Please consider the environment before printing this toot.

#Privacy is not just about today. Privacy is largely about years from today.

And nobody knows what's going to happen years into the future.

That's something that I think a lot of people continue to miss.

Some piece of information that was completely innocent, say, in 2021, might become a serious threat in 2025.

Who will have access to that information? How will the social context change? What will the legal environment be?

Once a piece of information is out of our hands, we lose control.

Can't spell "bolllockschain" without "AI"!

Eagerly awaiting the first "Blockchain-based AI" or "AI-powered Blockchain" scam. :blobcat:

You heard it here first, folks!

Oh joy, we are going to have an AI hype bubble and a bollockschain hype bubble *simultaneously*?

Cool cool cool.
Cool.

:blobcat_thisisfine:

@stinerman I have a serious problem with the very idea of a BDFL in the context of a project that important for so many underserved, at-risk communities as Mastodon-the-software.

@gytisrepecka @thisismissem @Gargron

On some level it is pretty damn hilarious how the US military got themselves beholden to an authoritarian edge lord:
https://mastodon.online/@bartgroothuis/113465805131855988

Remember this next time somebody goes with "what's the worst that could happen" hot take about basic communication infrastructure, centralization, and billionaires.

@mcc so, BlueSky is *still* cosplaying decentralization.

@viq @galactus @evan @Mushi

:drake_dislike: Nazi bar
:drake_like: Nazis barred

@Edent thanks, I'd much rather you engaged honestly with the concerns about these devices. There is a difference between "wardriving" and "auto-connecting to available open networks", and you know that as well as I do.

You asked what the big deal is, I am providing an honest answer from my perspective.

I have no reason to trust these device manufacturers to *not* ignore my choices if the opportunity presents itself.

@Edent that's why I said "smart devices" and "True, this particular one is not a TV, but…"

@Edent secondly, open WiFi networks exist, and I have zero reason to trust the "smart TV" manufacturers *not* to try to connect to those when available, as they are making money hand over fist from usage data.

@Edent first of all, in some cases the "smart" devices won't allow you to start using it without it being connected:
https://www.coolblue.nl/en/product/877354/tado-smart-radiator-thermostat-starter-duo-pack.html#product-specifications

True, this particular one is not a TV, but there is nothing stopping manufacturers to make that kind of requirement obligatory. Some Sony TVs already requires agreeing to Google's ToS before any functionality can be used at all:
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00114157

Easy step from this to "you need to be connected for compliance reasons" or whatever.

Very subjective book recommendations relevant to the current… uhh… moment.

Amusing Ourselves to Death
Neil Postman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amusing_Ourselves_to_Death

The Authoritarians
Bob Altemeyer
https://theauthoritarians.org/

Deer Hunting with Jesus
Joe Bageant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deer_Hunting_with_Jesus

The Open Society and Its Enemies
Karl Popper
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Open_Society_and_Its_Enemies

I really wish only the ones who fuck around were the ones to then find out.

Oh shi- USA season finale airs tomorrow night! :blob_tremble:

:blobcatpeek:

Is the whole "just ask a lying machine" genAI crap the inevitable conclusion of "Don't Make Me Think" approach to things? :thaenkin:

@EUCommission so how's that funding for Open Source projects going?

#FLOSS