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
Nextcloud announces:
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.
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.
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.
Nextcloud Hub 10 – your unified, modular digital workspace
As mentioned in the Techno Anarchist Manifesto, using Nextcloud instead of Google, Microsoft, or Apple is a great way to fight Techno Feudalism.
We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.
The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery
404 Media reports:
All 50 States Have Now Introduced Right to Repair Legislation
Ars Technica reports:
Judge: US gov’t violated privacy law by disclosing personal data to DOGE
BleepingComputer reports:
OpenAI bans ChatGPT accounts used by North Korean hackers
Tech Policy reports:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation reports:
Anti-Surveillance Mapmaker Refuses Flock Safety’s Cease and Desist Demand
TechCrunch reports:
Cellebrite suspends Serbia as customer after claims police used firm’s tech to plant spyware
The Internet Review has:
Framework Brings Real Excitement Back to Personal Computers
They are a recommendation of mine in The Techno Anarchist Manifesto aka Let’s fuck up Techno Feudalism
The Register reports:
Signal will withdraw from Sweden if encryption-busting laws take effect
Microsoft names alleged credential-snatching ‘Azure Abuse Enterprise’ operators
Joan Westenberg shares:
How I’m Building a Trump-Proof Tech Stack Without Big Tech
For a more hardcore version, see the Techno Anarchist Manifesto above.
The Next Web reports:
DataSnipper CEO: Europe doesn’t have to follow the Silicon Valley playbook
404 Media shares:
Neutral
Open_Future published:
“Digital Public Infrastructure” at a Turning Point
Tech Policy shares:
Beyond Digital Rights: Towards a Fair Information Ecosystem?
The Evil Empire Strikes Back
Bert Hubert says:
It is no longer safe to move our governments and societies to US clouds
He’s right.
The Register reports:
Trump administration threatens tariffs for any nation that dares to tax Big Tech
Krebs on Security reports:
Trump 2.0 Brings Cuts to Cyber, Consumer Protections
Pariah States
Krebs on Security reports:
Notorious Malware, Spam Host “Prospero” Moves to Kaspersky Lab
This should surprise no one.
BleepingComputer reports:
North Korean hackers linked to $1.5 billion ByBit crypto heist
Belgium probes if Chinese hackers breached its intelligence service
The Register reports:
China’s Silver Fox spoofs medical imaging apps to hijack patients’ computers
Xi know what you did last summer: China was all up in Republicans’ email, says book
Villain on Villain action here.
Big Media
The Guardian reports:
Ex-Washington Post editor Marty Baron rebukes Bezos: ‘betrayal of free expression’
Big Tech
The Electronic Frontier Foundation says:
Stop Censoring Abortion: Help EFF and Repro Uncensored end digital suppression
404 Media reports:
Instagram ‘Error’ Turned Reels Into Neverending Scroll of Murder, Gore, and Violence
Cybersecurity/Privacy
The Verge reports:
Google is replacing Gmail’s SMS authentication with QR codes
The Register reports:
How nice that state-of-the-art LLMs reveal their reasoning … for miscreants to exploit
Bleeping Computer reports:
New Auto-Color Linux backdoor targets North American govts, universities
GitVenom attacks abuse hundreds of GitHub repos to steal crypto
Microsoft names cybercriminals behind AI deepfake network
404 Media reports:
AT&T Hacker Tried to Sell Stolen Data to Foreign Government
Fediverse
The Fediverse Report has:
TechCrunch reports:
Tumblr backs Tapestry, a timeline app for the open social web
I think apps like this and Surf are going to gain more traction than platform apps and clients in the long run.
Beej’s Bit Bucket takes a look at:
NodeBB is fully federated:
NodeBB v4.0.0 — Federate good times, come on!
We Distribute opines:
Funkwhale Wants to Filter Out Far-Right Music
Other Slightly Federated Social Media
Bluesky info has:
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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