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<\/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
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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.<\/p>\n
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FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck ’em.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media writes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A new paper from researchers at Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University finds that as humans increasingly rely on generative AI in their work, they use less critical thinking, which can \u201cresult in the deterioration of cognitive faculties that ought to be preserved.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA key irony of automation is that by mechanizing routine tasks and leaving exception-handling to the human user, you deprive the user of the routine opportunities to practice their judgement and strengthen their cognitive musculature, leaving them atrophied and unprepared when the exceptions do arise,\u201d the researchers wrote.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Microsoft Study Finds AI Makes Human Cognition \u201cAtrophied and Unprepared\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Surprise, surprise.<\/strong><\/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 The Next Web reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ethical AI and climate tech are turning the Netherlands into a European innovation leader<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Electronic Frontier Foundation looks at:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Closing the Gap in Encryption on Mobile<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fast Company reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This scrappy search upstart is getting thousands of people to give up Google<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BleepingComputer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n US sanctions LockBit ransomware\u2019s bulletproof hosting provider<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wikipedia Prepares for ‘Increase in Threats’ to US Editors From Musk and His Allies<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A win at last: Big blow to AI world in training data copyright scrap<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Great.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Codeberg declares:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We stay strong against hate and hatred<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DarkReading reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Japan Goes on Offense With New ‘Active Cyber Defense’ Bill<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tech Policy has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Message to US States: Don\u2019t Forget the Fundamentals of Fighting Online Hate and Antisemitism<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n An Advocate\u2019s Guide to Automated Content Moderation<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Navigating Europe\u2019s AI Code of Practice Before the Clock Runs Out<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EU plans to ‘mobilize’ \u20ac200B to invest in AI to catch up with US and China<\/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 Atlantic reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Government\u2019s Computing Experts Say They Are Terrified<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Popular Information reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The NSA’s “Big Delete”<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n G Zero Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Elon Musk\u2019s government takeover is powered by AI<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Business Insider reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We got a DOGE staff list. From a McKinsey alum to a former Clarence Thomas clerk, here are the workers powering Elon Musk’s cost-cutting squad.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Spyware maker caught distributing malicious Android apps for years<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n US immigration is gaming Google to create a mirage of mass deportations<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Intercept reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ICE wants to know if you’re posting mean things about it online<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BleepingComputer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Russian military hackers deploy malicious Windows activators in Ukraine<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BadPilot network hacking campaign fuels Russian SandWorm attacks<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DPRK hackers dupe targets into typing PowerShell commands as admin<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chinese espionage tools deployed in RA World ransomware attack<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Domain Tools reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chinese Malware Delivery Domains Part II: Data Collection<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Revelations of Israeli spyware abuse raise fears over possible use by Trump<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Crimelords and spies for rogue states are working together, says Google<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Committee to Protect Journalists reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2024 is deadliest year for journalists in CPJ history; almost 70% killed by Israel<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ars Technica reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n What is device code phishing, and why are Russian spies so successful at it?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Wikipedian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Right\u2019s War on Wikipedia is Just a Repackaging of its War on Journalism<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We didn\u2019t click \u2018consent\u2019 on any gambling website. So how did Facebook know where we\u2019d been?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How Meta abandoned Silicon Valley\u2019s most ambitious diversity goals<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Senator Pushes Zuckerberg on “Perverse Abuse” of Nudify Ads After 404 Media Report<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This Adtech Company is Powering Surveillance of U.S. Military Personnel<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n PC Gamer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A 2023 study concluded CAPTCHAs are ‘a tracking cookie farm for profit masquerading as a security service’ that made us spend 819 million hours clicking on traffic lights to generate nearly $1 trillion for Google<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Verge reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Google Calendar removed events like Pride and BHM because its holiday list wasn\u2019t \u2018sustainable\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is nothing worse than cowardice.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n OpenAI is rethinking how AI models handle controversial topics<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bomb-plot trial of neo-Nazi leader pulls back veil on US extremist networks<\/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 Electronic Frontier Foundation reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The UK’s Demands for Apple to Break Encryption Is an Emergency for Us All<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Washington Post reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your employer might be spying on you. Here\u2019s how workers can check.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BleepingComputer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Apple fixes zero-day exploited in ‘extremely sophisticated’ attacks<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n CNN reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How to keep your private conversations private<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Probe finds US Coast Guard has left maritime cybersecurity adrift<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Feds want devs to stop coding ‘unforgivable’ buffer overflow vulnerabilities<\/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 Fediverse #103<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wreckage shares:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bridges & scruples<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read this if you love the Fediverse.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n SMA looks at:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A Brief History of Alternative Social Media Scholarship<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The New Stack reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pixelfed Crowdfunds More Open Source Social Alternatives for the Fediverse<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Internet Review reports on:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Improved Moderation Features Coming Later This Month to Pixelfed<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n These apps are building Instagram alternatives on open protocols<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tumblr to join the Fediverse after WordPress migration completes<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mastodon has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trunk & Tidbits, January 2025<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bringing Quote Posts to Mastodon<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Counterforce shares:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Counterforce Guide to Mastodon and The Fediverse (for punks!)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n But Nazi Punks, Fuck Off!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ghost has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you didn’t like it then you should have just unfollowed it<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Repost the stuff you love<\/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 2025feb.b<\/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 Keep fighting!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Welcome to this week’s \u201cDestroying Autocracy\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":528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[69],"tags":[188,57,66,156,67,92,74,189,65,75,58,77,59,154,187,153,86,143,63,151],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1387"}],"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=1387"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1387\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1423,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1387\/revisions\/1423"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1387"}],"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\nNeutral<\/h2>\n
\n\nThe Evil Empire Strikes Back<\/h2>\n
Pariah States<\/h3>\n
\n\nBig Media<\/h3>\n
Big Tech<\/h3>\n
\n\nTerror<\/h3>\n
\n\nCybersecurity\/Privacy<\/h2>\n
Fediverse<\/h2>\n
Other Slightly Federated Social Media<\/h3>\n
\n\nCTAs (aka show us some free love)<\/h2>\n
\n