being-a-moron-signal/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">When Your Threat Model Is Being a Moron</a></p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/you-need-to-use-signals-nickname-feature/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">You Need to Use Signal’s Nickname Feature</a></p><p>The Verge reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/637118/vivaldi-browser-proton-vpn-integration-availability" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Vivaldi bundles Proton VPN into its web browser</a></p> <p><strong>Fediverse</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a href="https://fediversereport.com/fediverse-report-109/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Fediverse Report – #109</a></p><p>Arxiv has a research paper:</p><p><a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2502.17926" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">FediverseSharing: A Novel Dataset on Cross-Platform Interaction<br>Dynamics between Threads and Mastodon Users</a></p><p>Letterbook has a:</p><p><a href="https://letterbook.com/blog/post/2025/3/18/sandcastles.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Development Update</a></p><p>Fedihost has some how to videos:</p><p><a href="https://video.fedihost.co/w/1c888031-efa4-40c8-9bd9-6f2b20e2b3f8" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Creating A GoToSocial Instance on FediHost</a></p><p><a href="https://video.fedihost.co/w/63AETQCcEMigzTHTmTu2Wn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Configuring A PeerTube Instance</a></p><p>Reset Digital for Good has:</p><p><a href="https://reset.org/dezentrale-youtube-alternative-peertube-nachhaltiger-dank-peer-to-peer/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Dezentrale YouTube-Alternative PeerTube: Nachhaltiger dank Peer-to-Peer?</a></p> <p><strong>Other Slightly Federated Social Media</strong></p> <p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/25/a-world-without-caesars-how-the-atproto-community-is-rebuilding-the-web-to-return-power-to-the-people/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">A world without Caesars: How the ATProto community is rebuilding the web to return power to the people</a></p><p><strong>Hmm. Are they really?</strong></p> <p><strong>CTAs (aka show us some free love)</strong></p> <ul><li>That’s it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.</li><li><a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a>. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/feed/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RSS</a>.</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/battalion64.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Or follow Battalion on Bluesky</a>.</li></ul> <p>Keep fighting!</p> <p><strong><em>Ringleader, Battalion</em></strong><br>Reuben Walker<br> <a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/109/" target="_blank">#109</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ai/" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-proto/" target="_blank">#ATProto</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-protocol/" target="_blank">#ATProtocol</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/autocracy/" target="_blank">#Autocracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-journalism/" target="_blank">#BigJournalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-tech/" target="_blank">#BigTech</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/bluesky/" target="_blank">#Bluesky</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/democracy/" target="_blank">#Democracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fascism/" target="_blank">#Fascism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/go-to-social/" target="_blank">#GoToSocial</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/mastodon/" target="_blank">#Mastodon</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/peertube/" target="_blank">#Peertube</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/signal/" target="_blank">#Signal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-china/" target="_blank">#StopChina</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-iran/" target="_blank">#StopIran</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-israel/" target="_blank">#StopIsrael</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-red-america/" target="_blank">#StopRedAmerica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-russia/" target="_blank">#StopRussia</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/support-ukraine/" target="_blank">#SupportUkraine</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/threads/" target="_blank">#Threads</a></p><p><a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=1650" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=16</span><span class="invisible">50</span></a></p>
Battalion<p><strong>Destroying Autocracy – 20 March 2025</strong></p><p><strong>Welcome to this week’s “Destroying Autocracy”.</strong></p><p>It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting it. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.</p><p>DA comes out on Thursday and is updated through the end of day on Friday. Then we start over. So take your time in perusing it and check back in over the weekend.</p><p><strong>FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck ’em.</strong></p> <p><strong>Featured Item</strong></p> <p>Hans-Peter Schulenberg shares:</p><p><a href="https://medium.com/@peter.schulenberg/the-deepseek-effect-how-a-chinese-ai-startup-is-reshaping-the-global-tech-landscape-f4293395ecd6" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The DEEPSEEK Effect: How a Chinese AI Startup Is Reshaping the Global Tech Landscape</a></p><p><strong>Let’s hope that things like <a href="https://huggingface.co/open-r1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Open-R1</a> will become ethical alternatives.</strong></p> <p><strong>We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.</strong></p> <p><strong>The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery</strong></p> <p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/17/european_tech_sovereign_fund/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Euro techies call for sovereign fund to escape Uncle Sam’s digital death grip</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/18/vivaldi_72/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Vivaldi 7.2 browser wants to topple tech’s feudal lords</a></p><p>Reuters reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dutch-parliament-calls-end-reliance-us-software-2025-03-18/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Dutch parliament calls for end to dependence on US software companies</a></p><p>Freedom of the Press Foundation reports:</p><p><a href="https://freedom.press/issues/wired-is-dropping-paywalls-for-foia-based-reporting-others-should-follow/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow</a></p><p><strong>I know 404 Media does the same.</strong></p><p>DarkReading reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.darkreading.com/cybersecurity-operations/duke-university-gcf-partner-advancing-women-in-cyber" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Duke University & GCF Partner to Identify Pathways for Advancing Women’s Careers in Cybersecurity</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/18/apple-loses-appeal-against-germanys-special-abuse-control-for-big-tech/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Apple loses appeal against Germany’s special abuse control for Big Tech</a></p><p>ArsTechnica reports:</p><p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/03/trump-may-not-be-able-to-save-elon-musk-from-uks-strict-online-safety-law/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">UK online safety law Musk hates kicks in today, and so far, Trump can’t stop it</a></p><p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/apple/2025/03/eu-accuses-google-and-apple-of-stifling-competition-under-digital-markets-act/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Apple and Google in the hot seat as European regulators ignore Trump warnings</a></p> <p><strong>Neutral</strong></p><p>Tech Policy reports on:</p><p><a href="https://techpolicy.press/middle-powers-digital-antitrust-efforts-in-the-age-of-trump" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Middle Powers Digital Antitrust Efforts in the Age of Trump</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/public-records-reveal-how-agencies-complied-with-trumps-anti-trans-order/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Public Records Reveal How Agencies Complied With Trump’s Anti-Trans Order</a></p> <p><strong>The Evil Empire Strikes Back</strong></p> <p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/tsa-k9-bomb-sniffing-dogs-funding/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">TSA Says Its Credit Cards for Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Are Cut Off</a></p><p>The Guardian reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/15/elon-musk-18f-x-false-claims" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">How an obscure US government office has become a target of Elon Musk</a></p><p>Radio Free Europe reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-executive-order-cuts-agencies-rfe-rl-usagm-voa/33348998.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump Signs Executive Order For Major Cuts To 7 Agencies, Including RFE/RL Overseer USAGM</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/18/cisa-scrambles-to-contact-fired-employees-after-court-rules-layoffs-unlawful/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">CISA scrambles to contact fired employees after court rules layoffs ‘unlawful’</a></p> <p><strong>Pariah States</strong></p> <p>DarkReading reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/denmark-warns-increased-cyber-espionage-telecom-sector" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Denmark Warns of Increased Cyber Espionage Against Telecom Sector</a></p><p><a href="https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/black-basta-league-russian-officials-chat-logs" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Black Basta Leader in League With Russian Officials, Chat Logs Show</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ukrainian-military-targeted-in-new-signal-spear-phishing-attacks/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ukrainian military targeted in new Signal spear-phishing attacks</a></p> <p><strong>Big Media</strong></p> <p>NPR reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/15/nx-s1-5329244/bloody-saturday-voiceofamerica-radio-free-asia-europe-trump-kari-lake" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">‘Bloody Saturday’ at Voice of America and other U.S.-funded networks</a></p><p>NBC News reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/chinese-state-media-cheer-trumps-decision-axe-voice-america-rcna196663" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Trump administration axed Voice of America, and China’s state media are delighted</a></p><p>Radio World reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/rfe-rl-sues-the-usagm-to-get-its-grant-back" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RFE/RL Sues the USAGM to Get Its Grant Back</a></p><p>The Kyiv Independent reports:</p><p><a href="https://kyivindependent.com/rfe-rl-sues-trump-administration-over-funding-cuts/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RFE/RL sues Trump administration over funding cuts</a></p> <p><strong>Big Tech</strong></p> <p>Cory Doctorow writes:</p><p><a href="https://doctorow.medium.com/https-pluralistic-net-2025-03-15-altering-the-deal-telescreen-d33bb0e4f000" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Amazon annihilates Alexa privacy settings, turns on continuous, nonconsensual audio uploading</a></p><p>The Guardian reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/16/careless-people-a-story-of-where-i-used-to-work-by-sarah-wynn-williams-review-a-former-disciple-unfriends-facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Careless People: A Story of Where I Used to Work by Sarah Wynn-Williams review – a former disciple unfriends Facebook</a></p><p>The Electronic Frontier Foundation reports on:</p><p><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/03/californias-ab-412-bill-could-crush-startups-and-cement-big-tech-ai-monopoly" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">California’s A.B. 412: A Bill That Could Crush Startups and Cement A Big Tech AI Monopoly</a></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/18/amazon_algorithmic_worker_management/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Amazon accused of using algorithms to push warehouse workers to breaking point</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/meta-promises-to-fight-misinformation-in-australia-with-same-strategy-it-killed-in-the-u-s-to-appease-trump/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Meta Promises to Fight Misinformation in Australia With Same Strategy It Killed in the U.S. to Appease Trump</a></p><p>The Cradle reports:</p><p><a href="https://thecradle.co/articles-id/29518" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Google to acquire Israeli firm staffed by former Unit 8200 officers</a></p><p><strong>Two sets of c^nts who deserve each other.</strong></p> <p><strong>Cybersecurity/Privacy</strong></p> <p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/18/uk_data_broker_inquiry/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">UK wants dirt on data brokers before criminals get there first</a></p><p>Cloudflare reports:</p><p><a href="https://blog.cloudflare.com/password-reuse-rampant-half-user-logins-compromised/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Password reuse is rampant: nearly half of observed user logins are compromised</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/facial-recognition-company-clearview-attempted-to-buy-social-security-numbers-and-mugshots-for-its-database/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Facial Recognition Company Clearview Attempted to Buy Social Security Numbers and Mugshots for its Database</a></p> <p><strong>Fediverse</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a href="https://fediversereport.com/fediverse-report-108/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Fediverse Report #108</a></p><p>The Conversation has:</p><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/the-fediverse-promises-social-media-without-big-tech-if-it-can-avoid-familiar-pitfalls-247178" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Fediverse promises social media without Big Tech – if it can avoid familiar pitfalls</a></p><p>The Social Web Foundation reports:</p><p><a href="https://socialwebfoundation.org/2025/03/18/fediverse-house-2025-wrap-up/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Fediverse House 2025 Wrap-up</a></p><p>IFTAS announces:</p><p><a href="https://about.iftas.org/2025/03/17/iftas-2-0-rescoping-and-refocusing/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">IFTAS 2.0 – Rescoping and Refocusing</a></p><p><strong>Do the world a solid and make a donation to IFTAS, preferably a monthly one.</strong></p><p>Fred Rocha explains:</p><p><a href="https://fredrocha.net/2025/03/18/how-i-use-mastodon-in-2025/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">How I use Mastodon in 2025</a></p><p>Ghost announces:</p><p><a href="https://activitypub.ghost.org/social-web-beta/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The social web beta is here</a></p><p><strong>I’m looking forward to this being perfected and being available on regular Ghost.</strong></p><p>Peertube announces:</p><p><a href="https://joinpeertube.org/news/release-7.1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">PeerTube v7.1 is out!</a></p><p>A New Social is:</p><p><a href="https://blog.anew.social/breaking-ground/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Breaking Ground</a></p><p>We Distribute reports:</p><p><a href="https://wedistribute.org/2025/03/website-league-island-networks/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Website League and the Rise of Island Networks</a></p><p>Forgejo has its:</p><p><a href="https://forgejo.org/2025-02-monthly-update/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Forgejo monthly update – February 2025</a></p> <p><strong>Other Slightly Federated Social Media</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse report has:</p><p><a href="https://fediversereport.com/atmosphere-report-2025march-b/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">ATmosphere Report – 2025march.b</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/15/bluesky-users-debate-plans-around-user-data-and-ai-training/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Bluesky users debate plans around user data and AI training</a></p><p>The Libre has:</p><p><a href="https://thelibre.news/why-i-recommend-against-bluesky/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Why I recommend against Bluesky</a></p> <p><strong>CTAs (aka show us some free love)</strong></p> <ul><li>That’s it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.</li><li><a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a>. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/feed/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RSS</a>.</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/battalion64.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Or follow Battalion on Bluesky</a>.</li></ul> <p>Keep fighting!</p> <p><strong><em>Ringleader, Battalion</em></strong><br>Reuben Walker<br> <a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/108/" target="_blank">#108</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ai/" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-proto/" target="_blank">#ATProto</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-protocol/" target="_blank">#ATProtocol</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/autocracy/" target="_blank">#Autocracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-journalism/" target="_blank">#BigJournalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-tech/" target="_blank">#BigTech</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/bluesky/" target="_blank">#Bluesky</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/democracy/" target="_blank">#Democracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fascism/" target="_blank">#Fascism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/mastodon/" target="_blank">#Mastodon</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-china/" target="_blank">#StopChina</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-iran/" target="_blank">#StopIran</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-israel/" target="_blank">#StopIsrael</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-red-america/" target="_blank">#StopRedAmerica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-russia/" target="_blank">#StopRussia</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/support-ukraine/" target="_blank">#SupportUkraine</a></p><p><a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=1615" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=16</span><span class="invisible">15</span></a></p>
Battalion<p><strong>Welcome to last week’s “Destroying Autocracy”</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://friendica.me/display/78ea265d-1067-d9c8-d46f-543798792874" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">friendica.me/display/78ea265d-</span><span class="invisible">1067-d9c8-d46f-543798792874</span></a></p>
Battalion<p><strong>Destroying Autocracy – 13 March 2025</strong></p><p><strong>Welcome to this week’s “Destroying Autocracy”.</strong></p><p>It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting it. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.</p><p>DA comes out on Thursday and is updated through the end of day on Friday. Then we start over. So take your time in perusing it and check back in over the weekend.</p><p><strong>FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck ’em.</strong></p> <p><strong>Featured Item</strong></p> <p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p>Describing the technologies that make all of this possible as “AI” masks what they really are: government surveillance targeting free speech. Today, the government’s use of (Big Tech) data threatens to deny rights while slashing government services, and the risk of being singled out hovers over anyone who disagrees with the administration.</p><p>A system linking the views expressed on an individual’s social media accounts to the platforms gathering government data is an immediate threat to the freedom to express ourselves and live without fear of government interference in that expression.</p><p>Through fear of service denials, investigations, targeted audits, and other potential abuses, the existence of this apparatus leads citizens to curtail Constitutionally protected speech acts. Creating a situation where citizens reasonably fear that their speech will lead to a suspension of rights, denial of services, or taking on other risks that threaten democratic participation and debate.</p><p>What is clear, however, is that the moment such an incursion into rights can be articulated, there is a vast legal precedent under the Privacy Act that can be brought forward in response. For that reason, Americans need more, not less, public expression of diverse ideas and robust rebuttals to the intrusion of this public-private partnership into our civic life.</p><p><a href="https://www.techpolicy.press/the-ai-state-is-a-surveillance-state/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The AI State is a Surveillance State</a></p> <p><strong>We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.</strong></p> <p><strong>The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery</strong></p> <p>The Next Web reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://thenextweb.com/news/4-european-satellite-firms-are-vying-to-replace-starlink-in-ukraine" target="_blank">4 European satellite firms are vying to replace Starlink in Ukraine</a></p><p>Politico reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/push-for-eurostack-as-eu-us-tech-tensions-grow/" target="_blank">EU-US rift triggers call for made-in-Europe tech</a></p><p>The Next Web reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://thenextweb.com/news/european-cloud-alternative-to-aws-azure-and-gcp" target="_blank">European cloud hosts are offering an escape from AWS, Azure, and GCP</a></p><p>Clayton Computer reports on:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.clayton.computer/community-tech-moving-beyond-free-and-open-source-software/" target="_blank">Community Tech: Moving Beyond Free and Open Source Software</a></p><p>The Verge reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/629347/meta-careless-people-flatiron-books-macmillan" target="_blank">‘Careless People’ publisher won’t pull the book Meta is trying to stop</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/627665/x-musk-media-matters-lawsuit-damages" target="_blank">Media Matters sues X to stop lawsuits outside of the US</a></p><p>Krebs on Security reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/03/alleged-co-founder-of-garantex-arrested-in-india/" target="_blank">Alleged Co-Founder of Garantex Arrested in India</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/nasa-yale-and-stanford-scientists-consider-scientific-exile-french-university-says/" target="_blank">NASA, Yale, and Stanford Scientists Consider ‘Scientific Exile,’ French University Says</a></p><p>TechPolicy reports:</p><p><a href="https://techpolicy.press/ukraines-hardwon-approach-to-strategic-communications-and-counterdisinformation-lessons-for-europe-and-beyond" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ukraine’s Hard-Won Approach to Strategic Communications and Counter-Disinformation: Lessons for Europe and Beyond</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techpolicy.press/doj-sets-record-straight-of-whats-needed-to-dismantle-googles-search-monopoly" target="_blank">DOJ Sets Record Straight of What’s Needed to Dismantle Google’s Search Monopoly</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/12/uk-competition-probe-of-mobile-browsers-finds-apple-google-duopoly-is-anti-innovation/" target="_blank">UK competition probe of mobile browsers finds Apple-Google duopoly is ‘anti-innovation’</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/13/could-europes-16b-deeptech-bet-be-a-path-to-autonomy-from-the-us/" target="_blank">Could deeptech serve as Europe’s path to autonomy from the US?</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/07/signal-president-meredith-whittaker-calls-out-agentic-ai-as-having-profound-security-and-privacy-issues/" target="_blank">Signal President Meredith Whittaker calls out agentic AI as having ‘profound’ security and privacy issues</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/10/open-web-initiatives-project-liberty-and-solid-could-be-teaming-up/" target="_blank">Open web initiatives Project Liberty and Solid could be teaming up</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/12/meta-faces-publisher-copyright-ai-lawsuit-in-france/" target="_blank">Meta faces publisher copyright AI lawsuit in France</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/08/judge-allows-authors-ai-copyright-lawsuit-against-meta-to-move-forward/" target="_blank">Judge allows authors’ AI copyright lawsuit against Meta to move forward</a></p><p>ArsTechnica has more:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/03/meta-mocked-for-raising-bob-dylan-defense-of-torrenting-in-ai-copyright-fight/" target="_blank">Meta mocked for raising “Bob Dylan defense” of torrenting in AI copyright fight</a></p><p>The United Nations announce:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://unite.un.org/news/osi-first-endorse-united-nations-open-source-principles" target="_blank">The OSI First to Endorse United Nations Open Source Principles</a></p> <p><strong>Neutral</strong></p> <p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techpolicy.press/out-of-balance-what-the-eus-strategy-shift-means-for-the-ai-ecosystem" target="_blank">Out of Balance: What the EU’s Strategy Shift Means for the AI Ecosystem</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/x-hit-by-massive-cyberattack-amid-dark-storms-ddos-claims/" target="_blank">X hit by ‘massive cyberattack’ amid Dark Storm’s DDoS claims</a></p><p><strong>Usually this would be in the cybersecurity section. But, since it was against the box of c^nts known as Shitter the story gets moved here.</strong></p><p>OpenSource reports on:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://opensource.org/blog/overcoming-barriers-to-open-source-procurement-in-the-european-union" target="_blank">Overcoming barriers to Open Source procurement in the European Union</a></p> <p><strong>The Evil Empire Strikes Back</strong></p> <p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techpolicy.press/how-disinformation-is-undermining-trust-in-brazils-most-used-digital-public-infrastructure" target="_blank">How Disinformation Is Undermining Trust In Brazil’s Most Used Digital Public Infrastructure</a></p><p>The Guardian reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/trump-administration" target="_blank">ICE accessed car trackers in sanctuary cities that could help in raids, files show</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/here-is-nasas-contract-with-clearview-ai-2/" target="_blank">Here is NASA’s Contract with Clearview AI</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/the-200-sites-an-ice-surveillance-contractor-is-monitoring/" target="_blank">The 200+ Sites an ICE Surveillance Contractor is Monitoring</a></p><p>Corporate Europe Observatory reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://corporateeurope.org/en/2025/03/huawei-corruption-scandal-shows-eu-has-learned-no-lessons-ethics-rules" target="_blank">Huawei corruption scandal shows EU has learned no lessons on ethics rules</a></p><p>TechDirt reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techdirt.com/2025/03/11/trumps-latest-weapon-against-critics-destroying-their-lawyers/" target="_blank">Trump’s Latest Weapon Against Critics: Destroying Their Lawyers</a></p> <p><strong>Pariah States</strong></p> <p>The Register reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/03/12/china_spy_juniper_routers/" target="_blank">Expired Juniper routers find new life – as Chinese spy hubs</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/undocumented-backdoor-found-in-bluetooth-chip-used-by-a-billion-devices/" target="_blank">Undocumented commands found in Bluetooth chip used by a billion devices</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/north-korean-lazarus-hackers-infect-hundreds-via-npm-packages/" target="_blank">North Korean Lazarus hackers infect hundreds via npm packages</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/12/north-korean-government-hackers-snuck-spyware-on-android-app-store/" target="_blank">North Korean government hackers snuck spyware on Android app store</a></p> <p><strong>Big Media</strong></p> <p>The Associated Press reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-post-resignation-marcus-bezos-8d6ce32b27f5c965fc972d73d0f95aac" target="_blank">Washington Post columnist quits after her opinion piece criticizing owner Jeff Bezos is rejected</a></p><p>The Bulwark reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.thebulwark.com/p/univision-telemundo-trump-dhs-deportation-ads-backlash" target="_blank">‘State Propaganda’: Anger Erupts Inside Univision Over Airing of Trump Ad</a></p><p>Ethan Zuckerman reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://ethanzuckerman.com/2025/03/13/jay-rosen-and-taylor-owen-can-journalism-survive-trump-can-democracy/" target="_blank">Jay Rosen and Taylor Owen: Can journalism survive Trump? Can democracy?</a></p> <p><strong>Big Tech</strong></p> <p>Not a Tech Bro says:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://not-a-tech-bro.ghost.io/the-government-is-not-our-business/" target="_blank">The government is not our business</a></p><p>The Index reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theindex.media/the-fascist-tech-bro-takeover-is-here-2/" target="_blank">The Fascist Tech Bro Takeover Is Here</a></p><p><strong>Unfortunately, it’s true.</strong></p><p>The BBC reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly820v99ppo" target="_blank">Facebook was ‘hand in glove’ with China, BBC told</a></p><p>Radio Free Asia reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.rfa.org/english/china/2025/03/12/china-hong-kong-facebook-live-protest-videos/" target="_blank">Hong Kong media urged to back up Facebook protest videos</a></p><p>MalwareBytes Labs reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/03/android-devices-track-you-before-you-even-sign-in" target="_blank">Android devices track you before you even sign in</a></p><p><strong>One of the many reasons I have a Fairphone with the e/OS operating system.</strong></p><p>The Guardian reviews:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/13/careless-people-by-sarah-wynn-williams-review-zuckerberg-and-me" target="_blank">Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams review – Zuckerberg and me</a></p> <p><strong>Terror</strong></p> <p>Michah Flee shares a:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://micahflee.com/step-by-step-guide-to-reading-the-leaked-militia-chats-yourself/" target="_blank">Step-by-step guide to reading the leaked militia chats yourself</a></p><p><strong>Very cool.</strong></p> <p><strong>Cybersecurity/Privacy</strong></p> <p>DarkReading reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.darkreading.com/cybersecurity-operations/democratizing-cybersecurity-improve-security-posture" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Democratizing Security to Improve Security Posture</a></p><p><a href="https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/openai-operator-agent-proof-concept-phishing-attack" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">OpenAI Operator Agent Used in Proof-of-Concept Phishing Attack</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/binance-spoofers-compromise-pcs-trump-crypto-scam" target="_blank">Binance Spoofers Compromise PCs in ‘TRUMP’ Crypto Scam</a></p><p><strong>He, he.</strong></p><p>The Electronic Frontier Foundation shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://ssd.eff.org/module/choosing-vpn-thats-right-you" target="_blank">Choosing the VPN That’s Right for You</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/critical-php-rce-vulnerability-mass-exploited-in-new-attacks/" target="_blank">Critical PHP RCE vulnerability mass exploited in new attacks</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-medusa-ransomware-hit-over-300-critical-infrastructure-orgs/" target="_blank">CISA: Medusa ransomware hit over 300 critical infrastructure orgs</a></p> <p><strong>Fediverse</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://fediversereport.com/fediverse-report-107/" target="_blank">Fediverse Report #107</a></p><p>Hamish Campbell explains:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/why-the-fediverse-needs-a-connection-between-mainstreaming-and-grassroots/" target="_blank">Why the Fediverse Needs a Connection Between Mainstreaming and Grassroots</a></p><p>The Nexus of Privacy shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://thenexusofprivacy.net/notes-on-organizing-in-the-fediverses/" target="_blank">Notes (and thoughts) on organizing in the Fediverse and the ATmosphere</a></p><p>Ghost has an update:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://activitypub.ghost.org/actually-i-take-that-back/" target="_blank">Actually, I take that back</a></p><p>Mastodon has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/03/trunk-tidbits-february-2025/" target="_blank">Trunk & Tidbits, February 2025</a></p><p>SplitBrain details:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.splitbrain.org/blog/2025-03/12-mastodon_to_gotosocial_migration" target="_blank">Mastodon to GoToSocial Migration</a></p> <p><strong>Other Slightly Federated Social Media</strong></p> <p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/10/open-social-web-browser-surf-integrates-with-bluesky-in-latest-beta/" target="_blank">Open social web browser Surf integrates with Bluesky in latest beta</a></p> <p><strong>CTAs (aka show us some free love)</strong></p> <ul><li>That’s it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.</li><li><a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a>. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/feed/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RSS</a>.</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/battalion64.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Or follow Battalion on Bluesky</a>.</li></ul> <p>Keep fighting!</p> <p><strong><em>Ringleader, Battalion</em></strong><br>Reuben Walker<br> <a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/107/" target="_blank">#107</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ai/" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-proto/" target="_blank">#ATProto</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-protocol/" target="_blank">#ATProtocol</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/autocracy/" target="_blank">#Autocracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-journalism/" target="_blank">#BigJournalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-tech/" target="_blank">#BigTech</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/bluesky/" target="_blank">#Bluesky</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/democracy/" target="_blank">#Democracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fascism/" target="_blank">#Fascism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ghost/" target="_blank">#Ghost</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/gotosocial/" target="_blank">#GoToSocial</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/mastodon/" target="_blank">#Mastodon</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-china/" target="_blank">#StopChina</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-iran/" target="_blank">#StopIran</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-israel/" target="_blank">#StopIsrael</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-red-america/" target="_blank">#StopRedAmerica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-russia/" target="_blank">#StopRussia</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/support-ukraine/" target="_blank">#SupportUkraine</a></p><p><a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=1575" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=15</span><span class="invisible">75</span></a></p>
Battalion<p><strong>Destroying Autocracy – 06 March 2025</strong></p><p><strong>Welcome to this week’s “Destroying Autocracy”.</strong></p><p>It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting it. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.</p><p>DA comes out on Thursday and is updated through the end of day on Friday. Then we start over. So take your time in perusing it and check back in over the weekend.</p><p><strong>FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck ’em.</strong></p> <p><strong>Featured Item</strong></p> <p>Tech Policy writes:</p><p>The year is 2028. The world’s leading economies are in turmoil as artificial intelligence systems, once hailed as engines of progress, have outpaced human governance.</p><p>AI-driven financial markets operate beyond regulation, executing trades at speeds incomprehensible to human oversight. AI legal agents flood the courts with appeals and counterappeals, paralyzing the judicial system. Generative AI platforms tailor disinformation campaigns with surgical precision, dismantling electoral processes before governments can intervene.</p><p>Meanwhile, a handful of oligarchs with exclusive control over the most advanced AI systems command unprecedented influence, bypassing legislatures and setting policies through proprietary governance mechanisms.</p><p>Democracy, once thought resilient, is crumbling under the weight of unchecked artificial intelligence.</p><p>It’s hard not to see a trajectory towards such a world in today’s headlines. Yet, this future is not inevitable.</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techpolicy.press/ai-at-the-brink-preventing-the-subversion-of-democracy" target="_blank">AI at the Brink: Preventing the Subversion of Democracy</a></p> <p><strong>We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.</strong></p> <p><strong>The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery</strong></p> <p>9 to 5 Mac reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://9to5mac.com/2025/03/06/brazilian-court-apple-sideloading-ios/" target="_blank">Brazilian court gives Apple 90 days to allow sideloading on iOS</a></p><p>ArsTechnica reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/03/apple-appeals-uks-secret-demand-for-backdoor-access-to-encrypted-user-data/" target="_blank">Apple refuses to break encryption, seeks reversal of UK demand for backdoor</a></p><p>NextGov reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2025/02/us-spy-chief-directs-legal-review-uks-apple-backdoor-demand/403335/" target="_blank">US spy chief directs legal review of UK’s Apple backdoor demand</a></p><p>EuroNews reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/03/03/eu-commission-looking-to-speed-up-5g-defence-from-foreign-interference" target="_blank">EU Commission looking to speed up 5G defence from foreign interference</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/05/eu-must-fully-apply-its-market-fairness-rulebook-on-google-search-rivals-urge/" target="_blank">EU must ‘fully’ apply its market fairness rulebook on Google, search rivals urge</a></p><p>Jan Wildeboer describes:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://jan.wildeboer.net/2025/03/From_iCloud_to_Nextcloud_Contacts/" target="_blank">From iCloud to Nextcloud: Contacts</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/french-university-to-fund-american-scientists-who-fear-trump-censorship/" target="_blank">French University to Fund American Scientists Who Fear Trump Censorship</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/archivists-recreate-pre-trump-cdc-website-are-hosting-it-in-europe/" target="_blank">Archivists Recreate Pre-Trump CDC Website, Are Hosting It in Europe</a></p><p>NetzPolitik reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://netzpolitik.org/2025/open-source-funding-on-the-brink-delivering-whats-needed-to-make-europe-sovereign/" target="_blank">Open source funding on the brink : “Delivering what’s needed to make Europe sovereign”</a></p><p>Tech Policy has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techpolicy.press/looking-for-an-exit-europes-way-to-public-digital-infrastructures/" target="_blank">Looking for an Exit: Europe’s Way to Public Digital Infrastructures</a></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/07/dare_europe_risc_v_project/" target="_blank">Do you DARE? Europe bets once again on RISC-V for supercomputing sovereignty</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/03/uk_regulator_investigates_tiktok_and/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">UK watchdog investigates TikTok and Reddit over child data privacy concerns</a></p><p>The Electronic Frontier Foundation introduces:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/03/meet-rayhunter-new-open-source-tool-eff-detect-cellular-spying" target="_blank">Meet Rayhunter: A New Open Source Tool from EFF to Detect Cellular Spying</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-charges-chinese-hackers-linked-to-critical-infrastructure-breaches/" target="_blank">US charges Chinese hackers linked to critical infrastructure breaches</a></p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-seizes-domain-of-garantex-crypto-exchange-used-by-ransomware-gangs/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">US seizes domain of Garantex crypto exchange used by ransomware gangs</a></p><p>Andre Garzia opines:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://andregarzia.com/2025/03/the-web-should-be-a-conversation.html" target="_blank">The Web Should Be A Conversation</a></p><p><strong>Sim, meu homem!</strong></p><p>Ben Werdmuller says:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://werd.io/2025/the-web-was-always-about-redistribution-of-power-lets-bring" target="_blank">The web was always about redistribution of power. Let’s bring that back.</a></p><p>Joan Westenberg writes:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.joanwestenberg.com/big-tech-wants-you-trapped-the-open-web-sets-you-free-2/" target="_blank">Big Tech Wants You Trapped. The Open Web Sets You Free</a></p> <p><strong>Neutral</strong></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/03/microsoft_unveils_a_finalized_eu/" target="_blank">Microsoft unveils finalized EU Data Boundary as European doubt over US grows</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/05/dod_taps_scale_to_bring/" target="_blank">It begins: Pentagon to give AI agents a role in decision making, ops planning</a></p><p>The Markup reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://themarkup.org/machine-learning/2025/03/04/ai-chatbots-can-cushion-the-high-school-counselor-shortage-but-are-they-bad-for-students" target="_blank">AI Chatbots Can Cushion the High School Counselor Shortage — But Are They Bad for Students?</a></p> <p><strong>The Evil Empire Strikes Back</strong></p> <p>BitDefender reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/stop-targeting-russian-hackers-trump-administration-orders-us-cyber-command" target="_blank">Stop targeting Russian hackers, Trump administration orders US Cyber Command</a></p><p>The Guardian reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/28/trump-russia-hacking-cyber-security" target="_blank">Trump administration retreats in fight against Russian cyber threats</a></p><p>Meanwhile BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/dhs-says-cisa-will-not-stop-monitoring-russian-cyber-threats/" target="_blank">DHS says CISA will not stop monitoring Russian cyber threats</a></p><p>The Register has more:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/04/russia_cyber_threat/" target="_blank">So … Russia no longer a cyber threat to America?</a></p><p><strong>Given that the people running these agencies are now lying, moronic, incompetent, fascist c^nts, who knows what to believe.</strong></p><p>The Kyiv Independent reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://kyivindependent.com/russia-china-trying-to-recruit-fired-us-federal-employees-cnn-reports/" target="_blank">Russian, Chinese intelligence seek to recruit fired US federal employees, CNN reports</a></p><p><strong>This would be funny if weren’t disastrous.</strong></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/cellebrite-is-using-ai-to-summarize-chat-logs-and-audio-from-seized-mobile-phones/" target="_blank">Cellebrite Is Using AI to Summarize Chat Logs and Audio from Seized Mobile Phones</a></p><p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techpolicy.press/an-alert-to-the-world-the-role-of-social-media-platforms-in-bolsonaros-disinformation-campaign-targeting-brazils-democratic-institutions" target="_blank">An Alert to the World: The Role of Social Media Platforms in Bolsonaro’s Disinformation Campaign Targeting Brazil’s Democratic Institutions</a></p> <p><strong>Pariah States</strong></p> <p>The Register reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/03/polish_space_agency_confirms_cyberattack/" target="_blank">Polish space agency confirms cyberattack</a></p><p>DarkReading reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.darkreading.com/ics-ot-security/crafty-camel-apt-aviation-ot-polygot-files" target="_blank">‘Crafty Camel’ APT Targets Aviation, OT With Polygot Files</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.darkreading.com/remote-workforce/china-silk-typhoon-it-supply-chain-attacks" target="_blank">China’s Silk Typhoon APT Shifts to IT Supply Chain Attacks</a></p> <p><strong>Big Media</strong></p><p>Joan Westenberg shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.joanwestenberg.com/why-i-wont-write-on-substack/" target="_blank">Why I Won’t Write on Substack</a></p><p><strong><strong>Substack is for c^nts and fascists. Use Ghost or Buttondown instead. And you should become a paid subscriber to Joan’s site as well.</strong></strong></p><p>Speaking of, The Guardian has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/05/los-angeles-times-ai-bias-trump" target="_blank">The LA Times’ AI ‘bias meter’ looks like a bid to please Donald Trump</a></p><p>TechDirt announces:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techdirt.com/2025/03/04/why-techdirt-is-now-a-democracy-blog-whether-we-like-it-or-not/" target="_blank">Why Techdirt Is Now A Democracy Blog (Whether We Like It Or Not)</a></p> <p><strong>Big Tech</strong></p> <p>Where’s Your ‘Ed At explains:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.wheresyoured.at/longcon/" target="_blank">The Generative AI Con</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/05/anthropic-quietly-removes-biden-era-ai-policy-commitments-from-its-website/" target="_blank">Anthropic quietly removes Biden-era AI policy commitments from its website</a></p><p><strong>Jumping on the coward bandwagon.</strong></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/06/openais-ex-policy-lead-criticizes-the-company-for-rewriting-its-ai-safety-history/" target="_blank">OpenAI’s ex-policy lead criticizes the company for ‘rewriting’ its AI safety history</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/google-amazon-ai-search-mein-kampf-reviews/" target="_blank">Google and Amazon AI Say Hitler’s Mein Kampf Is ‘a True Work of Art’</a></p> <p><strong>Terror</strong></p> <p>Micah Flee is:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://micahflee.com/exploring-the-paramilitary-leaks/" target="_blank">Exploring the Paramilitary Leaks</a></p> <p><strong>Cybersecurity/Privacy</strong></p> <p>DarkReading reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.darkreading.com/cyber-risk/third-party-risk-top-cybersecurity-claims" target="_blank">Third-Party Risk Top Cybersecurity Claims</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-teams-tactics-malware-connect-black-basta-cactus-ransomware/" target="_blank">Microsoft Teams tactics, malware connect Black Basta, Cactus ransomware</a></p> <p><strong>Fediverse</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://fediversereport.com/fediverse-report-106/" target="_blank">Fediverse Report #106</a></p><p>Joan Westenberg opines:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.joanwestenberg.com/the-fediverse-isnt-the-future-its-the-present-weve-been-denied/" target="_blank">The Fediverse Isn’t the Future. It’s the Present We’ve Been Denied.</a></p><p>Unfortunately, IFTAS has an announcement:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://about.iftas.org/2025/03/03/iftas-service-shutdowns/" target="_blank">IFTAS Service Shutdowns</a></p><p><strong>I just started a small monthly donation, but they need big money for the things they just dropped.</strong></p><p>FOSS Academic asks are we in a:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://fossacademic.tech/2025/03/05/standardsWar.html" target="_blank">Standards War?</a></p><p>Ghost has an update:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://activitypub.ghost.org/warp-factor-5-mr-sulu/" target="_blank">Warp factor 5, Mr. Sulu</a></p><p>FunkWhale announces:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://blog.funkwhale.audio/2025-funkwhale-against-fascism.html" target="_blank">Funkwhale Against Fascism</a></p><p><strong>And fuck anybody who has a problem with it!</strong></p><p>Elena Rossini shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://blog.elenarossini.com/peertube-the-fediverses-decentralized-video-platform-part-1-first-impressions/" target="_blank">PeerTube: the Fediverse’s decentralized video platform (part 1: first impressions)</a></p><p>Failing newspaper, The New York Times reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/technology/mike-mccue-surf-browser-decentralized-internet.html?unlocked_article_code=1.104.zNAV.80hvxPr4gphF&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare" target="_blank">A Long-Shot Bet to Bypass the Middlemen of Social Media</a></p> <p><strong>Other Slightly Federated Social Media</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://fediversereport.com/bluesky-report-2025mar-a/" target="_blank">Bluesky Report – 2025mar.a</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/05/tapbots-teases-a-new-bluesky-app-phoenix-saying-it-cant-survive-on-mastodon-alone/" target="_blank">Tapbots teases a new Bluesky app, Phoenix, saying it can’t ‘survive on Mastodon alone’</a></p><p>Tangled is</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://blog.tangled.sh/intro" target="_blank">Introducing tangled</a></p> <p><strong>CTAs (aka show us some free love)</strong></p> <ul><li>That’s it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.</li><li><a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a>. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/feed/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RSS</a>.</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/battalion64.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Or follow Battalion on Bluesky</a>.</li></ul> <p>Keep fighting!</p> <p><strong><em>Ringleader, Battalion</em></strong><br>Reuben Walker<br> <a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/106/" target="_blank">#106</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ai/" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-proto/" target="_blank">#ATProto</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-protocol/" target="_blank">#ATProtocol</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/autocracy/" target="_blank">#Autocracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-journalism/" target="_blank">#BigJournalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-tech/" target="_blank">#BigTech</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/bluesky/" target="_blank">#Bluesky</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/democracy/" target="_blank">#Democracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fascism/" target="_blank">#Fascism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ghost/" target="_blank">#Ghost</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/mastodon/" target="_blank">#Mastodon</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/peertube/" target="_blank">#Peertube</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-china/" target="_blank">#StopChina</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-iran/" target="_blank">#StopIran</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-israel/" target="_blank">#StopIsrael</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-red-america/" target="_blank">#StopRedAmerica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-russia/" target="_blank">#StopRussia</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/support-ukraine/" target="_blank">#SupportUkraine</a></p><p><a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=1514" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=15</span><span class="invisible">14</span></a></p>
Battalion<p><strong>Destroying Autocracy – 27 February 2025</strong></p><p><strong>Welcome to this week’s “Destroying Autocracy”.</strong></p><p>It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting democracy. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.</p><p>DA comes out on Thursday and is updated through the end of day on Friday. Then we start over. So take your time in perusing it and check back in over the weekend.</p><p><strong>FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck ’em.</strong></p> <p><strong>Featured Item</strong></p> <p>Nextcloud announces:</p><p>More and more of our digital lives are controlled by a handful of big tech firms and their CEOs – but there is a better way. A way that puts control back in your hands, fosters collaboration, and protects your digital freedom. And today, that is more important than ever.</p><p>With Nextcloud Hub 10, we double down on the vision that started it all: an integrated yet modular digital workspace, built for freedom, security, and teamwork. Instead of juggling multiple disconnected apps, Nextcloud Hub provides a unified platform – easier to manage, scale, and secure – while still offering deep customization. Choose from our core applications, extend them with 400+ integration-ready apps, and bring in the services you need.</p><p>Because the future isn’t about walled gardens – it’s about open collaboration. Whether you’re running Nextcloud at home, in a business, government, or local sports club, you stay in control. Our federation features connect Nextcloud servers worldwide, bringing millions together in a truly decentralized network.</p><p><a href="https://nextcloud.com/blog/nextcloud-hub10/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Nextcloud Hub 10 – your unified, modular digital workspace</a></p><p><strong>As mentioned in the <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/techno-anarchist-manifesto/#arsenal" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Techno Anarchist Manifesto</a>, using Nextcloud instead of Google, Microsoft, or Apple is a great way to fight Techno Feudalism.</strong></p> <p><strong>We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.</strong></p> <p><strong>The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery</strong></p> <p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/all-50-states-have-now-introduced-right-to-repair-legislation/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">All 50 States Have Now Introduced Right to Repair Legislation</a></p><p>Ars Technica reports:</p><p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/02/judges-block-doge-access-to-personal-data-in-loss-for-trump-administration/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Judge: US gov’t violated privacy law by disclosing personal data to DOGE</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/openai-bans-chatgpt-accounts-used-by-north-korean-hackers/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">OpenAI bans ChatGPT accounts used by North Korean hackers</a></p><p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a href="https://techpolicy.press/the-eus-code-of-practice-on-disinformation-is-now-part-of-the-digital-services-act-what-does-it-mean" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The EU’s Code of Practice on Disinformation is Now Part of the Digital Services Act. What Does It Mean?</a></p><p>The Electronic Frontier Foundation reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/anti-surveillance-mapmaker-refuses-flock-safetys-cease-and-desist-demand" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Anti-Surveillance Mapmaker Refuses Flock Safety’s Cease and Desist Demand</a><br>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/26/cellebrite-suspends-serbia-as-customer-after-claims-police-used-firms-tech-to-plant-spyware/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Cellebrite suspends Serbia as customer after claims police used firm’s tech to plant spyware</a></p><p>The Internet Review has:</p><p><a href="https://theinternet.review/2025/02/25/framework-brings-real-excitement-back-to-personal-computers/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Framework Brings Real Excitement Back to Personal Computers</a></p><p><strong>They are a recommendation of mine in <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/techno-anarchist-manifesto/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Techno Anarchist Manifesto aka Let’s fuck up Techno Feudalism</a></strong></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/26/signal_will_withdraw_from_sweden/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Signal will withdraw from Sweden if encryption-busting laws take effect</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/28/microsoft_names_and_shames_4/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Microsoft names alleged credential-snatching ‘Azure Abuse Enterprise’ operators</a></p><p>Joan Westenberg shares:</p><p><a href="https://joanwestenberg.medium.com/how-im-building-a-trump-proof-tech-stack-without-big-tech-abf0bcb99c20" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">How I’m Building a Trump-Proof Tech Stack Without Big Tech</a></p><p><strong>For a more hardcore version, see the Techno Anarchist Manifesto above.</strong></p><p>The Next Web reports:</p><p><a href="https://thenextweb.com/news/datasnipper-ceo-vidya-peters-interview-tnw-conference" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">DataSnipper CEO: Europe doesn’t have to follow the Silicon Valley playbook</a></p><p>404 Media shares:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/the-digital-packrat-manifesto/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Digital Packrat Manifesto</a></p> <p><strong>Neutral</strong></p><p>Open_Future published:</p><p><a href="https://openfuture.eu/publication/digital-public-infrastructure-at-a-turning-point/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">“Digital Public Infrastructure” at a Turning Point</a></p><p>Tech Policy shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techpolicy.press/beyond-digital-rights-towards-a-fair-information-ecosystem" target="_blank">Beyond Digital Rights: Towards a Fair Information Ecosystem?</a></p> <p><strong>The Evil Empire Strikes Back</strong></p> <p>Bert Hubert says:</p><p><a href="https://berthub.eu/articles/posts/you-can-no-longer-base-your-government-and-society-on-us-clouds/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">It is no longer safe to move our governments and societies to US clouds</a></p><p><strong>He’s right.</strong></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/24/trump_administration_dst_countertariffs/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump administration threatens tariffs for any nation that dares to tax Big Tech</a><br>Krebs on Security reports:</p><p><a href="https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/02/trump-2-0-brings-cuts-to-cyber-consumer-protections/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump 2.0 Brings Cuts to Cyber, Consumer Protections</a></p> <p><strong>Pariah States</strong></p> <p>Krebs on Security reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/02/notorious-malware-spam-host-prospero-moves-to-kaspersky-lab/" target="_blank">Notorious Malware, Spam Host “Prospero” Moves to Kaspersky Lab</a></p><p><strong>This should surprise no one.</strong></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/north-korean-hackers-linked-to-15-billion-bybit-crypto-heist/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">North Korean hackers linked to $1.5 billion ByBit crypto heist</a></p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/belgium-probes-if-chinese-hackers-breached-its-intelligence-service/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Belgium probes if Chinese hackers breached its intelligence service</a></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/25/silver_fox_medical_app_backdoor/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">China’s Silver Fox spoofs medical imaging apps to hijack patients’ computers</a><br><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/25/china_hacked_gop_emails/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Xi know what you did last summer: China was all up in Republicans’ email, says book</a></p><p><strong>Villain on Villain action here.</strong></p> <p><strong>Big Media</strong></p><p>The Guardian reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/feb/26/jeff-bezos-washington-post-opinion" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Washington Post opinion editor departs as Bezos pushes to promote ‘personal liberties and free markets’</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/28/marty-baron-jeff-bezos-washington-post" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ex-Washington Post editor Marty Baron rebukes Bezos: ‘betrayal of free expression’</a></p> <p><strong>Big Tech</strong></p> <p>The Electronic Frontier Foundation says:</p><p><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/stop-censoring-abortion" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Stop Censoring Abortion: Help EFF and Repro Uncensored end digital suppression</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/instagram-error-turned-reels-into-neverending-scroll-of-murder-gore-and-violence/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Instagram ‘Error’ Turned Reels Into Neverending Scroll of Murder, Gore, and Violence</a></p> <p><strong>Cybersecurity/Privacy</strong></p> <p>The Verge reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/618303/google-replacing-sms-codes-qr-gmail-security-two-factor-authentication" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Google is replacing Gmail’s SMS authentication with QR codes</a></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/25/chain_of_thought_jailbreaking/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">How nice that state-of-the-art LLMs reveal their reasoning … for miscreants to exploit</a></p><p>Bleeping Computer reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-auto-color-linux-backdoor-targets-north-american-govts-universities/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">New Auto-Color Linux backdoor targets North American govts, universities</a></p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/gitvenom-attacks-abuse-hundreds-of-github-repos-to-steal-crypto/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">GitVenom attacks abuse hundreds of GitHub repos to steal crypto</a></p><p><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-names-cybercriminals-behind-ai-deepfake-network/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Microsoft names cybercriminals behind AI deepfake network</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.404media.co/at-t-hacker-tried-to-sell-stolen-data-to-foreign-government/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">AT&T Hacker Tried to Sell Stolen Data to Foreign Government</a></p> <p><strong>Fediverse</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a href="https://fediversereport.com/fediverse-report-105/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Fediverse Report #105</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/25/tumblr-backs-tapestry-a-timeline-app-for-the-open-social-web/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Tumblr backs Tapestry, a timeline app for the open social web</a></p><p><strong>I think apps like this and Surf are going to gain more traction than platform apps and clients in the long run.</strong></p><p>Beej’s Bit Bucket takes a look at:</p><p><a href="https://beej.us/blog/data/mastodon-comments/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Mastodon Comments</a></p><p>NodeBB is fully federated:</p><p><a href="https://community.nodebb.org/topic/18545/nodebb-v4.0.0-federate-good-times-come-on" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">NodeBB v4.0.0 — Federate good times, come on!</a></p> <p><strong>Other Slightly Federated Social Media</strong></p> <p>Bluesky info has:</p><p><a href="https://www.bskyinfo.com/resources/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Bluesky Resources</a></p> <p><strong>CTAs (aka show us some free love)</strong></p> <ul><li>That’s it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.</li><li><a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a>. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/feed/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RSS</a>.</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/battalion64.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Or follow Battalion on Bluesky</a>.</li></ul> <p>Keep fighting!</p> <p><strong><em>Ringleader, Battalion</em></strong><br>Reuben Walker<br> <a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/105/" target="_blank">#105</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ai/" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-protocol/" target="_blank">#ATProtocol</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/autocracy/" target="_blank">#Autocracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-journalism/" target="_blank">#BigJournalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-tech/" target="_blank">#BigTech</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/bluesky/" target="_blank">#Bluesky</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/democracy/" target="_blank">#Democracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fascism/" target="_blank">#Fascism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/mastodon/" target="_blank">#Mastodon</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-china/" target="_blank">#StopChina</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-israel/" target="_blank">#StopIsrael</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-red-america/" target="_blank">#StopRedAmerica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-russia/" target="_blank">#StopRussia</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/support-ukraine/" target="_blank">#SupportUkraine</a></p><p><a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=1475" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=14</span><span class="invisible">75</span></a></p>
Battalion<p><strong>Destroying Autocracy – 20 February 2025</strong></p><p><strong>Welcome to this week’s “Destroying Autocracy”.</strong></p><p>It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting democracy. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.</p><p>DA comes out on Thursday and is updated through the end of day on Friday. Then we start over. So take your time in perusing it and check back in over the weekend.</p><p><strong>FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck ’em.</strong></p> <p><strong>Featured Item</strong></p> <p>The Dabbler writes:</p><p>If an AI system, though not actually thinking or understanding, is built to reflect the way we theorize our minds to function, then in theory at least, we should be able to change it the same way we change our own minds. That means bringing conflicts and contradictions to the surface in order to resolve them. And if we want to undermine the technofascist project, then we need to emphasize the contradictions inherent to it.</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://thedabbler.patatas.ca/pages/poison-as-praxis.html" target="_blank">Poison as Praxis</a></p><p><strong>Very interesting.</strong></p> <p><strong>We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.</strong></p> <p><strong>The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery</strong></p> <p>TechDirt reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.techdirt.com/2025/02/14/no-personal-liability-for-doge-yet-but-with-two-more-lawsuits-we-get-closer/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">No Personal Liability For DOGE Yet, But With Two More Lawsuits We Get Closer</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/16/open-source-llms-hit-europes-digital-sovereignty-roadmap/" target="_blank">Open source LLMs hit Europe’s digital sovereignty roadmap</a></p><p>The European Commission has a:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/dsa-elections-toolkit-digital-services-coordinators" target="_blank">DSA Elections Toolkit for Digital Services Coordinators</a></p><p>EuroNews reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/02/21/how-europe-could-leap-ahead-in-the-global-ai-race-according-to-mozillas-president" target="_blank">How Europe could ‘leap ahead’ in the global AI race, according to Mozilla’s president</a></p><p>The Electronic Frontier Foundation says:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.eff.org/pages/stop-censoring-abortion" target="_blank">Stop Censoring Abortion: Help EFF and Repro Uncensored End Digital Suppression</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/public-library-ebook-service-to-cull-ai-slop-after-404-media-investigation-3/" target="_blank">Public Library Ebook Service to Cull AI Slop After 404 Media Investigation</a></p><p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techpolicy.press/data-colonialism-comes-home-to-the-us-resistance-must-too/" target="_blank">Data Colonialism Comes Home To The US: Resistance Must Too</a></p> <p><strong>Neutral</strong></p><p>Tech Policy Press reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techpolicy.press/at-paris-ai-summit-us-eu-other-nations-lay-out-divergent-goals/" target="_blank">At Paris AI Summit, US, EU, Other Nations Lay Out Divergent Goals</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techpolicy.press/ai-countergovernance-lessons-learned-from-canada-and-paris/" target="_blank">AI Countergovernance: Lessons Learned from Canada and Paris</a></p> <p><strong>The Evil Empire Strikes Back</strong></p> <p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techpolicy.press/online-election-manipulation-is-a-challenge-for-democracy-its-about-to-get-a-whole-lot-worse" target="_blank">Online Election Manipulation Is a Challenge for Democracy. It’s About to Get a Whole Lot Worse.</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/musk-ally-demands-admin-access-to-system-that-lets-government-text-the-public/" target="_blank">Musk Ally Demands Admin Access to System That Lets Government Text the Public</a></p><p>The Texas Observer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.texasobserver.org/ice-prosecutor-dallas-white-supremacist-x-account/" target="_blank">ICE Prosecutor in Dallas Runs White Supremacist X Account</a></p> <p><strong>Pariah States</strong></p> <p>The Register reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/15/russia_spies_spoofing_teams/" target="_blank">If you dread a Microsoft Teams invite, just wait until it turns out to be a Russian phish</a></p><p>Google reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/russia-targeting-signal-messenger/" target="_blank">Signals of Trouble: Multiple Russia-Aligned Threat Actors Actively Targeting Signal Messenger</a></p><p>DarkReading reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/china-linked-threat-group-japanese-orgs-servers" target="_blank">China-Linked Threat Group Targets Japanese Orgs’ Servers</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/north-koreans-kimsuky-attacks-rivals-trusted-platforms" target="_blank">North Korea’s Kimsuky Taps Trusted Platforms to Attack South Korea</a></p> <p><strong>Big Media</strong></p><p>The Independent reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/washington-post-musk-doge-ad-trump-b2699407.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Washington Post refuses to run $115,000 ad titled ‘Fire Elon Musk,’ report says</a></p><p>The Verge reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/613989/new-york-times-internal-ai-tools-echo" target="_blank">The New York Times adopts AI tools in the newsroom</a></p><p>Newsweek reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.newsweek.com/joe-rogan-dethroned-meidas-touch-podcast-donald-trump-2032673" target="_blank">Joe Rogan Dethroned by Anti-Trump Podcast in the Charts</a></p><p>404 Media reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/ziff-davis-dei-commitment-websites/" target="_blank">Ziff Davis, Owner of Sites Including IGN and CNET, Quietly Removed DEI Language From Its Website</a></p><p>Micah Flee reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://micahflee.com/2025/02/not-only-is-substack-right-wing-broligarchy-garbage-its-way-more-expensive-than-ghost/" target="_blank">Not only is Substack right-wing broligarchy garbage, it’s way more expensive than Ghost</a></p> <p><strong>Big Tech</strong></p> <p>The Verge reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/613997/x-blocks-signal-me-links-errors" target="_blank">X is blocking links to Signal</a></p><p>CBS News reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/meta-facebook-sexualized-ai-deepfake-celebrity-images-spread/" target="_blank">Meta failing to curb spread of many sexualized AI deepfake celebrity images on Facebook</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/19/study-of-tiktok-x-for-you-feeds-in-germany-finds-far-right-political-bias-ahead-of-federal-elections/" target="_blank">Study of TikTok, X ‘For You’ feeds in Germany finds far-right political bias ahead of federal elections</a></p><p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/21/meta-x-approved-ads-containing-violent-anti-muslim-antisemitic-hate-speech-ahead-of-german-election-study-finds/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Meta, X approved ads containing violent anti-Muslim, antisemitic hate speech ahead of German election, study finds</a></p><p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techpolicy.press/amidst-flurry-of-anti-dei-measures-metas-content-moderation-policies-will-harm-people-with-disabilities" target="_blank">Amidst Flurry Of Anti-DEI Measures, Meta’s Content Moderation Policies Will Harm People With Disabilities</a></p><p>Wired reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.wired.com/story/google-dv360-banned-audience-segments-national-security/" target="_blank">Google Ad-Tech Users Can Target National Security ‘Decision Makers’ and People With Chronic Diseases</a></p> <p><strong>Cybersecurity/Privacy</strong></p> <p>The Register reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/15/interview_bruce_schneier/" target="_blank">Nearly 10 years after Data and Goliath, Bruce Schneier says: Privacy’s still screwed</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/20/microsoft_patch_power_pages/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Oops, some of our customers’ Power Pages-hosted sites were exploited, says Microsoft</a></p><p>The Center for Democracy and Technology reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://cdt.org/insights/first-amendment-tech-transparency-roadmap/" target="_blank">First Amendment Tech Transparency Roadmap</a></p><p>Privacy Guides says:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/02/17/privacy-is-not-dead/" target="_blank">No, Privacy is Not Dead: Beware the All-or-Nothing Mindset</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lee-enterprises-newspaper-disruptions-caused-by-ransomware-attack/" target="_blank">Lee Enterprises newspaper disruptions caused by ransomware attack</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/darcula-phaas-can-now-auto-generate-phishing-kits-for-any-brand/" target="_blank">Darcula PhaaS can now auto-generate phishing kits for any brand</a></p><p>The Verge reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/614311/chase-zelle-block-social-media-transactions" target="_blank">Chase will start blocking Zelle payments over social media</a></p><p>Center for Democracy and Technology says:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://cdt.org/insights/online-censorship-isnt-new-neither-are-efforts-to-evade-it/" target="_blank">Online Censorship Isn’t New – Neither Are Efforts to Evade It</a></p><p>Soatok starts a new series:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://soatok.blog/2025/02/18/reviewing-the-cryptography-used-by-signal/" target="_blank">Reviewing the Cryptography Used by Signal</a></p><p>Vox reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.vox.com/technology/400340/how-to-stop-scam-texts" target="_blank">How to fight back in the war against spam texts</a></p> <p><strong>Fediverse</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://fediversereport.com/fediverse-report-104/" target="_blank">Fediverse Report – #104</a></p><p>The Nexus of Privacy explores:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://privacy.thenexus.today/organizing-on-decentralized-social-networks/" target="_blank">Organizing on decentralized social networks</a></p><p>We Distribute reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://wedistribute.org/2025/02/iftas-funding-crisis/" target="_blank">IFTAS is In a Funding Crisis</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://wedistribute.org/2025/02/your-fediverse-server/" target="_blank">How to Launch Your Own Fediverse Community Server</a></p><p><strong>Good stuff.</strong></p><p>Life Hacker shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/the-best-instagram-alternatives-if-you-are-sick-of-meta" target="_blank">The Best Instagram Alternatives If You’re Sick of Meta</a></p><p>Phoenix Paulina Schmid shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://social.gelbphoenix.de/@gelbphoenix/114037941208474408" target="_blank">A Beginner’s Guide to Decentralized Social Media – Loops</a></p><p>Elana Rossini says:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://blog.elenarossini.com/gotosocial-empowers-you-to-have-your-own-home-on-the-fediverse-with-unique-controls/" target="_blank">GoToSocial empowers you to have your own home on the Fediverse – with unique controls</a></p><p>Box 464 has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://box464.com/posts/mastodon-preview-cards/" target="_blank">Understanding Mastodon Preview Card Display Logic</a></p> <p><strong>Other Slightly Federated Social Media</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://fediversereport.com/last-week-in-bluesky-2025feb-c/" target="_blank">Last Week in Bluesky – 2025feb.c</a></p><p>Planning shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.planning.org/planning/2025/feb/what-makes-bluesky-the-new-it-space-for-urbanists/" target="_blank">What Makes Bluesky the New ‘It’ Space for Urbanists</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/18/bluesky-adds-a-followers-only-reply-option/" target="_blank">Bluesky adds a ‘followers only’ reply option</a></p><p>Jaz looks at:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://jazco.dev/2025/02/19/imperfection/" target="_blank">When Imperfect Systems are Good, Actually: Bluesky’s Lossy Timelines</a></p> <p><strong>CTAs (aka show us some free love)</strong></p> <ul><li>That’s it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.</li><li><a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a>. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/feed/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RSS</a>.</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/battalion64.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Or follow Battalion on Bluesky</a>.</li></ul> <p>Keep fighting!</p> <p><strong><em>Ringleader, Battalion</em></strong><br>Reuben Walker<br> <a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/104/" target="_blank">#104</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ai/" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-protocol/" target="_blank">#ATProtocol</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/autocracy/" target="_blank">#Autocracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-journalism/" target="_blank">#BigJournalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-tech/" target="_blank">#BigTech</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/bluesky/" target="_blank">#Bluesky</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/democracy/" target="_blank">#Democracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fascism/" target="_blank">#Fascism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/gotosocial/" target="_blank">#GoToSocial</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/mastodon/" target="_blank">#Mastodon</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-china/" target="_blank">#StopChina</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-israel/" target="_blank">#StopIsrael</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-red-america/" target="_blank">#StopRedAmerica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-russia/" target="_blank">#StopRussia</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/support-ukraine/" target="_blank">#SupportUkraine</a></p><p><a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=1429" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=14</span><span class="invisible">29</span></a></p>
Battalion<p><strong>Destroying Autocracy – 06 February 2025</strong></p><p><strong>Welcome to this week’s “Destroying Autocracy”.</strong></p><p>It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting democracy. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.</p><p>DA comes out on Thursday and is updated through the end of day on Friday. Then we start over. So take your time in perusing it and check back in over the weekend.</p><p><strong>FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck em.</strong></p> <p><strong>Featured Item</strong></p> <p>This week we feature our guide to the timeline we’re stuck in.</p><p><strong><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/techno-anarchist-manifesto/" target="_blank">The Techno Anarchist Manifesto aka Let’s fuck up Techno Feudalism</a></strong></p><p>I write:</p><p>“This practical and profanity-laced manifesto provides the loose philosophy, strategies, battleplans, tactics, and weapons to destroy Techno Feudalism via the practice of Techno Anarchism. It explains the war we are in, the Techno battle’s place in it, and what Techno Feudalism and Techno Anarchism are.</p><p>Don’t worry, I not going to start capping tech CEOs anytime soon. I’m not a 1914 anarchist or advocating for it in general.”</p><p>If you give a fuck about anything, please read it, save it, and act upon some of it!</p> <p><strong>We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.</strong></p> <p><strong>The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery</strong></p> <p>The Kyiv Independent reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://kyivindependent.com/what-to-expect-from-ukraines-defense-innovation-in-2025/" target="_blank">What to expect from Ukraine’s defense innovation in 2025</a></p><p><a href="https://kyivindependent.com/kyiv-independent-raises-over-66-200-to-support-ukrainian-newsrooms-hit-by-us-aid-freeze/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kyiv Independent raises over $66,200 to support Ukrainian newsrooms hit by US aid freeze</a></p><p>The Next Web reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://thenextweb.com/news/european-ai-alliance-openeurollm-challenges-us-china" target="_blank">European AI alliance unveils LLM alternative to Silicon Valley and DeepSeek</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://thenextweb.com/news/deepfake-detection-improves-algorithms-demographic-diversity" target="_blank">Deepfake detection improves when using algorithms that are more aware of demographic diversity</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/06/eu-details-which-systems-fall-within-ai-acts-scope/" target="_blank">EU details which systems fall within AI Act’s scope</a></p><p>The Financial Times reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.ft.com/content/7303e57e-67ca-477a-8d00-8d5213f7120c" target="_blank">EU prepares to hit Big Tech in retaliation for Donald Trump’s tariffs</a></p><p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techpolicy.press/salvaging-european-technological-sovereignty-in-a-trump-2-world/" target="_blank">Salvaging European Technological Sovereignty in a Trump 2.0 World</a></p><p>A Whole Lotta Nothing reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://a.wholelottanothing.org/a-guide-to-using-signal-for-government-workers/" target="_blank">A guide to using Signal for government workers</a></p><p>Phiffer demonstrates:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://phiffer.org/archiving-your-meta-accounts/" target="_blank">Archiving your Meta accounts</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/legal/spain-arrests-suspected-hacker-of-us-and-spanish-military-agencies/" target="_blank">Spain arrests suspected hacker of US and Spanish military agencies</a></p><p>The (Semi)Justice Department reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/superseding-indictment-charges-chinese-national-relation-alleged-plan-steal-proprietary-ai" target="_blank">Superseding Indictment Charges Chinese National in Relation to Alleged Plan to Steal Proprietary AI Technology</a></p><p>Ars Technica reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/02/us-lawmakers-push-to-quickly-ban-deepseek-on-government-devices/" target="_blank">DeepSeek is “TikTok on steroids,” senator warns amid push for government-wide ban</a></p><p>The Electronic Frontier Foundation reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/ddosed-policy-website-takedowns-and-keeping-information-alive" target="_blank">DDoSed by Policy: Website Takedowns and Keeping Information Alive</a></p> <p><strong>The Evil Empire Strikes Back</strong></p> <p>The Index reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theindex.media/elon-musk-is-an-existential-threat-to-big-tech/" target="_blank">Elon Musk Is an Existential Threat to Big Tech</a></p><p><strong>This would be funny if it didn’t mean the rest of us get fucked even worse.</strong></p><p>Ben Werdmuller shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://werd.io/2025/move-fast-and-break-democracy" target="_blank">Move fast and break democracy</a></p><p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techpolicy.press/with-us-commitment-to-internet-freedom-in-jeopardy-china-and-russia-set-to-gain/" target="_blank">With US Commitment to Internet Freedom in Jeopardy, China and Russia Set to Gain</a></p> <p><strong>Pariah States</strong></p> <p>The Texas Tribune reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/11/01/russian-facebook-page-organized-protest-texas-different-russian-page-l/" target="_blank">A Russian Facebook page organized a protest in Texas. A different Russian page launched the counterprotest.</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/04/spyware-maker-paragon-confirms-u-s-government-is-a-customer/" target="_blank">Spyware maker Paragon confirms US government is a customer</a></p><p>Reuters reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/italian-sea-rescue-activist-targeted-with-spyware-according-meta-alert-2025-02-05/" target="_blank">Italy says seven people targeted by Israeli spyware on WhatsApp</a></p><p>Cyfirma shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.cyfirma.com/research/apt-quarterly-highlights-q4-2024/" target="_blank">APT Quarterly Highlights : Q4 2024</a></p> <p><strong>Big Tech</strong></p> <p>ProPublica is outing:</p><p><a href="https://projects.propublica.org/elon-musk-doge-tracker/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Elon Musk’s Demolition Crew</a></p><p>The Verge reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/607934/doge-marko-elez-elon-musk-racist-posts" target="_blank">DOGE staffer resigns after reporters uncover racist posts</a></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/04/palantir_karp_comments/" target="_blank">Palantir designed to ‘power the West to its obvious innate superiority,’ says CEO</a></p><p><strong>This is the only motherfucker on earth who is a bigger c^nt than SpaceKaren.</strong></p><p>Speaking of Apartheid Clyde 404 Media reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/things-are-going-to-get-intense-how-a-musk-ally-plans-to-push-ai-on-the-government/" target="_blank">‘Things Are Going to Get Intense:’ How a Musk Ally Plans to Push AI on the Government</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/doge-employees-ordered-to-stop-using-slack-while-agency-transitions-to-a-records-system-not-subject-to-foia/" target="_blank">DOGE Employees Ordered to Stop Using Slack While Agency Transitions to a Records System Not Subject to FOIA</a></p><p>TechDirt reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techdirt.com/2025/02/03/musks-takeover-of-the-governments-computer-systems-needs-to-be-understood-as-a-cyberattack-or-worse/" target="_blank">Musk’s Takeover Of The Government’s Computer Systems Needs To Be Understood As A Cyberattack, Or Worse</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techdirt.com/2025/02/04/when-its-not-just-a-coup-but-a-cfaa-violation-too/" target="_blank">When It’s Not Just A Coup But A CFAA Violation Too</a></p><p>Ars Technica reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/02/as-internet-enshittification-marches-on-here-are-some-of-the-worst-offenders/" target="_blank">As Internet enshittification marches on, here are some of the worst offenders</a></p><p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/02/meta-torrented-over-81-7tb-of-pirated-books-to-train-ai-authors-say/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">”Torrenting from a corporate laptop doesn’t feel right”: Meta emails unsealed</a></p><p>Politico reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/meta-chief-lobby-eu-tech-artificial-intelligence-fines-marketplace-joel-kaplan/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Meta chief lobbyist slams EU tech laws and fines</a></p><p>Wired reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.wired.com/story/google-responsible-ai-principles/" target="_blank">Google Lifts a Ban on Using Its AI for Weapons and Surveillance</a></p><p>Dead Simple Tech has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://deadsimpletech.com/blog/licking_ai_boot" target="_blank">Licking the AI Boot</a></p> <p><strong>Cybersecurity/Privacy</strong></p> <p>Privacy Guides shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/01/29/installing-and-using-tails/" target="_blank">Using Tails When Your World Doesn’t Feel Safe Anymore</a></p><p>LAVX reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://news.lavx.hu/article/casio-uk-store-breach-a-deep-dive-into-magento-vulnerabilities-and-cybersecurity-lapses" target="_blank">Casio UK Store Breach: A Deep Dive into Magento Vulnerabilities and Cybersecurity Lapses</a></p><p>Wired reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.wired.com/story/meet-the-hired-guns-who-make-sure-school-cyberattacks-stay-hidden/" target="_blank">Meet the Hired Guns Who Make Sure School Cyberattacks Stay Hidden</a></p><p>Tim shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://timsh.org/tracking-myself-down-through-in-app-ads/" target="_blank">Everyone knows your location: tracking myself down through in-app ads</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-orders-agencies-to-patch-linux-kernel-bug-exploited-in-attacks/" target="_blank">CISA orders agencies to patch Linux kernel bug exploited in attacks</a></p> <p><strong>Fediverse</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://fediversereport.com/fediverse-report-102/" target="_blank">Fediverse Report – #102</a></p><p>All Things Open shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://allthingsopen.org/articles/activitypub-explained-the-protocol-connecting-the-fediverse" target="_blank">ActivityPub explained: The protocol connecting the Fediverse</a></p><p>Hollo announces:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://hollo.social/@fedify/0194d42d-ee82-7a21-b66e-f88702278099" target="_blank">We’re excited to announce the release of (Fedify 1.4.0)</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/04/team-behind-twitterrific-launches-a-multi-feed-app-called-tapestry/" target="_blank">Team behind Twitterrific launches a multi-feed app called Tapestry</a></p><p>We Distribute reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://wedistribute.org/2025/02/fedionfire-shutdown/" target="_blank">Public Firehose Project Shutters After Backlash</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://wedistribute.org/2025/02/radio-free-fedi-shuts-down/" target="_blank">Remembering Radio Free Fedi</a></p><p>The Verge reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/606050/threads-share-custom-feeds" target="_blank">Threads now lets you share your custom feeds</a></p> <p><strong>CTAs (aka show us some free love)</strong></p> <ul><li>That’s it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.</li><li><a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a>. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/feed/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RSS</a>.</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/battalion64.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Or follow Battalion on Bluesky</a>.</li></ul> <p>Keep fighting!</p> <p><strong><em>Ringleader, Battalion</em></strong><br>Reuben Walker<br> <a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/102/" target="_blank">#102</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ai/" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-protocol/" target="_blank">#ATProtocol</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/autocracy/" target="_blank">#Autocracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-journalism/" target="_blank">#BigJournalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-tech/" target="_blank">#BigTech</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/bluesky/" target="_blank">#Bluesky</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/democracy/" target="_blank">#Democracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fascism/" target="_blank">#Fascism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fedify/" target="_blank">#Fedify</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/pixelfed/" target="_blank">#Pixelfed</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-china/" target="_blank">#StopChina</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-israel/" target="_blank">#StopIsrael</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-red-america/" target="_blank">#StopRedAmerica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-russia/" target="_blank">#StopRussia</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/support-ukraine/" target="_blank">#SupportUkraine</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/threads/" target="_blank">#Threads</a></p><p><a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=1324" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=13</span><span class="invisible">24</span></a></p>
Symfony Station 🇺🇦🇨🇦🇬🇱<p>Drinking lots of Columbian coffee and Canadian whisky. What do Panama and Greenland make? <a href="https://drupal.community/tags/StopRedAmerica" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>StopRedAmerica</span></a></p>
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