<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Programmer\u2019s Fulcrum is 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 along with their featured articles. 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 Scripting of WordLand fame<\/a> writes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I want you to see WordPress as comparable to Bluesky or Mastodon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Internally, the software, WordPress, Mastodon, Bluesky, do a lot of the same things. But because WordPress is so long-lived relative to the other two, it’s more complete, scaled, and it federates easily. Lots of people do it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n WordPress also has excellent support for RSS, especially using a little-known feature called rssCloud. It enables real-time notification of new or changed feed items. And has a deep and powerful API. It’s well designed, documented, and they don’t break it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BTW, Mastodon and Bluesky lack these.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Think Different about WordPress<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hamish Campbell has made a similar point.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This article is the type of coverage we will feature on The Fulcrum in 2026.<\/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 BleepingComputer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amazon disrupts Russian APT29 hackers targeting Microsoft 365<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EU fines Google $3.5 billion for anti-competitive ad practices<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Platypush shares:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Create private self-hosted email aliases on the fly<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Les Numeriques reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNotre solution co\u00fbte trois fois moins cher qu’Office 365\u201d: comment Lyon a tourn\u00e9 le dos \u00e0 Microsoft<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EDRi shares:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Public consultation on \u201dretention of data by service providers for criminal proceedings\u201d. Answering guide for civil society organisations and individuals.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EU citizens, please give your input.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Internet Exchange opines:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Democracy Needs Encryption<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n True.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n SAP splashes \u20ac20B on Euro sovereign cloud push<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n France fines Google, SHEIN for undercooked cookie policies that led to crummy privacy<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n UK government trial of M365 Copilot finds no clear productivity boost<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reg readers have spoken: 93% back move away from Microsoft in UK public sector<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now make your politicians do something about it.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n String Literal discusses:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Options for Phones at Protests<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DarkReading reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How Gray-Zone Hosting Companies Protect Data the US Wants Erased<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Atlantic reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Anti-Trump Strategy That\u2019s Actually Working<\/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 CIO reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 31% of employees are \u2018sabotaging\u2019 your gen AI strategy<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This need to be around 81%.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Privacy Guides shares:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe (Don’t) Care About Your Privacy\u201d<\/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 Micah Flee opines:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Unfortunately, the ICEBlock app is activism theater<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hopefully, the app developer will quit ignoring its users and constructive criticism and salvage this project.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechPolicy promotes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Advancing Democracy as a Digital Public Service<\/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 TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ICE reactivates contract with spyware maker Paragon<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Arrs Technica reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n FCC chair teams up with Ted Cruz to block Wi-Fi hotspots for schoolkids<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 404 Media reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Congress Pushes DHS for Details on ICE\u2019s New Facial Recognition App<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EuroNews reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Russian propaganda is ‘overtaking’ legitimate news in the Czech Republic<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Online disinformation intensifies ahead of Moldovan parliamentary elections<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DarkReading reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Russia’s APT28 Targets Microsoft Outlook With ‘NotDoor’ Malware<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Czech Warning Highlights China Stealing User Data<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Internet mapping and research outfit Censys reveals state-based abuse, harassment<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n China-aligned crew poisons Windows servers to manipulate Google results<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EuroNews reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can the EU implement its new press freedom law?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Werdmuller asks:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can newsrooms become social platforms?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Great stuff.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Poytner reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Inescapable technology changes and a migrating audience have local broadcast news in trouble<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n NiemanLab reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trusted news sites may benefit in an internet full of AI-generated fakes, a new study finds<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Journalism reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Substack’s new in-app payments frustrate publishers: “One option is terrible for us, the other is terrible for our readers”<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Because Suckstack is enshittified.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reuters reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meta to launch California super PAC backing pro-AI candidates<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EuroNews reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Is Meta failing to protect users from the distribution of non-consensual images?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tech Policy reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How AI Upended a Historic Antitrust Case Against Google<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ars Technica reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Judge: Google can keep Chrome, must share search data with \u201cqualified competitors\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sigh. More proof that surveillance tech cannot be reformed. It must be destroyed.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once again, please explore our Techno Anarchist Manifesto<\/a> for what you can do.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n AI web crawlers are destroying websites in their never-ending hunger for any and all content<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Alan Smith reports on:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Enshittifying Search With AI<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Infrequently reports on:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Apple’s Assault on Standards<\/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 From Libraries to Schools: Why Organizations Should Install Privacy Badger<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the rush to adopt hot new tech, security is often forgotten. AI is no exception<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Who watches the watchmen? Surveillanceware firms make bank, avoid oversight<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n EU court’s dismissal of US data transfer challenge raises privacy advocates’ ire<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Congressional panel throws cyber threat intel-sharing, funding a lifeline<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Signal reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n European Commission internally recommends Signal with disappearing messages<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BleepingComputer reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Threat actors abuse X\u2019s Grok AI to spread malicious links<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Of course.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DarkReading reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Phishing Empire Runs Undetected on Google, Cloudflare<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Connected Places has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fediverse Report \u2013 132<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Social Media Alternative reviews:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n HOPE and Alternative Social Media<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n WriteFreely announces:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Version 0.16<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n FediHost demonstrates:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Podcasting With PeerTube<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Register reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Matrix.org homeserver grinds to a halt after RAID meltdown<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Nexus of Privacy shares:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Improving accessibility in the Fediverse and the ATmosphere<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n NodeBB shares a:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Progress update for Conversational Contexts<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A New Social announces:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bounce Beta Now Live!<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n TechCrunch reports:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Threads challenges X by offering free support for up to 10K characters, plus prominent links<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Connected Places has:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Substack and the risk of disruption<\/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":689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[69],"tags":[57,66,148,67,92,74,73,65,75,58,59,284,76,153,86,143,63,276,61,252,250,62,116,285],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2477"}],"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=2477"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2477\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2485,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2477\/revisions\/2485"}],"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=2477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battalion.mobileatom.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2477"}],"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