Welcome to this week’s “Destroying Autocracy”.
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.
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.
FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck em.
Featured Item
This week we feature our guide to the timeline we’re stuck in.
The Techno Anarchist Manifesto aka Let’s fuck up Techno Feudalism
I write:
“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.
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.”
If you give a fuck about anything, please read it, save it, and act upon some of it!
We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.
The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery
The Kyiv Independent reports:
What to expect from Ukraine’s defense innovation in 2025
Kyiv Independent raises over $66,200 to support Ukrainian newsrooms hit by US aid freeze
The Next Web reports:
European AI alliance unveils LLM alternative to Silicon Valley and DeepSeek
Deepfake detection improves when using algorithms that are more aware of demographic diversity
TechCrunch reports:
EU details which systems fall within AI Act’s scope
The Financial Times reports:
EU prepares to hit Big Tech in retaliation for Donald Trump’s tariffs
Tech Policy reports:
Salvaging European Technological Sovereignty in a Trump 2.0 World
A Whole Lotta Nothing reports:
A guide to using Signal for government workers
Phiffer demonstrates:
BleepingComputer reports:
Spain arrests suspected hacker of US and Spanish military agencies
The (Semi)Justice Department reports:
Ars Technica reports:
DeepSeek is “TikTok on steroids,” senator warns amid push for government-wide ban
The Electronic Frontier Foundation reports:
DDoSed by Policy: Website Takedowns and Keeping Information Alive
The Evil Empire Strikes Back
The Index reports:
Elon Musk Is an Existential Threat to Big Tech
This would be funny if it didn’t mean the rest of us get fucked even worse.
Ben Werdmuller shares:
Tech Policy reports:
With US Commitment to Internet Freedom in Jeopardy, China and Russia Set to Gain
Wired reports:
A US Treasury Threat Intelligence Analysis Designates DOGE Staff as ‘Insider Threat’
As I have said for years, Big Tech is the greatest threat to democracy. Again, see our featured item.
Pariah States
The Texas Tribune reports:
TechCrunch reports:
Spyware maker Paragon confirms US government is a customer
Reuters reports:
Italy says seven people targeted by Israeli spyware on WhatsApp
Cyfirma shares:
APT Quarterly Highlights : Q4 2024
Big Tech
ProPublica is outing:
The Verge reports:
DOGE staffer resigns after reporters uncover racist posts
The Register reports:
Palantir designed to ‘power the West to its obvious innate superiority,’ says CEO
This is the only motherfucker on earth who is a bigger c^nt than SpaceKaren.
Speaking of Apartheid Clyde 404 Media reports:
‘Things Are Going to Get Intense:’ How a Musk Ally Plans to Push AI on the Government
TechDirt reports:
When It’s Not Just A Coup But A CFAA Violation Too
Ars Technica reports:
As Internet enshittification marches on, here are some of the worst offenders
”Torrenting from a corporate laptop doesn’t feel right”: Meta emails unsealed
Politico reports:
Meta chief lobbyist slams EU tech laws and fines
Wired reports:
Google Lifts a Ban on Using Its AI for Weapons and Surveillance
Dead Simple Tech has:
Cybersecurity/Privacy
Privacy Guides shares:
Using Tails When Your World Doesn’t Feel Safe Anymore
LAVX reports:
Casio UK Store Breach: A Deep Dive into Magento Vulnerabilities and Cybersecurity Lapses
Wired reports:
Meet the Hired Guns Who Make Sure School Cyberattacks Stay Hidden
Tim shares:
Everyone knows your location: tracking myself down through in-app ads
BleepingComputer reports:
CISA orders agencies to patch Linux kernel bug exploited in attacks
Cloudflare has:
Cloudflare incident on February 6, 2025
Fediverse
The Fediverse Report has:
All Things Open shares:
ActivityPub explained: The protocol connecting the Fediverse
Hollo announces:
We’re excited to announce the release of (Fedify 1.4.0)
TechCrunch reports:
Team behind Twitterrific launches a multi-feed app called Tapestry
We Distribute reports:
Public Firehose Project Shutters After Backlash
The Verge reports:
Threads now lets you share your custom feeds
Other Slightly Federated Social Media
The Fediverse Report has:
Last Week in Bluesky – 2025feb.a
TechCrunch reports:
Bluesky will soon let you limit replies to ‘followers only’
CTAs (aka show us some free love)
- That’s it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.
- Follow me on the Fediverse. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via RSS.
- Or follow Battalion on Bluesky.
Keep fighting!
Ringleader, Battalion
Reuben Walker
Follow me on the Fediverse
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