<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As noted last week, I am willing to spend 10 of my retirement hours weekly on The Programmer\u2019s Fulcrum. It’s the future (and smaller) home for a fusion of Symfony Station and Battalion. Its tagline is Devs Defending Democracy.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can sign up now<\/a> and for 2025 get an email with links to and featured articles for each week’s Symfony Station Communiqu\u00e9 and Battalion “Destroying Autocracy” post. And you\u2019ll be set with TPF after the fusing.<\/em><\/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 Hamish Campbell writes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The geek answer (bad faith or blindness): \u201cIf only everyone learned to code, then society would be fairer.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The activist answer: Code is part of the landscape, but culture, governance, and lived practice matter more. We don\u2019t escape domination by teaching more people to type commands, we escape by changing what we do together with the tools.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why \u201cteach everyone to code\u201d has become a dead-end slogan \u2013 it\u2019s been tried, it\u2019s been funded, and yet it hasn\u2019t shifted power one bit. If anything, it\u2019s reinforced the tech priesthood instead of breaking it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why \u201cteach everyone to code\u201d has become a dead-end slogan<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Remember, as I mentioned in the TechnoAnarchist Manifesto, tech is now the major religion on earth.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As far as what programmers should do, he has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Activist tech has been stuck in a defensive crouch<\/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 NextCloud reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Schleswig-Holstein\u2019s \u201cDeutschland-Stack\u201d vision for a digitally independent Germany<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EuroNews reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cash is king: Why does the eurozone need a digital euro?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The San Francisco Public Press reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n California Pushes AI Regulation as Experts Reveal Looming Dangers<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Microsoft workers occupy HQ in protest against company\u2019s ties to Israeli military<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Electronic Frontier Foundation reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Victory! Ninth Circuit Limits Intrusive DMCA Subpoenas<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Victory! Pen-Link’s Police Tools Are Not Secret<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fourth Amendment Victory: Michigan Supreme Court Reins in Digital Device Fishing Expeditions<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Internet Exchange reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shaping a Profession, Building a Community<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechPolicy reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The TAKE IT DOWN Act Is US Law. Platforms Must Do More Than The Bare Minimum<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BleepingComputer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n U.S. seizes $2.8 million in crypto from Zeppelin ransomware operator<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Conversation reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Data that taxpayers have paid for and rely on is disappearing \u2013 here\u2019s how it\u2019s happening and what you can do about it<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Poytner reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Poynter\u2019s MediaWise launches new initiative to combat extremism in online gaming spaces<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Someone’s poking the bear with infostealers targeting Russian crypto developers<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n US cops wrap up RapperBot, one of world’s biggest DDoS-for-hire rackets<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hackers who exposed North Korean government hacker explain why they did it<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ecosia has offered to take \u2018stewardship\u2019 of Chrome. And it\u2019s not a bad idea.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Great idea, hence it will go nowhere.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fortune reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n MIT report: 95% of generative AI pilots at companies are failing<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \ud83d\ude42<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EuroNews reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Austrian newspaper\u2019s pay or consent model violates EU privacy rules: court<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Association of Progressive Communications reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Brazil explores ways to hold platforms accountable in court and beyond<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bom!<\/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 TechPolicy reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We Need to Control Personal AI Data So Personal AI Cannot Control Us<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Next Web reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Europe can lead the world in legal AI \u2014 by out-regulating everyone else<\/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 TechPolicy reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How US Officials Are Pressuring Europe Over Its Platform Regulations<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Electronic Frontier Foundation reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n President Trump\u2019s War on \u201cWoke AI\u201d Is a Civil Liberties Nightmare<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n From Book Bans to Internet Bans: Wyoming Lets Parents Control the Whole State\u2019s Access to The Internet<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Intercept reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ICE hunts down immigrants by spying on their wire transfers<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n End well, this won’t: UK commissioner suggests govt stops kids from using VPNs<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n United Kuntdumb tech logic: if something is shite, let’s fix it by making it worse.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Judge says FTC investigation into Media Matters \u2018should alarm all Americans\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Government Just Made it Harder for The Public to Comment on Regulations<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Global Voices reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The politics and people behind Balochistan, Pakistan\u2019s internet shutdowns<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hide Me reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cChat Control\u201d: The EU is about to read every message you send<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Politico reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Russia is quietly churning out fake content posing as US news<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n And plenty of American stooges are spreading the shit.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Radio Free Europe reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Report: Russian Sabotage Operations In Europe Have Quadrupled Since 2023<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DarkReading reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Russian Hacktivists Take Aim at Polish Power Plant, AgainRussian Hacktivists Take Aim at Polish Power Plant, Again<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Europe’s Ransomware Surge Is a Warning Shot for US Defenders<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n CrowdStrike reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n MURKY PANDA: A Trusted-Relationship Threat in the Cloud<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BleepingComputer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n XenoRAT malware campaign hits multiple embassies in South Korea<\/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 How German media outlets helped pave the way for Israel\u2019s murder of journalists in Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I think fascism is just in the water in Germany. Like racism in America.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EuroNews reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finland\u2019s war on fake news starts in schools. AI could make that a lot harder.<\/a><\/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 AI Is a Mass-Delusion Event<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wok reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Google is killing the open web<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not a Tech Bro reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Google is watching<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Google yet to take down ‘screenshot-grabbing’ Chrome VPN extension<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Markup reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We caught companies making it harder to delete your personal data online<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Data brokers face new pressure for hiding opt-out pages from Google<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meta faces backlash over AI policy that lets bots have \u2018sensual\u2019 conversations with children<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grok Exposes Underlying Prompts for Its AI Personas<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TikTok Shop Sells Viral GPS Trackers Marketed to Stalkers<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jimmy Wales Says Wikipedia Could Use AI. Editors Call It the ‘Antithesis of Wikipedia’<\/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 Every question you ask, every comment you make, I’ll be recording you<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nice song reference. \ud83d\ude09<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BleepingComputer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Okta open-sources catalog of Auth0 rules for threat detection<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mozilla announces:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n CRLite: Fast, private, and comprehensive certificate revocation checking in Firefox<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Factorial reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DDoS Attacks on NGOs: When Digital Infrastructure Becomes a Vulnerability<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Heisse reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Copyright: Springer vs Adblock Plus enters another round<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Socket reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Researcher Exposes Zero-Day Clickjacking Vulnerabilities in Major Password Managers<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Applied Social Media Lab reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ActivityPub Fuzzer<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We Distribute reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n CrowdBucks is a new payment system for the Fediverse<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It needs some.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DeadSuperHero has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Fediverse in Real Life<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hamish Campbell explains:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why Most Fediverse Codebases Are Languishing<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The London School of Economics asks:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Are newsletters the new academic social media?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Niche, but interesting.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n David Roetzel is:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Taking a Fresh Look at the Fediverse<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Connected Places has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ATmosphere Report \u2013 130<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kuba Suder shares an:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Introduction to AT Protocol<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bluesky blocks service in Mississippi over age assurance law<\/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><\/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 it. 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":688,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[69],"tags":[57,66,148,67,92,74,73,65,75,58,59,153,86,143,63,61,252,250],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427"}],"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=2427"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2459,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427\/revisions\/2459"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fulcrum-handle-medium-221x300.png\")
<\/figure>\n
\n\nFeatured Item<\/h2>\n
\n\nThe response to Russia\u2019s War Crimes, Techno Feudalism, and other douchebaggery<\/h2>\n
\n\nNeutral<\/h2>\n
\n\nThe Evil Empire (AKA Autocracy) Strikes Back<\/h2>\n
Pariah States<\/h3>\n
Big Media<\/h3>\n
Big Tech<\/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