Meta’s upcoming ‘P92’ app is reported to have ActivityPub compatibility (link)
Many users and admins are opposed to federating with Meta, due to concerns including, but not limited to:
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user tracking, privacy violations, and data collection (link 1, 2, 3, 4)
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embrace-extend-extinguish behaviour (link)
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poor moderation
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corporate influence over the ActivityPub protocol
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centralization of the userbase around a single server
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psychological manipulation (link) of users via algorithm
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monopolistic behaviour (link)
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intentionally allowing (and profiting from!) anti-Black racism (link 1, 2)
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poor treatment of workers (link)
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facilitation of genocide on Facebook (link)
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failing to mitigate the distribution of CSAM on its platforms (link)
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New, June 16th allowing scams to proliferate on their platforms despite user attempts to file reports (link)
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New, June 16th rolling back COVID misinformation rules (link)
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New, July 1st putting the onus on parents/guardians to protect kids from online predators (link)
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a long history of breaching user trust (link)
In order to continue to build a new kind of social media, which prioritizes users over profits, and openness over walled gardens, we need to stand together in opposition to Meta’s digital colonization effort.
What’s making it difficult to form a consensus is that most admins haven’t been communicating with users about what they plan to do (let alone asking the users what they want).
So, one very easy thing we can do is ask our admins if they’re planning to block Meta, and if they aren’t, ask them to reconsider.
Alright - in discussions with some folks prior to this kbin magazine we’ve had suggestions for using the hashtag #DefederateMeta
At present the thinking is to start putting some pressure on instance admins to weigh in on whether or not they are going to allow federation w/ the ‘P92’ platform. This way we get a discussion going, and users can begin voting with their feet if necessary.
If you have links to articles about the many horrible actions of Meta, please post them!
If you have opinions on why Meta should be blocked, let’s hear them!
If you have thoughts on how to convince folks that we’re much better off without Meta, please share!
Let’s get this rolling <3
@smallpatatas
I don’t understand why you need to “convince” anyone. If you want to block Meta you can just block Meta or join an instance that blocks Meta, there is no need to collectively defederate.
If your instance’s admin has enabled SECURE_FETCH and you block Meta’s domain (even as a simple user) you are effectively isolated from meta, even boosting your posts can’t expose them to Meta (thanks to SECURE_FETCH).
This can be a personal decision it doesn’t have to be collective.
And I think it only works properly if it’s collective. This isn’t just about how we use functions of a protocol, it’s about what kind of community we want to be.
It depends on if Meta is a cancer or a separate way of being.
If Meta is just a separate way of being, then no issues. Let them join and take part in a global community.
If Meta is a cancer, then their mere existence within the Fediverse will change it, adjust it, pull resources, push agendas.
… unfortunately, I think it might be the second one. Companies have one driving factor — profits. Any action (moral or unmoral) is at the disposal of a privately owned company … or at least that’s my theory. I could be wrong, or I could change my view in the future, but for now, this theory lines up with my observations.