<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
DD 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>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A quick note, my best friend is visiting next week so there won’t be an edition of DD. I’ll be busy trying to inject some joy into my life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cory Doctorow writes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n For a country obsessed with defining itself as “not America,” Canada sure likes to copy US policies, especially the really, really terrible policies \u2013 especially<\/em> the really, really, really<\/em> terrible digital<\/em> policies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pluralistic: Canada sues Google<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n MIT Technology Review reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How the Ukraine-Russia war is reshaping the tech sector in Eastern Europe<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The US Department of Defense is investing in deepfake detection<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BleepingComputer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n UK disrupts Russian money laundering networks used by ransomware<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Markup reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Landlords Are Using AI To Raise Rents \u2014 and Cities Are Starting To Push Back<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Poland arrests former spy chief in Pegasus spyware probe<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EU puts TikTok on watch over election security<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Judge confirms decision to sink Elon Musk\u2019s $56B pay package despite Tesla shareholder vote<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n UK antitrust suit hits Microsoft with claim for $1.25B in cloud fees damages<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Australia passes world-first law banning under-16s from social media despite safety concerns<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Biden administration bars China from buying HBM chips critical for AI accelerators<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Facing sale or ban, TikTok tossed under national security bus by appeals court<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Verge reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Data brokers may be banned from selling your social security number<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media has more:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n FTC Bans Location Data Company That Powers the Surveillance Ecosystem<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Unfortunately, the orange c^nt and apartheid clyde will probably undo this.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meta says it has taken down about 20 covert influence operations in 2024<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Texas Observer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Revealed: the Operators Behind Four Major Neo-Nazi X Accounts<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Center for Democracy and Technology reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Justice Department Goes After Algorithm-Fueled Price-Fixing in Apartment Rentals<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Science Norway reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is how social media made Swedish far-right extremism normal online<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Progressive except for Palestine\u2019: how a tech charity imploded over a statement on Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tech Policy reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Researchers Consider the Relationship Between Misinformation, Outrage, and the Sharing of Content on Social Media<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Radio Free Europe reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n U.S. Plant’s Chinese Owner Shipped Sanctioned Electronics To Russia’s War Machine<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cult MTL opines:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Foreign interference: Playing dumb doesn\u2019t keep Canadians safe<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Alright my Canadian friends, let’s see if you’ve learned anything from your dumbass neighbors to the south or if you’re going to fuck up and elect a c^nt of a Russian stooge as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Citizen Lab reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Something to Remember Us By: Device Confiscated by Russian Authorities Returned with Monokle-Type Spyware Installed<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hugging Face CEO has concerns about Chinese open source AI models<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Business leaders among Pegasus spyware victims, says security firm<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ars Technica reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n US recommends encrypted messaging as Chinese hackers linger in telecom networks<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian has more:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many Americans\u2019 cellphone data being hacked by China, official says<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n And:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Russia can turn the lights off\u2019: how the UK is preparing for cyberwar<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BleepingComputer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n U.S. org suffered four month intrusion by Chinese hackers<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Status has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Lost Angeles Times<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong demonstrates that he is editorially inept. And a c^nt.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Atlantic has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Sound of Fear on Air<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n And Nieman Lab has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Predictions for Journalism, 2025.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tech Policy asks:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n New Perspectives on AI Agentiality and Democracy: “Whom Does It Serve?”<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yahoo Tech reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Google app for iOS now adds Search links to third-party websites unless they opt-out<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Daring Fireball opines:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shame on Google for Their Description of Google Messages\u2019s Encryption Support<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tech Policy reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We Need to Talk About Data Monopolies<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fuck Google. I am so glad I just got my de-googled Fairphone from Murena. Go e\/OS!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Instagram actively helping spread of self-harm among teenagers, study finds<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pivot to AI reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meet the underpaid workers in Nairobi, Kenya, who power OpenAI<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nature reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why \u2018open\u2019 AI systems are actually closed, and why this matters<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not Just ‘David Mayer’: ChatGPT Breaks When Asked About Two Law Professors<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Semafor reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Employee lawsuit accuses Apple of spying on its workers<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Interpol nabs thousands, seizes millions in global cybercrime-busting op<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DarkReading asks:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Incident Response Playbooks: Are You Prepared?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Digital Certificates With Shorter Lifespans Reduce Security Vulnerabilities<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n LLMs Raise Efficiency, Productivity of Cybersecurity Teams<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BleepingComputer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Police seize Matrix encrypted chat service after spying on criminals<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Police seizes largest German online crime marketplace, arrests admin<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Note that this is not the Fediverse’s Matrix but a separate malware.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n US shares tips to block hackers behind recent telecom breaches<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cloudflare\u2019s developer domains increasingly abused by threat actors<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Krebson on Security reports on:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why Phishers Love New TLDs Like .shop, .top and .xyz<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Fediverse Report has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Last Week in Fediverse \u2013 ep 95<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cyber Cultural explores:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Enshittocene: How the Internet Got Worse in the 2010s<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The International Journal of Communication asks:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can This Platform Survive? Governance Challenges for the Fediverse<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ghost has an update:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Welcoming the WordPugs<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hachyderm shares:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ensuring Hachyderm’s Future: Improving Safety & Resilience through Strategic Placement of Infrastructure<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Website League shares its:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Website League update for December<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Public Spaces has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Belastingdienst pakt door met open communicatie<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fedora announces:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fedora Moves Towards Forgejo<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Verge reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Threads takes an important baby step toward true fediverse integration<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Threads\u2019 next update is a search feature that finds the post you\u2019re looking for<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Fediverse Report has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Last Week in the ATmosphere \u2013 2412.a<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n NBC news reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Journalists flock to Bluesky as X becomes increasingly ‘toxic’<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n On a similar note, Bluesky writes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Engagement Is Better on Bluesky<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n HYFIN asks:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Could Blacksky emerge as Black Twitter\u2019s spiritual successor on Bluesky?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media adds more details to a link we shared last week:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your Bluesky Posts Are Probably In A Bunch of Datasets Now<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bluesky promises more verification and an \u2018aggressive\u2019 approach to impersonation<\/a> ???<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Nexus of Privacy reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Decentralization and erasure: Blacksky, Bluesky, and the ATmosphere<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p><\/ul>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Welcome to this week’s \u201cDefending Democracy\u201d. 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[69],"tags":[57,66,148,67,92,74,73,65,75,58,77,149,59,86,143,63,61,62],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1046"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1046"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1061,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1046\/revisions\/1061"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\nFeatured Item<\/h2>\n
\n\nThe response to Russia\u2019s War Crimes and other douchebaggery<\/h2>\n
\n\nThe Evil Empire Strikes Back<\/h2>\n
Pariah States<\/h3>\n
Big Media<\/h3>\n
Big Tech<\/h3>\n
\n\nCybersecurity\/Privacy<\/h2>\n
\n\nFediverse<\/h2>\n
Other Slightly Federated Social Media<\/h3>\n
\n\nCTAs (aka show us some free love)<\/h2>\n
\n