Harald Eilertsen

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 12:57:17 +0200

But free software is a political project.

Software, broadly speaking, is a political project, and it’s one that has come to govern human existence. So far it’s done so mostly without the consent of the governed, and it operates to an intolerable degree in the interests of concentrated wealth and unaccountable power.

Computation is everywhere. Less and less of it is subject to the understanding or control of its individual users. Or, for that matter, to any democratic representation or governance. Systems that define our jobs and social lives are managed by a technocratic class beholden to megacorporations and billionaires. These systems' workings are opaque, their maintenance is an unrelenting nightmare, and everyone involved is fundamentally compromised.

from "on rms / necessary but not sufficient" by @brennen

#floss #freesoftware #opensource #politics

Free software Politics

Icavot

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 00:28:12 +0200 from Diaspora

As for me, I still support Richard Stallman:

I think Dr Stallman’s views on Mr Minsky’s case (professor at MIT, allegedly involved in Jeffrey Epstein’s scandal) have been misinterpreted and in some cases intentionally distorted. This is nothing but a witch hunt.

Mr Stallman is famous for his intellectual honesty. He should be applauded for it, not ostracized, regardless of whether you agree with him or not. And deep in your heart you know he is one of the best humans that have set foot on this planet.

Taking into account all the above, Richard Stallman should be reinstated as president of the Free Software Foundation.

Some interesting info:
https://daringfireball.net/2019/10/correction_regarding_an_erroneous_allegation
https://medium.com/@whoisylvia/richard-stallman-has-been-vilified-by-those-who-dont-know-him-a3907b25b4c7

Harald Eilertsen

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 17:08:13 +0100

@Icavot Now I think the most interesting part of the article was the part not talking about Stallman as such, but the importance of free software. That said, I think Stallman has done his job. It's time for someone else, preferably the wider community to carry the flag. I also think the ties between Gnu and FSF has been too blurry for a long time. While it's unfortunate that the circumstances for Stallman to step down are as they are, I think in the long run it will be a good thing. At least I hope so :)

A bit of reading in the sun

Harald Eilertsen

Sun, 05 May 2019 14:33:10 +0200

Shoshana Zuboffs "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" is essential reading to understand the madness that is called "the internet economy," by the ones who want to profit by your free behavioural data. Also be sure to follow @Aral Balkan for additional insights into this exploitative business.

#books #internet #politics #SurveillanceCapitalism

Books Internet Politics

Mr. Ed

Sun, 05 May 2019 14:52:38 +0200 from Diaspora

https://www.shoshanazuboff.com/new/the-age-of-surveillance-capitalism-comments-and-reviews/

Harald Eilertsen

Sun, 05 May 2019 19:42:58 +0200

@Mr. Ed Yep, that one :)

'The goal is to automate us': welcome to the age of surveillance capitalism

Harald Eilertsen

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 21:54:07 +0100

This is by far the best and most informative piece I've read about surveillance capitalism, how it affects us, and why we should care. Starts off as a review of Shoshana Zuboff's latest book – The Age of Surveillance Capital, but the interview with Shoshana Zuboff at the end is also absolutely worth reading!

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/20/shoshana-zuboff-age-of-surveillance-capitalism-google-facebook

I haven't read the book yet, but this is one I'll definitely have to read!

#surveillancecapitalism #internet #privacy

Privacy Politics Internet

show all 11 comments

ghose [D*]

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 08:22:37 +0100 from Diaspora

Viewed from this perspective [capitalism evolution], the behaviour of the digital giants looks rather different from the roseate hallucinations of Wired magazine. What one sees instead is a colonising ruthlessness of which John D Rockefeller would have been proud. First of all there was the arrogant appropriation of users’ behavioural data – viewed as a free resource, there for the taking. Then the use of patented methods to extract or infer data even when users had explicitly denied permission, followed by the use of technologies that were opaque by design and fostered user ignorance.

Thanks for sharing. Long reading, but enlighting

ghose [D*]

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 08:30:24 +0100 from Diaspora

The first surveillance capitalists also conquered by declaration. They simply declared our private experience to be theirs for the taking, for translation into data for their private ownership and their proprietary knowledge.

Harald Eilertsen

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 08:48:41 +0100

@Xose M You're welcome! My thoughts exactly, this opened perspectives I hadn't thought about before.

ghose [D*]

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 09:19:15 +0100 from Diaspora

yes, It's hard to put into words that gut feeling we most of us here have.

This (quote) is exactly what I tell people on real world but I find dificult to explain in terms they understand

For example, the idea of “data ownership” is often championed as a solution. But what is the point of owning data that should not exist in the first place?

There's hope while there are people writting this things and other people having access to read it.

Jakobu

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 09:37:27 +0100 from Diaspora

Somehow I have been thinking along these lines for a while. The data collection is a refinement of the statistical machine behind commercials, but the PR-business is really just a continued commercial version of the propaganda techniques of the early twentieth century. I have seen this as a threat against western democracy for a long time. "Fake News" is really just propaganda, and the fact that we have invented a new word for something that was there all along shows how naive and dull we are.

Meanwhile both the political left and the political right is on twitter trying to limit the freedom of speech that is what makes a place like this possible.

Harald Eilertsen

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 14:12:26 +0100

"Fake News" is really just propaganda, and the fact that we have invented a new word for something that was there all along shows how naive and dull we are.

This is actually spot on! I despise the term "Fake news," as it hides the real intent and meaning that's behind it. Disinformation and propaganda are far better and more accurate terms.

Beni Grind

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 20:36:41 +0100

Thanks for sharing. I just ordered the book in my local book store. I felt that this book is a great opportunity to start supporting my LBS again....

Harald Eilertsen

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 20:44:01 +0100

@Beni Grind I've done the same :) I prefer buying from a local store when possible, and usually it is.

Beni Grind

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 20:58:45 +0100

@Harald Eilertsen Honestly, for some reason it didn't occur to me that I could just email an order to them and then pick it up when they notify me that it arrived... I don't mind paying a premium for this service.

hEARt PhoniX

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 11:58:17 +0100

Harald Eilertsen

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:12:00 +0100

@Tobias Yes, there were so many quoteworthy passages in the piece I ended up not quoting anything. But it really does put things into perspective. Can't wait to read the book.

The Watchdogs That Didn’t Bark

Harald Eilertsen

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 15:46:38 +0100

It’s also hard to overlook the fact that a lot of privacy advocacy groups in the U.S. get funding from the same tech companies that would ostensibly be affected by government regulation of consumer data collection. EFF, for example, took in about $822,000 from Google, including donations from employees that are matched by the company, in fiscal 2017. CDT collected about $590,000 in donations and support from Google in 2016 and received $250,000 from Facebook last year. As for OTI, Google’s former CEO Eric Schmidt co-founded and has been a significant donor to New America for years. He and his wife’s philanthropic foundation committed to $4 million in funding New America from 2016 to 2021. All of these groups maintain complete independence from their donors.

https://web.archive.org/web/20180921123410/https://slate.com/technology/2018/04/why-arent-privacy-groups-fighting-to-regulate-facebook.html

#politics #internet #privacy

Politics Internet Privacy

show all 7 comments

tomgrz

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 03:25:01 +0100 from Diaspora

The best way to tame an oversight institution is to give it food. Feed it enough treats and it will beg for more.

tomgrz

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 03:26:22 +0100 from Diaspora

The Green Party US understands this, deeply. They do not take money from Corporate-linked PACs.

tomgrz

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 03:26:52 +0100 from Diaspora

The Green Party US understands this, deeply. They do not take money from Corporate-linked PACs or Foundations.

Harald Eilertsen

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 18:14:34 +0100

Aral Balkan wrote the following post Tue, 01 Jan 2019 18:05:34 +0100

If you missed it on the live news, here’s a recording of the Al Jazeera News segment where we discussed France’s new tax on multinational tech companies.

https://ar.al/2019/01/01/al-jazeera-news-interview-french-tech-tax/

Politics

In January, the EU starts running Bug Bounties on Free and Open Source Software

Harald Eilertsen

Sat, 29 Dec 2018 21:25:45 +0100 last edited: Fri, 29 Mar 2019 20:10:56 +0100

In January the European Commission is launching 14 out of a total of 15 bug bounties on Free Software projects that the EU institutions rely on.

https://juliareda.eu/2018/12/eu-fossa-bug-bounties/

This is definitely cool! Even better if other countries, institutions and companies will follow up and do the same.

#software #security #bug #bugbounty #eu

Politics Free software

Harald Eilertsen

harald@hub.volse.no