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1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><channel><title>A* Ulven's Thoughts</title><link>https://ulven.zone/</link><description>Recent content on A* Ulven's Thoughts</description><generator>Hugo -- gohugo.io</generator><language>en-us</language><lastBuildDate>Sat, 05 Oct 2024 23:39:19 +0100</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://ulven.zone/index.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title>Operational Security: Staying safe online</title><link>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-10-05-operational-security-staying-safe-online/</link><pubDate>Sat, 05 Oct 2024 23:39:19 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-10-05-operational-security-staying-safe-online/</guid><description>&lt;p>Hello there! Thanks for reading my blog! I&amp;rsquo;ve moved.&lt;/p>
2. <p>If you don’t get redirected automatically, try this:</p>
3. <p><a class="link" href="https://ulveon.net/p/2024-10-05-operational-security-staying-safe-online/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
4. >https://ulveon.net/p/2024-10-05-operational-security-staying-safe-online/</a></p>
5. &lt;p>Make sure to update your RSS feeds, too. See you on ulveon.net!&lt;/p></description></item><item><title>Moved to ulveon.net</title><link>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-09-20-moved-to-ulveon.net/</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-09-20-moved-to-ulveon.net/</guid><description>&lt;p>Hello! Thank you for reading my blog. This site has moved to a different domain: &lt;a class="link" href="https://ulveon.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
6. >ulveon.net</a>.</p>
7. <p>All articles except this post have a JS function that will redirect you to the appropriate domain if you try to read the articles from the old ulven.zone domain.</p>
8. <p>See you there!</p>
9. <h1 id="visit-my-new-sitehttpsulveonnet"><a class="link" href="https://ulveon.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
10. >Visit my new site&lt;/a>&lt;/h1></description></item><item><title>Fascism is coming</title><link>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/</link><pubDate>Thu, 29 Aug 2024 20:34:09 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/</guid><description>&lt;p>And it won&amp;rsquo;t be pretty. We have collectively learned nothing from Hitler&amp;rsquo;s rise to power. And it is just happening all over again, through the same institutions that we thought were set up to resist the next fascist takeover.&lt;/p>
11. <h2 id="background">Background</h2>
12. <p>History has a way of repeating itself, especially when we fail to learn from the past. The rise of fascism in the 20th century, epitomised by figures like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, was not an isolated incident but the result of specific social, economic, and political conditions that have emerged repeatedly throughout history. Today, as we face similar challenges, it is clear that the lessons of the past are once again being ignored.</p>
13. <p>The cyclical nature of history is evident in the way societies, when confronted with crisis and uncertainty, often turn to authoritarian solutions, seeking strong leaders who promise to restore order and national pride at the cost of democracy and human rights. This cycle has been observed across different eras and regions, from the fall of the Roman Republic to the rise of fascist regimes in the 20th century, and now, we are witnessing its resurgence in the 21st century.</p>
14. <p>In this context, the rise of fascism today can be seen not as a sudden anomaly but as the latest iteration of a recurring historical pattern.</p>
15. <p>The financial crisis of 2007 sent the world’s entire economy into recession, and would be the catalyst of many beautiful citizen protest movements, like <a class="link" href="https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_Wall_Street" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
16. >Occupy Wall Street</a>, the <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Spring" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
17. >Arab Spring</a>, the <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-austerity_movement_in_Spain" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
18. >15-M</a>, the <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Iranian_presidential_election_protests" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
19. >2009 Iranian presidential election protests</a>, and the <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_United_Kingdom_student_protests" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
20. >2010 United Kingdom student protests</a>, among others.</p>
21. <p>People suffered for years under strict austerity measures to stabilise the economy after a collapse of subprime mortgages erased between 2 and 10 trillion USD, depending on the estimation, in the global financial system, and most western countries contracted their GDP around 5% due to the crisis.</p>
22. <p>During the 2010, it seemed like there would be change. Protestors went home, but there was no comprehensive policy change. However, life continued as normal. Economies would slowly start to recover, and get back on track of GDP growth.</p>
23. <p>Then it happened again, another crisis: First, a few cases of pneumonia in China. Then it spread, over days, and weeks. Alarms were being raised, people were being hospitalised, nobody knew what was happening, and soon enough, a pandemic was declared. Most countries enforced strict quarantine measures including mouth coverings and curfews that turned many people unemployed: baristas, office services, real estate agents, millions of people lost their jobs, while office workers were being told to go home, and work from home for a few weeks, which turned into months, and for some, became permanent.</p>
24. <p>During COVID, conspiracy theorists ran rampant through social media platforms, <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
25. >spreading disinformation</a> involving Bill Gates, George Soros, the World Health Organisation, the US, the EU, the World Economic Forum, and more.</p>
26. <h2 id="current-times">Current times</h2>
27. <p>It is hard to point to a single specific event causing a rise in fascist sentiment, but the world has changed drastically in the last 10 years, and some of the progress that was achieved has stopped, and, in some cases, started to reverse.</p>
28. <h3 id="anti-immigration-and-anti-refugee-sentiment">Anti-immigration and anti-refugee sentiment</h3>
29. <p>Although Europe has traditionally been one of the most open and welcoming regions, it is starting to turn its back on immigrants and refugees.</p>
30. <p>The most significant turning point came with the 2015 refugee crisis, when over a million refugees and migrants, primarily from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, arrived in Europe. Initially, some countries, particularly Germany, were welcoming. German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s “Wir schaffen das” (“We can do this”) approach was emblematic of this initial response. However, as the numbers swelled, the political and social backlash grew.</p>
31. <p>The scale of the crisis, combined with later terrorist attacks across Europe, and resulting protests made European politics less welcoming of immigrants, and more in favour of border controls.</p>
32. <p>Countries around Europe have also used immigration as a political tool, some notable examples:</p>
33. <ul>
34. <li>
35. <p>In 2015, there was a sharp increase in migrants arriving in Lapland, in the Finnish-Swedish border. In parallel, there was an increase in the number of migrants at two Finnish-Russian border crossing points. In 2016, Norway stopped to consider asylum applications from migrants with Russian residence documents. <a class="link" href="https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2016-04-06/enforced-cooperation-finnish-russian-migration-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
36. >Source</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.is/4gVlP" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
37. >Archived version</a>]</p>
38. </li>
39. <li>
40. <p>In February 2020, Turkey announced that it would no longer stop refugees from attempting to cross into Europe, leading to a significant increase in migrants trying to enter Greece. This was widely seen as a tactic to pressure the EU for more support in Turkey’s conflict with Syria.</p>
41. </li>
42. <li>
43. <p>In August 2021, <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus%E2%80%93European_Union_border_crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
44. >Belarus was accused of orchestrating a migrant crisis</a> along its borders with Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.</p>
45. </li>
46. <li>
47. <p>In August 2021, a similar situation developed in the <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Morocco%E2%80%93Spain_border_incident" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
48. >Morocco-Spain border around Ceuta and Melilla</a>, whereby Morocco relaxed border checks, and allowed thousands of migrants to cross into Ceuta. This was interpreted as retaliation for Spain’s decision to provide medical treatment to a political figure that opposes Morocco’s territorial claims. Morocco is also known to periodically leverage the threat of migration to negotiate better deals with the EU.</p>
49. </li>
50. </ul>
51. <p>The growing hostility towards immigrants and refugees is not just a response to external crises but a symptom of a deeper shift towards authoritarianism, where fear and exclusion are used to consolidate power.</p>
52. <h3 id="terrorism">Terrorism</h3>
53. <p>During 2015 and 2016, several terrorist attacks took place in France, Belgium, and Germany. This shocked the world and would steer these territories into less favourable migration policies, with parties like AfD taking a strong anti-migration stance during 2015 which significantly boosted its popularity.</p>
54. <h3 id="populism-and-the-erosion-of-truth-the-slow-boiling-frog">Populism and the erosion of truth, the slow-boiling frog</h3>
55. <p>The <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
56. >boiling frog apologue</a> is a powerful metaphor for the current state of world politics. Just as a frog in slowly heating water fails to perceive the danger until it’s too late, societies today are being gradually desensitized to extremist rhetoric, making previously unthinkable ideas appear almost logical.</p>
57. <p>Populism, as both a political strategy and a movement, is rooted in the notion of representing “the people” against “the elite.” This dichotomy is a hallmark of populist rhetoric, where leaders claim to be the voice of the “ordinary people” while vilifying the establishment. Historically, populism has appeared in various forms across the political spectrum, from left-wing movements like those led by Latin American leaders to right-wing movements in Europe and the United States.</p>
58. <p>Populism’s historical lineage can be traced back to the 19th century, notably with the People’s Party in the United States. However, modern populism has taken on new dimensions, often aligning with nationalism and anti-immigration stances. The relevance of populism today lies in its ability to exploit societal divisions and fears, creating an environment where democratic principles are undermined.</p>
59. <p>Populist leaders and movements can serve as a precursor to fascism by exploiting people’s fears, promoting nationalism, and attacking democratic principles.</p>
60. <p>The rhetoric of “us vs. them” employed by populist leaders enables these parties and movements to justify hatred and disrespect towards minorities, who are scapegoated for society’s problems. This divisive strategy not only polarizes societies but also erodes the social fabric by turning different groups against one another.</p>
61. <p>The most notorious populist figure in recent history is Donald Trump. Running on a platform of “America First”, he won the election that would make him the 45th president of the United States. His brand of populism combined nationalist and xenophobic rhetoric with attacks on established institutions and the media.</p>
62. <p>Other relevant figures include Viktor Orbán and Jair Bolsonaro, who have similar positions to Donald Trump including xenophobic values, conservatism, criticism towards environmental regulations, and the support of traditional national values over immigration and foreign influence.</p>
63. <p>However, while populism seems to be having a greater effect on right-wing voters at the moment, populism is not a characteristic of right-wing politics, and there are cases of left-wing politicians effectively using populism to drive their agendas.</p>
64. <p>Right-wing populist figures capitalise on free speech to make controversial statements, framing them as bold truths that others are too afraid to voice. They focus on telling people what they want to hear, without providing clear, actionable plans on how they will achieve their promised goals. This lack of transparency and practical solutions allows them to maintain broad appeal while avoiding scrutiny over the feasibility of their policies.</p>
65. <p>This is the intersection between populism and free speech. I talk more about free speech in my previous post: <a class="link" href="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-10-free-speech-is-not-a-noble-goal-to-pursue/#human-nature-there-i-said-it" >Free speech is not a noble goal to pursue</a>. Populists often weaponize free speech to normalise xenophobic discourse. Through the illusory truth effect, repeated false claims can become more believable, leading to widespread misinformation.</p>
66. <p>Moreover, populist leaders are quick to dismiss established media as “fake news,” promoting confusion among the public, who may then struggle to distinguish between truth and falsehood. This erosion of trust in traditional sources of information is another dangerous consequence of modern populism.</p>
67. <h3 id="the-overton-window-is-moving-to-the-right">The overton window is moving to the right</h3>
68. <p>The <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
69. >overton window</a> is a concept to name what the currently sociopolitically acceptable range of policies exist. Political actors have skillfully manipulated the Overton window, gradually shifting what is considered acceptable discourse to include more extreme right-wing ideologies, and because of the above mentioned circumstances, it is slowly but surely moving to the right.</p>
70. <p>Sahil Chinoy writes: <a class="link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/26/opinion/sunday/republican-platform-far-right.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
71. >What Happened to America’s Political Center of Gravity?</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.is/AGLVh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
72. >archived version</a>], on how there seems to be a very clear trend to the right worldwide. Even though the title mentions America, the included chart is very illustrative of current world politics:</p>
73. <p><img src="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/center_of_gravity.jpg"
74. width="1269"
75. height="276"
76. srcset="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/center_of_gravity_hu7849b20ce9ad2599a2189d7278ab15e2_41986_480x0_resize_q75_box.jpg 480w, https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/center_of_gravity_hu7849b20ce9ad2599a2189d7278ab15e2_41986_1024x0_resize_q75_box.jpg 1024w"
77. loading="lazy"
78. alt="Graph representing left, center, and right-wing parties worldwide, with circle sizes representing their porcentage of vote share"
79. class="gallery-image"
80. data-flex-grow="459"
81. data-flex-basis="1103px"
82. ></p>
83. <p>According to the chart, the vast majority of parties represent right-wing and center-right ideologies, and are much further from the center than even the most extreme left-wing parties. And for the left side, the majority of left-wing parties remain very close to the center, and only a handful of them dare to go far into the left spectrum.</p>
84. <p>Rachel Kleinfeld published a paper on <a class="link" href="https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2023/09/polarization-democracy-and-political-violence-in-the-united-states-what-the-research-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
85. >Polarization, Democracy, and Political Violence in the United States: What the Research Says</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.is/fdIg2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
86. >archived version</a>] [<a class="link" href="https://link.storjshare.io/raw/jxcpv43ghpud37qezbfj54kw7xiq/ulven.zone/static/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/polarization.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
87. >PDF version</a>]. And I would like to take a look at two charts:</p>
88. <p><img src="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/Kleinfeld_fig_4-1.jpg"
89. width="2084"
90. height="1505"
91. srcset="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/Kleinfeld_fig_4-1_hu7849b20ce9ad2599a2189d7278ab15e2_183026_480x0_resize_q75_box.jpg 480w, https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/Kleinfeld_fig_4-1_hu7849b20ce9ad2599a2189d7278ab15e2_183026_1024x0_resize_q75_box.jpg 1024w"
92. loading="lazy"
93. alt="Feeling thermometer ratings by Democrats and Republicans"
94. class="gallery-image"
95. data-flex-grow="138"
96. data-flex-basis="332px"
97. ></p>
98. <p>In the above chart, we can clearly see how, even though Democrats and Republicans trust their own peers slightly less in 2020 compared to 1964, we can also see that both parties’ trust in their respective opposition has tanked, and in 2020 they were at alarmingly low levels. This means Republicans nowadays consider themselves politically far away from Democrats, and vice-versa, and this contributes to further polarisation, populism, and radicalisation, and makes passing laws much harder and require more compromises on both parts.</p>
99. <p>In the same article, we find a chart illustrating terrorist attacks in the US over the past few years:</p>
100. <p><img src="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/terrorism.jpg"
101. width="2084"
102. height="1802"
103. srcset="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/terrorism_hu7849b20ce9ad2599a2189d7278ab15e2_195497_480x0_resize_q75_box.jpg 480w, https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-29-fascism-is-coming/terrorism_hu7849b20ce9ad2599a2189d7278ab15e2_195497_1024x0_resize_q75_box.jpg 1024w"
104. loading="lazy"
105. alt="Terrorist attacks in the US by ideology"
106. class="gallery-image"
107. data-flex-grow="115"
108. data-flex-basis="277px"
109. ></p>
110. <p>Not only attacks have gone up massively, but we see a significant rise in attacks determined to be far-right and anti-inclusivity, although environmentalist terrorism has been mostly replaced by far-left terrorism, but still represents a lower share compared to right-wing groups.</p>
111. <h4 id="united-states">United States</h4>
112. <p>The Trump administration’s “Muslim ban,” which restricted travel from several predominantly Muslim countries, was initially met with widespread condemnation. However, it eventually gained significant support among right-wing circles.</p>
113. <p>In 2022, The United States Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, undoing 50 years of reproductive rights.</p>
114. <h4 id="hungary">Hungary</h4>
115. <p>Viktor Orbán in Hungary has pushed for policies that were once deemed far-right, such as anti-immigrant measures and restrictions on press freedom, with growing acceptance. Orbán’s rhetoric around “protecting European Christian values” against migrants has moved from fringe discourse to being a cornerstone of his government’s policy, further exemplifying this shift.</p>
116. <h4 id="denmark">Denmark</h4>
117. <p>Certain areas were labeled “ghettos” and stricter laws were enforced on residents, such as mandatory preschool for children from immigrant backgrounds to “integrate” them into Danish society. This reflects a move towards more hardline policies on immigration and assimilation that were previously considered too extreme.</p>
118. <h4 id="united-kingdom">United Kingdom</h4>
119. <p>While UK has never been particularly fond of the European Union, and they never adopted the euro or became part of the Schengen passport-free area, Brexit, largely driven by concerns over national sovereignty and immigration, was initially a fringe position. However, the Brexit movement would eventually culminate in the United Kingdom starting the process to leave the European Union.</p>
120. <h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>
121. <p>We live in an extraordinarily difficult situation of mass disinformation campaigns, polarisation and social justice.</p>
122. <p>War has returned to Europe with the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia that started in 2022, after more than 70 years of relative peace in Europe, to the West of Russia, and more than 30 years after the end of the Cold War. The conflict between China and Taiwan has been brewing over the past few years, and every few months, some US military intelligence warns us that we are closer to a war in Taiwan than we think, yet the world moves on.</p>
123. <p>Israel invaded Gaza in 2023, and is upsetting all arab countries, including Iran. Meanwhile the United States continues to express support for Israel’s military objectives.</p>
124. <p>Economic fears abound, and a certain famous CEO has purchased one of the world’s most important social networks only to spread ridiculous far-right conspiracy theories, seeding people’s lives with fear and doubt.</p>
125. <p>When Hitler was defeated, we all thought that it was over. We put measures in place to make sure nothing like this ever repeats. Technical measures like minimum vote percentages in many democratic countries, minimum country thresholds in the EU, the illegalisation of nazi symbology and parties representing far-right ideologies, national espionage campaigns to disarm far-right terrorist cells before they can cause any harm, and many other strategies to try to ensure Hitler wouldn’t repeat.</p>
126. <p>But it is coming back to haunt us. The problem is democracy is inherently fragile, as, during periods of hardship, people want and need solutions fast. And someone can come at any time, and tell them exactly what they want to hear: we will lower taxes, we will increase employment. Everyone will be rich, it’s the immigrants who are the problem, so we will kick them all and we will once again be powerful and prosperous.</p>
127. &lt;p>But it&amp;rsquo;s not so simple. Nothing is ever so simple. I can only hope we turn back before it&amp;rsquo;s too late.&lt;/p></description></item><item><title>Nobody is going to shut down Telegram</title><link>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-25-nobody-is-going-to-shut-down-telegram/</link><pubDate>Sun, 25 Aug 2024 15:10:16 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-25-nobody-is-going-to-shut-down-telegram/</guid><description>&lt;p>At the time of writing, Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram was &lt;a class="link" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/telegram-messaging-app-ceo-pavel-durov-arrested-france-tf1-tv-says-2024-08-24/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
128. >arrested by French authorities</a> [<a class="link" href="https://archive.is/20240825062334/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/telegram-messaging-app-ceo-pavel-durov-arrested-france-tf1-tv-says-2024-08-24/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
129. >archived version</a>].</p>
130. <p>As usual, a flurry of theories and panic ensued. I want to give my opinion on what’s going to happen next. At this time, I don’t believe Telegram is in any significant danger. Of course, things could change, but there’s absolutely no reason to panic right now.</p>
131. <p>Let’s review the facts.</p>
132. <h2 id="pavel-durovs-arrest">Pavel Durov’s arrest</h2>
133. <p>As much as I dislike Pavel Durov for being a greedy liar, like many other billionaires, the reality is Pavel <a class="link" href="https://www.euronews.com/next/2024/08/25/telegram-app-founder-pavel-durov-arrested-at-airport-in-france" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
134. >is wanted on charges of allowing drug dealers and sex criminals to operate on the app, according to French media</a> [<a class="link" href="https://archive.is/mW04z" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
135. >archived version</a>].</p>
136. <p>There are precedents for this. Pavel Durov is Telegram’s CEO, and earlier, Germany was considering <a class="link" href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/01/26/germany-considers-banning-telegram-app-accused-of-facilitating-hate-speech" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
137. >banning access to the platform</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240530144350/https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/01/26/germany-considers-banning-telegram-app-accused-of-facilitating-hate-speech" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
138. >archived version</a>] on grounds of facilitating hate speech.</p>
139. <p>Of course, Pavel Durov lawyers <a class="link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg2kz9kn93o" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
140. >disagree</a> [<a class="link" href="https://archive.is/20240825093813/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg2kz9kn93o" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
141. >archived version</a>] with the charges, but the reality is that Telegram is <a class="link" href="https://www.icct.nl/sites/default/files/import/publication/walther-and-mccoy-.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
142. >well-known</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240213225006/https://www.icct.nl/sites/default/files/import/publication/walther-and-mccoy-.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
143. >archived version</a>] for facilitating terrorism, allowing terrorists to spread propaganda through their platform, but also <a class="link" href="https://fortune.com/crypto/2024/06/27/telegram-dark-net-black-market-goods-drugs-guns-crypto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
144. >drugs</a> [<a class="link" href="https://archive.is/20240627115857/https://fortune.com/crypto/2024/06/27/telegram-dark-net-black-market-goods-drugs-guns-crypto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
145. >archived version</a>], <a class="link" href="https://intellectual-property-helpdesk.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/telegram-trouble-continued-ip-infringement-and-piracy-its-platform-eu-general-court-dismisses-ern-2024-03-28_en" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
146. >copyright infringement</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.today/AMzOQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
147. >archived version</a>], and more.</p>
148. <h2 id="a-legal-battle-would-last-years">A legal battle would last years</h2>
149. <p>If Durov wants to challenge this arrest warrant, which he most likely would, this would mean it would become a legal battle that would last for years, between appeals, hearings, and legal processes.</p>
150. <h2 id="telegram-has-no-servers-in-france">Telegram has no servers in France</h2>
151. <p><a class="link" href="https://docs.pyrogram.org/faq/what-are-the-ip-addresses-of-telegram-data-centers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
152. >Source</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240401020949/https://docs.pyrogram.org/faq/what-are-the-ip-addresses-of-telegram-data-centers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
153. >archived version</a>]</p>
154. <p>Even if they did, a warrant could be issued to take these servers down. This is independent Pavel Durov’s personal warrant.</p>
155. <p>While Telegram has servers in other EU countries, like The Netherlands, a police raid would require a warrant issued by a Dutch court, which can happen regardless of whether Pavel Durov is in jail or has a warrant against him.</p>
156. <h2 id="telegram-is-incorporated-in-uae">Telegram is incorporated in UAE</h2>
157. <p><a class="link" href="https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/telegram-messenger" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
158. >Source</a> [<a class="link" href="https://archive.is/YakV5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
159. >archived version</a>]</p>
160. <p>This means that even if the European data centers are raided and shut down, Telegram’s employees can still migrate the data to new servers located elsewhere from their UAE headquarters.</p>
161. <p>A separate warrant would be required to arrest UAE employees and/or shut down the company.</p>
162. <h2 id="telegram-does-moderate-content">Telegram <strong>does</strong> moderate content</h2>
163. <p>Telegram regularly shuts down spam accounts, <a class="link" href="https://t.me/s/stopCA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
164. >delete channels related to child abuse</a>, tackle terrorist content, and there have been cases of <a class="link" href="https://www.newarab.com/news/whistleblower-telegram-channel-shut-down-after-israel-govt-leak" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
165. >Telegram taking down channels disseminating leaks</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.today/O9Qw2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
166. >archived version</a>], likely at the request of governments and law enforcement agencies.</p>
167. <p>So Telegram <em>does</em> moderate content. And they obey the law. At least sometimes, depending on what they consider reasonable or something like that.</p>
168. <p>And although <a class="link" href="https://www.wired.com/story/telegram-hamas-channels-deplatform/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
169. >their techniques are questionable</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.today/tFNHS" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
170. >archived version</a>], the reality is <strong>Telegram is very far from being a “free speech absolutist” platform</strong>. I don’t actually believe such thing exists. I talk more about free speech, and Pavel Durov in my previous post: <a class="link" href="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-10-free-speech-is-not-a-noble-goal-to-pursue/" >Free speech is not a noble goal to pursue</a>.</p>
171. <h2 id="russia-already-tried-to-block-telegram">Russia already tried to block Telegram</h2>
172. <p><a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blocking_of_Telegram_in_Russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
173. >It didn’t work</a>. Telegram remains one of the most censorship-resistant communication platforms.</p>
174. <p>Due to Telegram’s use of <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_fronting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
175. >Domain fronting</a>, <a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/19/russias-game-of-telegram-whack-a-mole-grows-to-19m-blocked-ips-hitting-twitch-spotify-and-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
176. >Russia was looking to block millions of IP addresses</a> [<a class="link" href="https://archive.is/Q1YVs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
177. >archived version</a>] which ultimately ended up blocking many legitimate businesses, including Russian websites and other AWS and Google Cloud customers.</p>
178. <p>Telegram’s Russian block was <a class="link" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/telegram-russia-ban-lift-messaging-app-encryption-download-a9573181.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
179. >lifted in June 2020</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.today/YBIUU" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
180. >archived version</a>].</p>
181. <p>Although domain fronting is not easily achievable on Google Cloud or AWS anymore, there is strong evidence suggesting that Telegram will continue to fight legal challenges through technical means.</p>
182. <p>Another anti-censorship measure integrated into Telegram is <a class="link" href="https://github.com/TelegramMessenger/MTProxy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
183. >MTProto proxies</a>.</p>
184. <h2 id="there-are-easier-ways-to-shut-down-telegram">There are easier ways to shut down Telegram</h2>
185. <p>While Telegram doesn’t always comply with the law, if Google and Apple received warrants to take down the Telegram app, they would have to comply or face hefty fines. This is why <a class="link" href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/25/23931710/telegram-android-block-hamas-channels-google-play-guidelines-war-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
186. >Telegram content on the official Google Play Store is sometimes censored</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.today/RMZLJ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
187. >archived version</a>], whereas the website APK downloaded is not.</p>
188. <h2 id="but-what-if-pavel-durov-is-put-in-jail">But what if Pavel Durov is put in jail?</h2>
189. <p>In the beginning, it was Pavel Durov personally funding Telegram because he believed in the mission. For many years, Telegram operated completely for free, without ads, and without any kind of subscription.</p>
190. <p>Since then, Telegram has introduced Premium features that require payment.</p>
191. <p>The goal is for Telegram to gain financial independence and possibly bring in revenue. While Telegram is not a public entity and it is difficult to know whether they are running a deficit, or actually making money, I estimate Telegram is still losing money, given how keen they are on introducing payment features like the recent Telegram Stars <a class="link" href="https://telegram.org/tos/content-creator-rewards#2-2-paid-content" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
192. >which amount to 0.013 USD</a> per star received.</p>
193. <p><img src="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-25-nobody-is-going-to-shut-down-telegram/tg-stars.jpg"
194. width="353"
195. height="615"
196. srcset="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-25-nobody-is-going-to-shut-down-telegram/tg-stars_hufd7daa78f73a0ea9a2b095306d3c61af_23175_480x0_resize_q75_box.jpg 480w, https://ulven.zone/p/2024-08-25-nobody-is-going-to-shut-down-telegram/tg-stars_hufd7daa78f73a0ea9a2b095306d3c61af_23175_1024x0_resize_q75_box.jpg 1024w"
197. loading="lazy"
198. alt="Telegram stars"
199. class="gallery-image"
200. data-flex-grow="57"
201. data-flex-basis="137px"
202. ></p>
203. <p>In this scenario, it is likely that Pavel Durov being arrested and put in jail could lead to chaos at Telegram if nobody is able to continue funding Telegram and Telegram remains financially dependant on him.</p>
204. <p>Regardless, as mentioned, if this was to happen, which is highly unlikely, as Durov’s lawyers will fight this case, this would take many, many years before coming to fruition.</p>
205. <h2 id="whats-next">What’s next?</h2>
206. <p>While this is a developing situation, and there don’t seem to be any indications of Telegram being shut down anytime soon, it’s worth remembering that Telegram has several techniques to safeguard your data and bypass censorship.</p>
207. <h3 id="download-the-app-from-the-website-or-use-webtelegramorg">Download the app from the website or use web.telegram.org</h3>
208. <p>For Android, you can <a class="link" href="https://telegram.org/android" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
209. >download the APK directly from Telegram</a>. This APK has access to certain content, including pornographic content and other content unavailable in the Google Play version.</p>
210. <p>For other mobile operating systems, Telegram has a fully-featured web app available at <a class="link" href="https://web.telegram.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
211. >web.telegram.org</a>.</p>
212. <h3 id="use-mtproto-proxies">Use MTProto proxies</h3>
213. <p>There are <a class="link" href="https://duckduckgo.com/?t=h_&q=mtproto+proxy+list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
214. >thousands of MTProto proxy lists</a> available.</p>
215. <p>The way MTProto is developed means that proxy administrators cannot see any information, cannot read any private messages, know your username, or learn the groups you are in. However, they can display a “sponsored channel” on top of your chat list. Again, this does not mean you automatically join the channel upon using their proxy, or that they know your Telegram account details.</p>
216. <p>Of course, it’s important to consider that running your own MTProto proxy, while possible, must be done in a country that’s not susceptible to blocking Telegram. For example: If Brazil blocks Telegram, you must seek an MTProto proxy outside of Brazil.</p>
217. <h3 id="download-your-account-data">Download your account data</h3>
218. <p>You can <a class="link" href="https://bugs.telegram.org/c/60" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
219. >export all your channels, groups, private messages, and any other information Telegram has regarding your account</a>.</p>
220. <p>You can also <a class="link" href="https://telegram.org/blog/export-and-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
221. >export individual channels and groups</a>.</p>
222. <p>It is recommended to do this regularly, especially if you store data in Telegram that doesn’t exist anywhere else, given their generous <a class="link" href="https://telegram.org/blog/profile-videos-people-nearby-and-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
223. >2 GB file quota</a> which increases to 4 GB for Premium subscribers.</p>
224. <h2 id="changelog">Changelog</h2>
225. <p>Since publishing this article, the following content has been modified:</p>
226. <ul>
227. <li>Added “But what if Pavel Durov is put in jail?” section</li>
228. &lt;/ul></description></item><item><title>The implicit social contract: the division of labour</title><link>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-06-07-the-implicit-social-contract-the-division-of-labour/</link><pubDate>Fri, 07 Jun 2024 20:34:09 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-06-07-the-implicit-social-contract-the-division-of-labour/</guid><description>&lt;p>I&amp;rsquo;ve observed an interesting phenomenon that I believe is the base for any economy, capitalist, communist, socialist, or else, and it might very well an intrinsic part of who we are, collectively, as a species. The division of labour has existed since ancient times, way before Homo Sapiens were roaming Earth. The division of labour exists, to a certain extent in animal communities too. There are leaders, hunters, protectors, and other roles. Naturally, as living standards increase, technology advances, and materials improve, we tend to hyperspecialise.&lt;/p>
229. <p>There is, for sure, such a thing as “too many workers”, or “too many man-hours”. This is especially prevalent in the capitalist corporate space, where people spend countless hours in unproductive video meetings or navigating corporate bureaucracy that adds little value. If those inefficiencies are ironed out, it is theoretically possible to reduce the number of employees while outputting the same exact economic value.</p>
230. <p>The opposite is also true, there can be “too little work”. This is one of the main drivers for emigration, especially when people don’t find what they like doing in their home country. There can be many reasons for this phenomenon, but it’s not a desirable situation, as in a capitalist system, idle workers represent a loss of potential.</p>
231. <p>While I consider this a serious problem, it is arguably one that capitalism addresses. That is because in a capitalist system, everything is incentivised through money. If you don’t work, you do not receive any money. And you in turn require this money to pay for your electricity, water, and food. As everything has become commoditised, those without money simply are not accounted for. Different countries have social safety nets, to varying degrees, and, for example, some countries are more or less generous with their unemployment benefits, but, as a general rule, anyone who is not contributing to society in some way, will have a negative net social contract status in which they take more than they provide.</p>
232. <p>By this, what I mean is: any person has a set of basic needs that need to be met in order to ensure their survival. Let’s use water as an example. In highly developed nations like Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland or Austria, clean, safe drinking water is all but guaranteed. And those water pipes, filtration plants, pumping stations and other infrastructure required people to build. This people in turn depend on software engineers to write the code that allows them to make plans on their computer, civil engineers planning out how to lay the pipes out, experts in sanitation setting up testing methodologies and water purity thresholds and so on, but they will also require farmers harvesting food for them to eat, car factory workers building the cars they need to get to their jobs, making every single individual highly dependent on their environment.</p>
233. <p>Communism, socialism, and social democracy differ from capitalism primarily because they provide support for individuals who cannot work or earn below a sustainable living wage, which capitalism does not.</p>
234. <p>Many capitalism proponents like to reduce capitalism down to one simple sentence: “<a class="link" href="https://www.socialistpartyni.org/theory/socialism-101/socialism-101-doesnt-capitalism-incentivise-hard-work-because-people-are-motivated-by-money/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
235. >Capitalism, savings, and hard work</a>” [<a class="link" href="https://archive.is/b8I6B" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
236. >archived version</a>]. The implication being socialists and communists are just lazy people who leech off society. This is fallacious and dismissive, and here’s an illustrative example:</p>
237. <ul>
238. <li>If you are born into a wealthy family, you likely enjoy a comfortable childhood with high-quality education, courtesy of your parents’ support. This privilege can lead to greater opportunities, such as starting a business with family funds or securing a prestigious job as a pilot, surgeon, or banker—opportunities typically inaccessible to those from less affluent backgrounds.</li>
239. <li>Conversely, being born into a family with limited means often means starting work early, with education sacrificed for immediate financial needs, thus diminishing long-term earning potential.</li>
240. </ul>
241. <p>A situation of a poor lower-class family doesn’t necessarily have to be your fault. Yes, there are children born in lower-class families that turn into business geniuses and become billionaires. And there are also stories of rich families that go bankrupt because of a mismanagement of their wealth. But it is very easy to conclude that the richer you are, the higher amount of failures you can take before you are shoved into the path of financial ruin.</p>
242. <p>Not everyone can change their own financial situation due to a variety of structural and systemic factors that advantage some while disadvantaging others. There is no universal solution that can be applied in all circumstances to lift people out of poverty or economic hardship, and capitalism is certainly no exception.</p>
243. <p>The question then becomes whether we view unemployment as a choice or a systemic issue.</p>
244. <h2 id="the-communist-view">The communist view</h2>
245. <p>The ideas stated in the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx, considered the father of the communist revolution, revolve around a few simple principles:</p>
246. <ul>
247. <li>The bourgeoisie, or owners of capital, oppress and control the lower classes of society, known as the proletariat, and benefit from cheap labour.</li>
248. <li>The means of production not being controlled by the working class means workers are essentially forced to toil away, receiving the pay the owners of these means of production decide to set, with minimal leverage.</li>
249. <li>The relationship between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat is inherently exploitative, leading to class conflict which Marx believed would ultimately lead to the overthrow of the bourgeoisie.</li>
250. <li>Marx advocated for the abolition of private property as it relates to the means of production, believing that this would prevent the accumulation of wealth and power in the hands of a few and distribute it more equally among the proletariat.</li>
251. <li>The Manifesto calls for a revolution by the proletariat to overthrow the bourgeoisie and establish a communist society characterized by the absence of class distinctions, private property, and the state.</li>
252. <li>The final goal, according to Marx, is the establishment of a classless, stateless society where the means of production are owned collectively.</li>
253. </ul>
254. <p>The criticism this piece receives is usually to the tune of “the bourgeoisie own the means of production because they worked hard and saved to be able to afford it, so this private property should be respected, and everyone be allowed the opportunity to achieve the same”, which seems to be little more than an excuse to incentivise exploitation and employee abuse, just because that current bourgeoisie may have previously endured abuse and exploitation.</p>
255. <p>One important characteristic in the view of Karl Marx with regards to the division of labour is that he didn’t believe in the inflexible system of professional careers that we see in today’s capitalism. People would be free to explore and cultivate multiple capabilities throughout their lives. This would prioritise personal preference, but also, most likely, would make individuals more productive because they would be happier.</p>
256. <p>Important to note here is that Marx’s ideas include work as a fundamental building block of society, where the community and social relations would encourage all capable individuals to contribute without the coercive pressures found in capitalist societies.</p>
257. <p>The way I see it, Karl Marx also understands the implicit social contract as described, and even removing currency, and the figure of the State, it is easy to see how a society where not working was the norm would collapse relatively quickly. The difference lies in Marx preferring to use carrots in contrast to the capitalist stick (or sticks) of homelessness, poverty, bankruptcy and more.</p>
258. <h2 id="the-capitalist-view">The capitalist view</h2>
259. <p>In capitalism, there’s no such thing as “safety nets” or “collaboration”. You work, you earn money. You don’t work, you don’t earn money. And if you do not have sufficient money to sustain your living expenses, you simply go bankrupt and get evicted. Zero consideration is given to those who are unable to work due to disability, old age, discrimination, economic recessions, and other circumstances outside of a person’s control. People who don’t want to or can’t work are often considered leeches.</p>
260. <p>This, on one hand, incentivises people to work really hard, especially those who are in poverty, so they can get out of poverty one day. On the other, it is a brutal view of the human condition. People who can’t work because they have a disability are not any less deserving of respect and care. Anyone could become disabled or severely injured from an accident or illness. This, in turn, can temporarily or permanently reduce your earnings potential. Nobody chooses to be born disabled, or to become disabled.</p>
261. <p>In practice, the capitalist approach to the division of labour inevitably leads to alienated workers, performing a job they don’t like, but are coerced into, under threat of poverty. For example, consider fast food jobs. You will rarely (if ever) see a fast food worker wanting to make it their career. The pay is not great, the conditions are terrible, and there’s basically zero room for growth. This can actually be attributed to the fact capitalism separates workers into categories, according to their education level. The best educated workers (white collar) tend to be admired and celebrated, and they earn good wages. In comparison, fast food is an industry where everything is broken down into such small, simple, repetitive steps that even someone with zero education would be able to serve hamburgers and fries: that’s why it is so cheap.</p>
262. <p>The alternative to this is to study to get to a bachelor level or higher, and then build a career in a well-paid industry like all kinds of engineering, medicine, or similar. As mentioned earlier, it is expected that a person with a high wage in a capitalist society will be a highly motivated individual who has dedicated their entire life to perfecting a very specific craft.</p>
263. <p>This touches on the question of fair compensation. Under capitalism, it is understood that “fair compensation” relates to market-driven wages, where the law of supply and demand dictate workers’ salary bands, but while this addresses problems like lack of workers, or an oversupply of them, it does not address the living wage, which often exists above what minimum-wage jobs pay.</p>
264. <h2 id="the-bottom-line">The bottom line</h2>
265. <p>As you can see, in both communism and capitalism this concept of division of labour exists.</p>
266. <p>All societies need farmers, shopkeepers, baristas, civil engineers, nurses, and train drivers. Some professions are easier than others to learn. Some professions have a very high barrier of entry (think airplane pilots or surgeons), and they also tend to be the best paid jobs.</p>
267. <p>What is interesting is how different societies, with varying degrees of socialism, communism, and capitalist features approach the problem of idle people.</p>
268. <p>In capitalism, everything is done at the service of capital. For example: You study to earn a lot of money. Nobody would study if studying lowered wages. Therefore, there’s a mechanism to ensure a strong, cohesive society where everyone collaborates towards a common goal.</p>
269. <p>But in many versions of communism and socialism, this does not seem to be a concern. It is generally accepted that there might be people who can’t (or don’t want to) work, or at least, not work in a productive, capitalist sense, and simply want to dedicate themselves to art and/or possibly other hedonistic pursuits. This may not produce tangible results in a capitalist sense. Artists don’t invent groundbreaking technologies that make our life easier, like the microwave oven or airplanes, but they are an essential part of society, often drawing attention to society’s shortcomings and defining cultural eras.</p>
270. <p>Would these people be in breach of the implicit social contract? This can also reflect at a smaller level: Would you be happy supporting a friend who never gives back throughout your entire life? Would you be happy simply giving money and/or emotional support to someone who is never there for you? It seems to me this would create a social imbalance, and even though the phrase “Give without expecting anything in return” might be idealistic and perhaps desirable, this does not seem to be the default state of people.</p>
271. <h2 id="in-conclusion">In conclusion</h2>
272. <p>The implicit social contract underpins the collective society of humans. Labour specialisation brings us brilliant civil engineers; who build bridges and innovative traffic control systems, excellent mathematicians; who discover new ways to transmit data in more efficient ways, or Linear Algebra and Calculus which are the base of modern computers, chefs cook delicious food, plumbers ensure safe and sanitary pipework, and electricians manage cables safely.</p>
273. <p>People in any society must be specialised in different occupations, and the implicit social contract must be respected by all parties such that nobody takes more than they contribute back, and thus there’s a certain equilibrium.</p>
274. <p>This also means that studying whatever you are mentally and emotionally inclined to study might mean that you end up with a very expensive degree but no jobs are available due to a low supply of employers seeking new employees.</p>
275. <p>We have grown accustomed to studying what we want, but I find it hard to believe people really are working where they want to work, as a general rule. I don’t think job satisfaction has increased or decreased particularly over the centuries. And while, for example, it is easy to see ending slavery was the correct thing to do, to me it seems slavery still exists, but we just call it something else.</p>
276. <p>When families get evicted because they can’t pay rent. Isn’t that slavery?
277. When your parents disown you, and you’re forced to fend for yourself for things you didn’t choose to be, such as sexual orientation. Isn’t that slavery?
278. When you have a job, and you know your boss can fire you whenever he deems appropriate, without any consequences towards him. Isn’t that slavery?</p>
279. &lt;p>Are we really free to choose? Or are we just doomed to, regardless of political or socioeconomic system, have a vast amount of people who are deeply unhappy about their occupation?&lt;/p></description></item><item><title>Microsoft doesn't love Linux</title><link>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-04-21-microsoft-doesnt-love-linux/</link><pubDate>Sun, 21 Apr 2024 19:34:09 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-04-21-microsoft-doesnt-love-linux/</guid><description>&lt;p>Some time ago, Microsoft &lt;a class="link" href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/blog/2015/05/06/microsoft-loves-linux/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
280. >announced a surprising shift in stance</a> [<a class="link" href="https://archive.is/jHKOO" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
281. >archived version</a>] with their newfound affection for Linux. This marked a notable departure from the era of Steve Ballmer, whose approach was <a class="link" href="https://www.theregister.com/2001/06/02/ballmer_linux_is_a_cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
282. >considerably more hostile</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.today/swg2o" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
283. >archived version</a>] towards competing operating systems, including Android and Linux, and the GPL license.</p>
284. <p>In the present day, Microsoft has taken to releasing a plethora of immensely successful projects as entirely open source, which includes Visual Studio Code, TypeScript, and even .NET, effectively replacing Mono, which formerly functioned as a the only third-party re-implementation of the .NET framework, of significant importance in non-Windows environments. Considering these facts, it is understandable to be tempted to conclude that Microsoft has finally adopted a different approach.</p>
285. <h2 id="when-microsoft-was-evil">When Microsoft was evil</h2>
286. <p>In 1998, the <a class="link" href="https://www.gnu.org/software/fsfe/projects/ms-vs-eu/halloween1.html#_Toc427495715" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
287. >Halloween documents</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.today/l4vkk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
288. >archived version</a>] were leaked. They are a series of confidential Microsoft memos that provided insight into Microsoft’s strategic thinking regarding the concept of freely available software. Among the strategies proposed in this document, Microsoft aimed to <strong>discredit open source</strong>, <strong>“extend and embrace”</strong> (more commonly known in open source circles as <em>“embrace, extend, extinguish”</em> or <em>EEE</em>), and <em>legal threats</em> under intellectual property law as a mechanism to discourage the adoption of open source.</p>
289. <p>In 2001, <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Corp._v._Lindows.com,_Inc." target="_blank" rel="noopener"
290. >Microsoft sued Lindows</a>, which was a Linux-based operating system designed mainly with Windows users in mind. As such, the user interface replicates much of the Windows desktop design language and most well-known for its ability to run Microsoft Windows applications thanks to the Wine compatibility layer, that serves as a reimplementation of many common Windows APIs.</p>
291. <h2 id="microsoft-is-good-now">Microsoft is… good now?</h2>
292. <p>With the change of leadership from Steve Ballmer to Satya Nadella, Microsoft shifted their stance into a much more collaborative and open, with notable events such as the release of .NET as open source in 2014, the launch of the free Visual Studio Code for Mac, Windows, and Linux in 2015, joining the Linux Foundation, releasing SQL Server for Linux and launching the first version of Windows Subsystem for Linux all in 2016.</p>
293. <p>But the company was already changing even before Satya Nadella joined; In 2009, Microsoft contributed 20k LOC directly into the Linux kernel. This event took the world by storm, and marked such a dramatic departure from the old Microsoft ways that even <a class="link" href="https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/red-hat-welcomes-microsofts-kernel-contribution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
294. >Red Hat commented on it</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.today/NHLKA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
295. >archived version</a>].</p>
296. <p>So what was the contribution about? Hyper-V drivers. They wanted Linux to work better under Hyper-V, which is a proprietary virtualisation technology found in Windows, for both consumer and Server editions. These drivers, while not essential, allow Linux to achieve higher performance when ran inside a Windows virtual environment. This, in addition to Microsoft contributions towards FreeRDP, which is a free and open source implementation of RDP typically used in Linux systems, makes the Enhanced Session Mode work much better.</p>
297. <p>So this wasn’t really centred around Linux that much, and more about allowing Windows users to virtualise Linux. This would later become even more important with the introduction of Microsoft Azure and their Linux server offerings.</p>
298. <p>This strategy aligns with Microsoft’s actions over the past decade. It suggests that their contributions are not merely out of a preference for Linux or a commitment to open source, but are mainly motivated by strategic business interests as both a way to foster a better image of the company in typically Microsoft-hostile circles, and, perhaps more importantly, growing Microsoft’s profits by either integrating open source or features of Linux directly into their desktop and server offerings, or releasing projects like Visual Studio Code or Microsoft Edge on Linux so they can enjoy a much wider audience, and of course receive large amounts of telemetry data from these Linux users.</p>
299. <h2 id="can-there-ever-be-good-honest-corporate-open-source-leaders">Can there ever be good, honest corporate open source leaders?</h2>
300. <p>It is unlikely. But in truth, Microsoft is far from the only self-serving software company that uses the open source community as a vehicle for profit generation.</p>
301. <p>Apple is also guilty of taking from the community (in the form of FreeBSD), and contributing little to nothing back; for example, has managed to take macOS to where it is today largely thanks to BSD OS which served as a base for NeXT, which in turn Mac OS X (and later macOS) were based on. Like with Microsoft, there are some open source contributions coming from Apple. Most notably, Bonjour (zeroconf, an implementation of multicast DNS) and CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) are two of the largest open source contributions that Apple has released, however, somewhat hypocritically, despite BSD having provided a solid foundation for Apple’s success nowadays in macOS, iPhone and iPads, Apple <a class="link" href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/no-gpl-apps-for-apples-app-store/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
302. >categorically forbids GPL-licensed applications in their App Store</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.today/1xJf0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
303. >archived version</a>]</p>
304. <p>Other examples: Valve has made Linux gaming a reality and has contributed massively to open source community, even going as far as <a class="link" href="https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
305. >releasing Proton</a> which is a tool that uses Wine mainly to run Windows videogames on Linux. This is mostly a net positive, except for the fact that Valve is in the game distribution business, and it is in their best interest to allow you to play your games on as many platforms as possible, this ensures competitors that have Linux software launchers are one step behind, while simultaneously allowing them to release gaming consoles for much cheaper because they get to bypass Windows licensing fees. Among other things, Gabe Newell, Valve’s CEO, has <a class="link" href="https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/07/steams-newell-windows-8-catastrophe-driving-valve-to-embrace-linux/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
306. >expressed concerns about the direction of Microsoft regarding the personal computer</a> [<a class="link" href="http://archive.today/u6NTf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
307. >archived link</a>].</p>
308. &lt;p>While Valve investing so much time and effort into Linux is definitely good news, especially for Linux gamers, it is important to consider Valve is doing this exclusively because it&amp;rsquo;s good for their profit margins. They don&amp;rsquo;t care too much about the open source community. Again, this is fairly normal, but I think it is very important to call it out. Corporations are not charities. Their only reason to exist is to make money; preferably more of it rather than less.&lt;/p></description></item><item><title>You don't need to own your home, you just need a place to live in</title><link>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-04-17-you-dont-need-to-own-your-home-you-just-need-a-place-to-live-in/</link><pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 20:00:00 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-04-17-you-dont-need-to-own-your-home-you-just-need-a-place-to-live-in/</guid><description>&lt;p>The entire world is in a housing crisis at the moment. And at times, it might seem like this has been going on for almost two decades, ever since the financial crisis of 2008.&lt;/p>
309. <p>Housing prices in the EU have risen sometimes over 100% between 2010 and 2023, with the fastest increases in Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, and Austria, only decreasing in Greece, Italy and Cyprus, according to the <a class="link" href="https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20240110-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
310. >Eurostat</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240112064704/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20240110-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
311. >archived version</a>].</p>
312. <p><img src="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-04-17-you-dont-need-to-own-your-home-you-just-need-a-place-to-live-in/real_estate_rent.png"
313. width="1921"
314. height="1080"
315. srcset="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-04-17-you-dont-need-to-own-your-home-you-just-need-a-place-to-live-in/real_estate_rent_hu660de2a62c58e0880745b71ddf70e9c8_414756_480x0_resize_box_3.png 480w, https://ulven.zone/p/2024-04-17-you-dont-need-to-own-your-home-you-just-need-a-place-to-live-in/real_estate_rent_hu660de2a62c58e0880745b71ddf70e9c8_414756_1024x0_resize_box_3.png 1024w"
316. loading="lazy"
317. alt="Real estate prices compared against rent prices"
318. class="gallery-image"
319. data-flex-grow="177"
320. data-flex-basis="426px"
321. ></p>
322. <p>Considering this, the usual tendency is to buy a house as soon as one can afford it, and consider this an “investment”. This will also result in not having to pay rent to a private landlord for living in one of their properties. This is great, generally speaking, as many see landlords as parasitic.</p>
323. <p>There are, of course, several problems with this. Second Thought has <a class="link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1m7WmKJZyQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
324. >a video on landlords</a>. But, in summary, the reason landlords have a property is that others don’t. Housing is a finite resource, after all.</p>
325. <div class="video-wrapper">
326. <iframe loading="lazy"
327. src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m1m7WmKJZyQ"
328. allowfullscreen
329. title="YouTube Video"
330. >
331. </iframe>
332. </div>
333. <p>The Almería University published <a class="link" href="https://www.cde.ual.es/en/age-of-young-people-leaving-their-parental-household-in-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
334. >an article</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231031162121/https://www.cde.ual.es/web/20231031162121/https://www.cde.ual.es/en/age-of-young-people-leaving-their-parental-household-in-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
335. >archived version</a>] on the age of young people leaving their parental household across Europe.</p>
336. <p><img src="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-04-17-you-dont-need-to-own-your-home-you-just-need-a-place-to-live-in/youth_independence.png"
337. width="800"
338. height="400"
339. srcset="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-04-17-you-dont-need-to-own-your-home-you-just-need-a-place-to-live-in/youth_independence_hu070f8d54fd2ac80b6e111c445a0f859f_58443_480x0_resize_box_3.png 480w, https://ulven.zone/p/2024-04-17-you-dont-need-to-own-your-home-you-just-need-a-place-to-live-in/youth_independence_hu070f8d54fd2ac80b6e111c445a0f859f_58443_1024x0_resize_box_3.png 1024w"
340. loading="lazy"
341. alt="Average age of men and women leaving their parents’ home"
342. class="gallery-image"
343. data-flex-grow="200"
344. data-flex-basis="480px"
345. ></p>
346. <p>It is very apparent how, the richer a country is, the earlier one leaves the parental household on average. The difference is quite stark, too, with Croatia having an average age of 35 for men, which means more than a decade of working and paying taxes, whereas in Sweden it is under 20, which means many university students will leave their home even before graduating. This is unprecedented.</p>
347. <p>Besides this, it is also interesting to see how the <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_home_ownership_rate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
348. >rates of home ownership</a> in poorer EU countries like Hungary, Slovakia, or Poland is higher than in some rich countries like Austria, Denmark, or Switzerland.</p>
349. <p>These two factors combined mean that, while people in poorer countries leave their parent’s home later, they usually buy, whereas people in richer countries leave their parent’s home sooner, but rent.</p>
350. <p>The usual route for renting a home is to rent from a private landlord. Either a corporation that owns an entire building complex, or a family that has a second home they bought to receive passive income from rent. However, that’s not all that exists.</p>
351. <h2 id="renting-around-the-world">Renting around the world</h2>
352. <p>In some cities, like <a class="link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41VJudBdYXY" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
353. >Vienna</a>, public housing is not just for poor people or marginalised communities, but a reality so tangible that it drives private housing development prices down, as the public houses are not worse in quality than the private market.</p>
354. <div class="video-wrapper">
355. <iframe loading="lazy"
356. src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/41VJudBdYXY"
357. allowfullscreen
358. title="YouTube Video"
359. >
360. </iframe>
361. </div>
362. <p>As such, landlords don’t have a big incentive to charge exorbitant rents, because they’re competing against high-quality housing in the public sector. And people who rent have more choice and more leverage.</p>
363. <p>Amsterdam is another city that applies rent control mechanisms, with 75% of the rental market consisting of social housing. Rents in Amsterdam are capped based on a points system that takes into consideration factors such as location, energy efficiency, and amenities. Copenhagen also uses a points system, and it strictly regulates buildings constructed before 1991 to maintain their affordability, without impeding recent developments that may have a higher price in the private housing market.</p>
364. <h2 id="the-benefits-of-home-ownership">The benefits of home ownership</h2>
365. <p>Of course, perhaps, one massive drawback of public housing is, while the rents are low, you never own that home, because it belongs to the government. This is, strictly speaking, true. But this may not matter as much as people think it does.</p>
366. <p>I believe that we have been taught to believe that owning your home is an investment, and it offers a safety guarantee against evictions due to not paying rent. Furthermore, it enables you to buy more properties in the future and rent some of them to generate a passive income, for retirement or to supplement your pension.</p>
367. <p>The problem with this logic is that it perpetuates exploitation. Exploitation by the capitalists and <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petite_bourgeoisie" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
368. >petite bourgeoisie</a> against the younger generations, immigrants, and people with fewer means or who cannot get a mortgage.</p>
369. <p>Landlords are hated, and there is a lot to be said about the way they abuse their position in society against the less financially able. I find it egregious and unacceptable that a corporation can buy (or build) a block of apartments and then make profit through charging rent, for, often, very little service offered, as utilities are not included, and, in seeking to maximise profit, these corporations will try to repair as few things as possible, and only to the extent the law requires them to. It makes sense: companies exist to turn a profit through spending as little as possible, and receiving as much income as possible to have a net positive balance. The more repairs a housing corporation performs, the less profit it earns. So the system incentivises these companies to blame the tenant for every repair and problem instead of fixing this themselves.</p>
370. <p>With private families the situation is similar, with the key difference these families will often not have a legion of lawyers just to allow them to tread the sometimes fuzzy line between repairs that are responsibility of the landlord, and those repairs that are the responsibility of the tenant, thus, common sense will play a part here when deciding when to carry repairs out.</p>
371. <p>In a situation where it’s the government who manages the rental units, there is an incentive to offer good quality housing at affordable prices; especially in democratic countries. As a bad performance for social housing can simply mean the government gets voted out of office. Nobody likes low-quality overpriced housing other than landlords. And this is where the issue lies, I think. Misaligned incentives, where landlords are trying to maximise profit, and renters are trying to maximise savings. A landlord is not required, and will likely never take the side of the renter. Landlords are running a business, not a charity. With a government running this, things would be much different.</p>
372. <h2 id="whats-left-for-renters">What’s left for renters?</h2>
373. <p>Because of a variety of factors, renters often have very little leverage and choice over the type and quality of housing unit they can rent.</p>
374. <p>For example, landlords often only provide renters with the year of construction and allow them to observe with their own eyes during the inspection. But if, for example, the landlord didn’t invest in solar panels, the electricity bill could prove costly. Even where the landlord allows the renter to install solar panels, these are an expensive investment, and installing and uninstalling them when moving out can cost hundreds of dollars, plus transportation, and the chance for these panels to break during work increases.</p>
375. <p>This is quite a perverse system, and the reality, as Vienna shows, is that <strong>it doesn’t have to be</strong>. Housing can be affordable with the adequate policies in place. Public housing can be accessible, high-quality, and stable for the long term. This is not only not some sort of utopian world, but the reality in many parts of the world.</p>
376. <p>However, because in many cultures this “need” to own a house is more or less ingrained in the society and culture, this will mean that a considerable portion of the population will be landlords or own their home, which makes rent control and public housing projects unfeasible, as there is no logical reason for most people who bought an expensive house to allow themselves to be undercut by a government programme. The people who already own a house will think of themselves as hard workers, and seek to confirm their biases by considering most people who don’t own a house are young or lazy (for a definition of “lazy”, naturally).</p>
377. &lt;p>If countries ever wish to tackle the never-ending housing crisis, a drastic culture change is required. Housing must stop representing a safe investment while simultaneously making it attractive for newer housing units to be built. Or perhaps the government takes complete control of this and forces the private market to compete against high-quality affordable housing, inevitably driving prices down.&lt;/p></description></item><item><title>Free speech is not a noble goal to pursue</title><link>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-10-free-speech-is-not-a-noble-goal-to-pursue/</link><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jan 2024 19:35:56 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-10-free-speech-is-not-a-noble-goal-to-pursue/</guid><description>&lt;p>Freedom and free speech have always been topics of deep interest to me. Historically, I&amp;rsquo;ve been a firm advocate for free speech, aligning myself with &lt;a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate_Party" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
378. >Pirate Party</a> principles.</p>
379. <p>Later on, during my political explorations, I briefly ventured into libertarianism and “free speech absolutism” which led me to consider many other possible arguments, such as the right to free information from a journalistic perspective. For example: “Why should the government get to decide what kind of news I am allowed to read?” Surely, governments would have a strong incentive to not allow dissenting information that could threaten their grip on power.</p>
380. <p>However, recent developments have prompted me to reevaluate my views on free speech and freedom at large. On a few occasions, I found myself falling into the slippery slope of “all speech should be allowed and protected”. But should it?</p>
381. <h2 id="definitions">Definitions</h2>
382. <h3 id="what-is-speech">What is “speech”?</h3>
383. <p>Traditionally, “speech” is associated with words, but this view is too narrow. Is journalism speech? Is art speech? Is pornography speech? Are organised public protests speech?</p>
384. <p>Broadening “freedom of speech” to include non-verbal manifestations like paintings or organised protests yields a more accurate depiction of the multitude of ways people can express themselves. However, it is still extraordinarily difficult to agree on a single definition of “speech” that satisfies everyone. The Supreme Court of the United States <a class="link" href="https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
385. >has some examples available</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231230234541/https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
386. >archived version</a>] that may help shed light onto this poorly-defined topic:</p>
387. <p>According to US courts, free speech includes the right to:</p>
388. <ul>
389. <li>use certain offensive words and phrases to convey political messages.</li>
390. <li>engage in symbolic speech, (e.g., burning the flag in protest).</li>
391. </ul>
392. <p>But it does not include the right:</p>
393. <ul>
394. <li>to make or distribute obscene materials.</li>
395. <li>of students to make an obscene speech at a school-sponsored event.</li>
396. </ul>
397. <p>From these examples, it is not immediately clear what “offensive” or “obscene” mean, which would require further discussion, and stray away from the primary purpose of this post.</p>
398. <h3 id="what-is-freedom">What is freedom?</h3>
399. <p>Is freedom being able to do whatever you want, at any time? Is your freedom being infringed upon when there are consequences to your acts?</p>
400. <p>For example, you can argue that you’re not really free if the police jails or fines you for your acts. When driving a car, your freedom is limited by road speed limits: you cannot drive as fast as you want. In certain countries, insulting the King or President can also have serious legal repercussions.</p>
401. <p>But what about non-government entities? Are you free to express your sexual orientation at school if your other classmates will bully you for doing so? Are you free to download copyrighted content from file-sharing websites if the RIAA will sue you for it? Can you truly be free if you’re one layoff away from financial ruin?</p>
402. <p>I can only conclude that every person has a different opinion on free speech. What qualifies as such, and what doesn’t qualify. What should be allowed, and what should not be allowed. This automatically means that people using “free speech” as an argument would then have to define this concept accurately and in a way that leaves no room for misunderstanding. Otherwise, these discussions will never be productive beyond a political goal of shutting down your opponent by accusing them of violating freedom of speech.</p>
403. <h2 id="the-warriors-of-free-speech">The warriors of free speech</h2>
404. <p>At the moment, there are many proponents of free speech. Among them, you can find figures such as Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, Elon Musk, Twitter’s current CEO, and Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States.</p>
405. <p>The issue with these figures is that they often do not believe in the type of freedom of speech they publicly defend. This is especially the case for their political opponents, which they seek to cancel and discredit.</p>
406. <h3 id="pavel-durov-and-telegram">Pavel Durov and Telegram</h3>
407. <p>Pavel Durov, a notorious free speech advocate, CEO of Telegram, and founder of Vkontakte—Russia’s largest social network—has loudly stood in favour of free speech, sometimes <a class="link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/14/telegram-warned-of-nurturing-subculture-deifying-terrorists" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
408. >at the cost of terrorist content</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231009175404/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/14/telegram-warned-of-nurturing-subculture-deifying-terrorists" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
409. >archived version</a>].</p>
410. <p>Many organisations have shed light on how terrorists abuse and take advantage of Telegram’s “free speech” stance to spread terrorist propaganda:</p>
411. <ul>
412. <li><a class="link" href="https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/2022-07/Terrorists%20on%20Telegram_072122.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
413. >Counter Extremism Project report</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230609071300/https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/2022-07/Terrorists%20on%20Telegram_072122.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
414. >archived version</a>]</li>
415. <li><a class="link" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26466833" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
416. >Journal of Strategic Security, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Fall 2017), pp. 27-53</a></li>
417. <li><a class="link" href="https://www.oporaua.org/en/polit_ad/freedom-of-speech-in-russian-hands-how-russia-uses-telegram-for-informational-occupation-24883" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
418. >OPORA article</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230930204105/https://oporaua.org/en/polit_ad/freedom-of-speech-in-russian-hands-how-russia-uses-telegram-for-informational-occupation-24883" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
419. >archived version</a>]</li>
420. </ul>
421. <p>Please note, while Telegram has end-to-end encryption capabilities, the <a class="link" href="https://telegra.ph/Why-Isnt-Telegram-End-to-End-Encrypted-by-Default-08-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
422. >default private chats are not encrypted</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231214091929/https://telegra.ph/Why-Isnt-Telegram-End-to-End-Encrypted-by-Default-08-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
423. >archived version</a>]. And most of this terrorist content the articles discuss is spread via public channels and public group chats.</p>
424. <p>This appears to be one of the unfortunate realities of applying the free speech concept and its lax moderation practices universally across a platform like Telegram with such a diverse user base.</p>
425. <p>Telegram also promised to be <a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200131012917/https://telegram.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
426. >“free forever. No ads. No subscription fees.”</a>. Today, however, Telegram has both <a class="link" href="https://telegram.org/faq_premium" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
427. >subscription fees</a> and <a class="link" href="https://promote.telegram.org/getting-started" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
428. >ads</a> in channels.</p>
429. <h3 id="elon-musk">Elon Musk</h3>
430. <p>In March 2022, before Elon Musk made an offer to buy Twitter, he <a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1507259709224632344" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
431. >posted a poll asking</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231129055136/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1507259709224632344" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
432. >archived version</a>]:</p>
433. <blockquote>
434. <p>Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy.<br>
435. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?</p>
436. </blockquote>
437. <p>Another <a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1499976967105433600?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
438. >example where he is explicit on his free speech intentions</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230724040534/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1499976967105433600?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
439. >archived version</a>]:</p>
440. <blockquote>
441. <p>Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint.<br>
442. Sorry to be a free speech absolutist.</p>
443. </blockquote>
444. <p>In principle, some people would agree with Musk in that free speech is necessary. Even I used to. But in order for freedom of speech to be useful, it must be possible for anyone to use it, regardless of political orientation, ethnic identity, or social background. This quickly breaks down with Elon Musk.</p>
445. <p>In April 2022, Elon Musk <a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1519036983137509376?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
446. >tweeted</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230717021350/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1519036983137509376?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
447. >archived version</a>]:</p>
448. <blockquote>
449. <p>By “free speech”, I simply mean that which matches the law.<br>
450. I am against censorship that goes far beyond the law.<br>
451. If people want less free speech, they will ask government to pass laws to that effect.<br>
452. Therefore, going beyond the law is contrary to the will of the people.</p>
453. </blockquote>
454. <p>This is a particularly contentious issue that reflects multiple times across this very post, so I will not dwell into it for now, but it is important to remember that on October 2023, <a class="link" href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_4953" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
455. >the EU Commission sent a request for information</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240107031622/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_4953" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
456. >archived version</a>] to Twitter over illegal content including hate speech and terrorist content.</p>
457. <p>But Elon Musk doesn’t seem particularly rational or trustworthy as he has a spotty record of firing people who are critical of him from <a class="link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/jan/03/spacex-employees-fired-elon-musk-labor-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
458. >SpaceX</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240106095635/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/jan/03/spacex-employees-fired-elon-musk-labor-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
459. >archived version</a>] and <a class="link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/dec/06/elon-musk-fires-twitter-executive-security-concerns" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
460. >Twitter</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240104223037/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/dec/06/elon-musk-fires-twitter-executive-security-concerns" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
461. >archived version</a>]</p>
462. <p>Or cancelling the Twitter accounts of <a class="link" href="https://www.npr.org/2022/12/16/1143330589/twitter-owner-elon-musk-suspends-the-accounts-of-several-high-profile-journalist" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
463. >several journalists</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230311095448/https://www.npr.org/2022/12/16/1143330589/twitter-owner-elon-musk-suspends-the-accounts-of-several-high-profile-journalist" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
464. >archived version</a>], and the <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ElonJet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
465. >Elonjet</a> account they were reporting on, despite him <a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1589414958508691456" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
466. >publicly stating otherwise</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221107003700/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1589414958508691456/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
467. >archived version</a>], and <a class="link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/05/elon-musk-sue-adl-x-twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
468. >suing the Anti-Defamation League</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231226070633/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/05/elon-musk-sue-adl-x-twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
469. >archived version</a>].</p>
470. <p>Margaret Sullivan <a class="link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/07/elon-musks-hypocrisy-about-free-speech-hits-a-new-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
471. >writes on The Guardian</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240107005026/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/07/elon-musks-hypocrisy-about-free-speech-hits-a-new-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
472. >archived version</a>]:</p>
473. <blockquote>
474. <p>In targeting the ADL, he’s proven himself not a free-speech absolutist but an absolute bully.</p>
475. </blockquote>
476. <h3 id="donald-trump-and-the-united-states">Donald Trump and the United States</h3>
477. <p>Then we have another controversial figure: Donald Trump.</p>
478. <p>Trump has made statements criticising what he believes to be censorship, on <a class="link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/04/trump-facebook-far-right-bans-support-twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
479. >The Guardian</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231220125228/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/04/trump-facebook-far-right-bans-support-twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
480. >archived link</a>]:</p>
481. <blockquote>
482. <p>[…] Trump tweeted harsh criticism of mainstream news organizations such as the Washington Post and New York Times, while lashing out against social media platforms for banning the editors of a prominent American conspiracy theory website, Infowars.</p>
483. </blockquote>
484. <p>He is also responsible for creating Truth Social after he was banned from Twitter, <a class="link" href="https://help.truthsocial.com/moderation/moderation-faq/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
485. >which states</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230314003500/http://help.truthsocial.com/moderation/moderation-faq/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
486. >archived version</a>]:</p>
487. <blockquote>
488. <p>TRUTH Social seeks to create a free speech haven in the social media sphere and encourages your unencumbered free expression.</p>
489. </blockquote>
490. <blockquote>
491. <p>We cherish free expression. TRUTH Social must prevent illegal and other prohibited content from contaminating our platform.</p>
492. </blockquote>
493. <p>It is tragic that a prominent political figure such as the President of the most powerful economy in the world would make such outrageous statements such as “<a class="link" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-suggests-injection-disinfectant-beat-coronavirus-clean-lungs-n1191216" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
494. >injecting disinfectant</a>” [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207050303/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-suggests-injection-disinfectant-beat-coronavirus-clean-lungs-n1191216" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
495. >archived version</a>], <a class="link" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-video-statement-capitol-rioters-we-love-you-very-special-2021-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
496. >calling the Capitol rioters “very special” and saying he “loves them”</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231022072618/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-video-statement-capitol-rioters-we-love-you-very-special-2021-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
497. >archived version</a>], <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempts_to_overturn_the_2020_United_States_presidential_election" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
498. >publicly calling the United States Presidential Election fraudulent without any proof, and against all experts and witnesses</a>, or claiming that immigrants are <a class="link" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-says-immigrants-are-poisoning-blood-country-biden-campaign-liken-rcna130141" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
499. >“poisoning the blood of our country” in a way that echoes Hitler’s speeches against Jewish people</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240107133244/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-says-immigrants-are-poisoning-blood-country-biden-campaign-liken-rcna130141" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
500. >archived version</a>].</p>
501. <p>Trump is also known to block users on Twitter, which according to <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_First_Amendment_Institute_v._Trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
502. >Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump</a> is a violation of the First Amendment given that Trump was a government official at the time, and the lawsuit argues:</p>
503. <blockquote>
504. <p>[…] they and other followers of the @realDonaldTrump Twitter account “are now deprived of their right to read the speech of the dissenters who have been blocked”.</p>
505. </blockquote>
506. <p>Prominent free speech figures, like Durov, Musk, and Trump, are either liars and/or actively harmful to society.</p>
507. <h2 id="truth-is-asymmetrical">Truth is asymmetrical</h2>
508. <p>The cost of producing disinformation is practically free, while the cost of combatting and debunking such dis- or misinformation can be high. This is called <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandolini%27s_law" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
509. >Brandolini’s Law</a>, which was first introduced in 2013 by Alberto Brandolini.</p>
510. <p>It is further aided by the <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gish_gallop" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
511. >Gish gallop</a> technique, which is the name of a rhetorical device consisting in overwhelming the opponent by providing arguments regardless of their quality or accuracy.</p>
512. <p>There are other situations that evidence the dangers of completely unregulated free speech, like <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
513. >filibuster</a>, <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_balance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
514. >false balance</a>, <a class="link" href="https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Just_asking_questions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
515. >“just asking questions”</a>, or <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealioning" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
516. >sealioning</a>, to name a few.</p>
517. <p>There is evidence that even <a class="link" href="https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/01/asking-people-to-do-the-research-on-fake-news-stories-makes-them-seem-more-believable-not-less/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
518. >attempting to do some research online about a certain topic can send people deeper into the rabbit hole of disinformation</a> [<a class="link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240108212107/https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/01/asking-people-to-do-the-research-on-fake-news-stories-makes-them-seem-more-believable-not-less/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
519. >archived version</a>], and somehow, make false stories more believable.</p>
520. <p>A notable example:</p>
521. <blockquote>
522. <p>The term ‘engineered famine’ in the article is a unique term that is unlikely to be used by reliable sources. An analysis of respondents’ search results found that adding the word ‘engineered’ in front of ‘famine’ changes the search results returned. 0% of search terms that contained the word ‘famine’ without ‘engineered’ in front of it returned unreliable results, whereas 63% of search queries that added ‘engineered’ in front of the word ‘famine’ were exposed to at least one unreliable result. In fact, 83% of all search terms that returned an unreliable result contained the term ‘engineered famine.’</p>
523. </blockquote>
524. <p>When defending freedom of speech, it is important to consider all the above situations, and whether the supposed advantages of free speech can be outweighed by the damage these concepts can cause in an otherwise healthy debate.</p>
525. <h2 id="is-this-a-net-positive">Is this a net positive?</h2>
526. <p>While the biggest proponents of free speech tend to be libertarian or libertarian-adjacent, and often come from an anti-fascist and anti-communist stance, the reality is that freedom of speech is often used and abused by the extreme right to disseminate absurd, hateful conspiracies. I too, once upon a time, believed that words only have the power you give them.</p>
527. <p>In truth, the attempted Capitol coup d’état opened my eyes to the absurdity of totally unfiltered speech with no accountability. I think it’s fairly uncontroversial to say that every person simply wants a better world, a better country, a better society, and a better neighbourhood. Regardless of left- or right-wing policies, everyone wants things to improve. The real question is: improve <em>what</em> specifically? And what steps should be taken to realise those particular improvements?</p>
528. <p>A generous interpretation for a concept such as “freedom of speech” is that it allows anyone to choose and learn freely, much like the free market allows consumers to choose the best way to spend their money, and “vote with their wallet”—although this interpretation has massive flaws.</p>
529. <p>For example, the most powerful media corporations have a much easier time pushing their ideas onto the general public, because they have a practically unlimited marketing and lobbying budget. For obvious reasons, this situation doesn’t happen with individuals.</p>
530. <p>Curiously, a similar flaw exists in the idea of free markets: powerful corporations are able to wage price wars to destroy the competition by making things at such a price point that smaller manufacturers with less economies of scale cannot compete with, go bankrupt, at which moment the corporations can jack up prices due to the lack of competition.</p>
531. <h2 id="human-nature-there-i-said-it">Human nature… There, I said it</h2>
532. <p>The <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_truth_effect" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
533. >illusory truth effect</a> describes how people are inclined to believe false information after repeated exposure. A lie repeated a thousand times is still a lie, but prominent political figures take advantage of this unfortunate cognitive bias to sway public opinion and reinforce their narratives.</p>
534. <p>Precisely, this illusory truth effect Wikipedia article links to another article regarding Trump’s repeated use of false or misleading statements for his own political gain, both while in office, as well as after he was defeated in the Presidential Election of 2020.</p>
535. <p><img src="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-10-free-speech-is-not-a-noble-goal-to-pursue/donald_trump_false.jpg"
536. width="1000"
537. height="1139"
538. srcset="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-10-free-speech-is-not-a-noble-goal-to-pursue/donald_trump_false_hu7849b20ce9ad2599a2189d7278ab15e2_146311_480x0_resize_q75_box.jpg 480w, https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-10-free-speech-is-not-a-noble-goal-to-pursue/donald_trump_false_hu7849b20ce9ad2599a2189d7278ab15e2_146311_1024x0_resize_q75_box.jpg 1024w"
539. loading="lazy"
540. class="gallery-image"
541. data-flex-grow="87"
542. data-flex-basis="210px"
543. ></p>
544. <p>We can see Brandolini’s Law and Gish gallop both in action, as explained previously.</p>
545. <p>Of course, it’s human nature to want to express one’s ideas. While there are limits in place to prevent criminal behaviour, these laws greatly vary from country to country and it’s not straightforward to draw a logically sound conclusion of what’s acceptable and what isn’t. Different societies will also have varying degrees of acceptance towards their own governments, as well as foreign governments.</p>
546. <h2 id="on-authoritarianism">On authoritarianism</h2>
547. <p>Free speech is an effective tool to combat and resist authoritarian governments. Authoritarian governments will, by definition, be rigid and strict in terms of organising society, and often resort to mass execution and State-sponsored terror campaigns, which help them carry out their objectives even at the expense of society. In such a scenario, exposing government corruption and the ruthlessness of their grip on power can help people realise and fight government oppression.</p>
548. <h2 id="my-opinion">My opinion</h2>
549. <p>I’m conflicted. I disapprove of tyrannical, oppressive governments that engage in ideological purges, mass execution and terror campaigns. But I am also appalled at the events during the Capitol assault.</p>
550. <p>It would be easy to say “free speech for me but not for thee”—which is what prominent free speech proponents do when faced with their political opposition—but it is also naïve and doesn’t resolve the “freedom of speech” question.</p>
551. <p>Unlike many proponents of freedom of speech, I believe certain statements are unequivocally true or false. They can be true or false regardless of whether we know if they are. And there is a different class of arguments that may be subjective, or subject to historical and environmental interpretations.</p>
552. <p>For example, the statements below are unequivocally false:</p>
553. <ul>
554. <li>The 2020 US Presidential Election was stolen</li>
555. <li>Bill Gates put microchips in the COVID-19 vaccine</li>
556. <li>Birds are not real; they are government drones</li>
557. </ul>
558. <p>Some false arguments are more harmful than others. And some statements can imply the wrong conclusions. For example, if I state that “Over 99% of people who died have been found to have drunk dihydrogen monoxide within the last 6 hours” you may conclude that this is a dangerous chemical, except that’s the chemical formulation name of water: H₂O. Of course, strictly speaking, the statement is true and easy to verify. For example, we can look at the people who died in a country like Germany or England and see that the vast majority didn’t die of dehydration, and instead had ingested water in the past hours.</p>
559. <p>Unfortunately, I cannot conclude anything other than the need for speech to be regulated and for limits to be imposed. If you are the President of the United States and you build an entire political agenda on the simple idea that the election was fraudulent, fail to produce logically sound evidence, and continue with such rhetoric even after independent investigators cannot find evidence of election manipulation, then there have to be serious consequences. I can also make a strong case for terrorist campaigns seeking to destabilise nations based on religious or political ideas.</p>
560. &lt;p>I think we as a society would be better off if we stopped talking about freedom of speech in absolute terms and instead focused our attention on the positive aspects, like free access to information and knowledge and the ability to explore culture and societies in a free manner, instead of occupying our discussions with how many and what kind of insults I am allowed to fling at the opponent.&lt;/p></description></item><item><title>Federated social systems: On IRC, XMPP, and Matrix</title><link>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-06-federated-social-systems-on-irc-xmpp-and-matrix/</link><pubDate>Sat, 06 Jan 2024 20:34:09 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-06-federated-social-systems-on-irc-xmpp-and-matrix/</guid><description>&lt;p>One of the most important features of decentralised social networks based on open standards is that they are much easier to own and control, while also being highly intercompatible between software versions, clients, and maintainers.&lt;/p>
561. <p>These features make them desirable especially to people who enjoy free software, and therefore decentralised protocols are essentially the norm in circles of experienced open source programmers and users, Linux user groups, and generally people who appreciate free software.</p>
562. <h2 id="first-there-was-irc">First there was IRC</h2>
563. <p>IRC (Internet Relay Chat) was the pioneering chat protocol on the Internet. It offered a basic form of communication, limited to text and simple features like chat rooms, chat room privileges (including admins, moderators, etc.), private messaging, and basic file sending and receiving through DCC (Direct Client-to-Client). Documented in <a class="link" href="https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1459" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
564. >RFC 1459</a>, and although strictly not a standard, the IRC protocol has remained largely unchanged since its inception. While some client programs offer additional features like previewing images sent as links, extending IRC is challenging. Any modification to the core protocol risks breaking compatibility with older clients, limiting its adaptability.</p>
565. <h2 id="then-xmpp-came-along">Then XMPP came along</h2>
566. <p>Enter <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
567. >XMPP</a>. As an avid user, I witnessed its evolution. XMPP, also an open standard, enhances IRC in several key aspects, primarily through extensions known as <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
568. >XEPs</a> (XMPP Enhancement Proposals).</p>
569. <h3 id="xmpp-extensibility">XMPP extensibility</h3>
570. <p>Many basic features like <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0172.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
571. >user-specified nicknames</a>, or <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0084.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
572. >user-specified profile pictures</a> are implemented as XEPs, which work similarly to <a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Request_for_Comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
573. >RFCs</a>, being technical documents that describe proposed implementations for specific features or functionalities.</p>
574. <p>However, it’s important to understand that XEPs are, as the name suggests, proposals. This means they’re subject to change and may not be universally implemented.</p>
575. <p>XMPP has a set of core features that are part of its basic protocol, not requiring any additional XEPs. These basic features include:</p>
576. <ol>
577. <li><strong>JID (Jabber ID) Identifiers</strong>: XMPP uses a unique identifier format known as Jabber ID or JID, which follows the format <code>user@domain.tld</code>. This format is similar to email addresses and allows for easy identification and addressing of users on different servers.</li>
578. <li><strong>User-to-User Private Messaging</strong>: XMPP supports direct, one-on-one messaging between users. This feature allows users to send and receive messages in real-time. Crucially, offline message handling is described in a separate XEP: <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0160.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
579. >https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0160.html</a>, even though it is a basic feature in any modern messaging application.</li>
580. <li><strong>Presence Information</strong>: Users can broadcast their availability status, such as online, away, or do not disturb, along with custom status messages. This lets others know their current availability for communication.</li>
581. <li><strong>Contact Lists (Roster Management)</strong>: XMPP allows users to maintain a list of contacts, known as a roster. Users can add, remove, or organize contacts, and view the presence status of these contacts.</li>
582. <li><strong>Basic “Chatroom” MUCs (Multi-User Chat)</strong>: XMPP supports multi-user chat rooms, allowing multiple users to join and communicate in a single chatroom. However, more advanced features of multi-user chats like persistent rooms and room administration are defined in XEPs.</li>
583. <li><strong>Server-to-Server Communication</strong>: XMPP servers can communicate with each other, allowing users on different servers to interact seamlessly. This is a fundamental feature for the decentralized nature of XMPP.</li>
584. <li><strong>Resource Binding</strong>: XMPP allows a user to be connected from multiple devices or locations simultaneously, with each device/location being identified as a different resource. For example, a user might be connected from both a phone and a laptop, with each device having its own resource identifier.</li>
585. <li><strong>Basic Delivery Requests</strong>: XMPP can notify the sender when a message has been delivered to the recipient’s client. This is a basic acknowledgment that the message reached the client, not necessarily that it was seen by the user.</li>
586. <li><strong>Privacy Lists</strong>: Basic privacy controls are available, allowing users to block communications from specific other users or to manage who can see their presence information.</li>
587. <li><strong>XML Stanzas for Messaging</strong>: The protocol uses XML stanzas (structured data formats) for sending and receiving messages, presence information, and IQ (Info/Query) stanzas for control-type requests and responses.</li>
588. </ol>
589. <p>For almost any sort of functionality beyond the above, implementation of XEPs is required. At the time of writing, almost 500 documents are available. Some are retracted, rejected, deprecated, or obsolete.</p>
590. <p>A critical feature in modern communication is end-to-end encryption, as exemplified by <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0384.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
591. >XEP-0384: OMEMO Encryption</a>. This is, at the time of writing, the only end-to-end encryption XEP, but in an experimental phase, which means it is not mandatory to implement. There are two other options for message encryption that a multitude of clients like Pidgin and Gajim have implemented, such as PGP and OTR encryption, however, these two encryption mechanisms are not defined as XEPs at all, and thus cannot be considered part of the XMPP specification.</p>
592. <p>Another taken-for-granted feature in contemporary messaging solutions is the ability to send files to multiple recipients, including when some are offline. This is outlined in <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0363.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
593. >XEP-0363: HTTP File Upload</a>. Fortunately, this time, XEP-0363 is considered stable. In addition to HTTP file transfer, there exist two more file transfer mechanisms. Jingle, as defined by <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0166.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
594. >XEP-0166</a>, <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0234.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
595. >XEP-0234</a>, <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0260.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
596. >XEP-0260</a>, and <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0261.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
597. >XEP-0261</a> (yes, a total of four XEPs for implementing Jingle file transfer), which is optional, and Stream Initiation as defined by <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0096.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
598. >XEP-0096</a> which predates Jingle, and is now deprecated.</p>
599. <p><a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0459.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
600. >XEP-0459: XMPP Compliance Suites 2022</a> defines the set of XEPs any server or client must implement in order to be considered “Core” or “Advanced”. Notably, XEP-0384 is not yet a requirement, but this may change. However, considering that Signal, a widely popular end-to-end encrypted chat application, was released in 2010, it’s significant that XMPP has yet to mandate end-to-end encryption, even 12 years later. This delay highlights a critical area where XMPP lags behind contemporary security standards in messaging applications.</p>
601. <p>Another basic feature is <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0357.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
602. >XEP-0357: Push Notifications</a>. This XEP describes the implementation of notifications, crucial for ensuring timely message delivery in mobile environments. The process involves a flow between the XMPP client, server, app client and app server, and the push service, as illustrated in this helpful diagram:</p>
603. <div class="highlight"><div class="chroma">
604. <table class="lntable"><tr><td class="lntd">
605. <pre tabindex="0" class="chroma"><code><span class="lnt"> 1
606. </span><span class="lnt"> 2
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624. </span></code></pre></td>
625. <td class="lntd">
626. <pre tabindex="0" class="chroma"><code class="language-fallback" data-lang="fallback"><span class="line"><span class="cl">+-------------+ +-------------+
627. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">| | | |
628. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">| XMPP Client | | XMPP Server +--------+
629. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">| | | | |
630. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">+-----^-------+ +-------------+ |
631. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl"> . |
632. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl"> . |
633. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">+-----+------+ +------------+---------v---------+
634. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">| | | | |
635. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">| App Client | | App Server < XMPP Push Service |
636. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">| | | | |
637. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">+-----^------+ +------+-----+-------------------+
638. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl"> | |
639. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl"> | |
640. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">+-----+------+ +------v--------+
641. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">| | | |
642. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">| User Agent <----------+ Push Service |
643. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">| | | |
644. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">+------------+ +---------------+
645. </span></span></code></pre></td></tr></table>
646. </div>
647. </div><p>However, XEP-0357 is currently in a “deferred” status, which presents a significant challenge. In an era where smartphones often have intermittent network connectivity and limited battery life, the absence of stable push notifications means users cannot receive real-time alerts unless their XMPP client is actively running. Continuously running the client, however, leads to rapid battery drain, and most modern mobile operating systems will automatically terminate apps after a period of inactivity.</p>
648. <p>Several commendable efforts have been taking place to make XMPP suitable for today’s world, like <a class="link" href="https://docs.modernxmpp.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
649. >Modern XMPP</a>, and the Compliance Suites XEPs released since <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0412.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
650. >2019</a>. Some clients like <a class="link" href="https://conversations.im/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
651. >Conversations</a>, and servers like <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/software/prosody-im/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
652. >Prosody</a> show the XEPs they implement, so that you can check for yourself what features are available. Nevertheless, for functionalities like push notifications in XEP-0357, support is required from both the server and client. This particular feature is not yet implemented in Prosody. Additionally, the uncertainty about the software and its version used by XMPP server providers means users cannot be certain about the availability of specific features.</p>
653. <p>A significant challenge remains: proprietary closed-source chat applications are innovating at a pace far beyond what XMPP and other open-source efforts can match. This rapid development in features and user experience often leaves XMPP lagging in comparison. On the other hand, XMPP has found success in unexpected domains. Notably, <a class="link" href="https://xmpp.org/uses/gaming/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
654. >famous videogames like League of Legends, Fortnite, or the Nintendo Switch console use XMPP</a>. This adoption is a testament to XMPP’s flexibility as a free and open-source protocol. Its ability to be tailored for specific needs showcases the protocol’s inherent power and versatility. But it is not enough for personal messaging.</p>
655. <h2 id="matrix-will-save-us">Matrix will save us</h2>
656. <p><a class="link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_%28protocol%29" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
657. >Matrix</a>, a messaging standard introduced in 2014, brings a solution to many of XMPP’s shortcomings, such as the overwhelming number of XEPs. A notable feature of Matrix is its default end-to-end encryption for private chats, addressing a key concern in modern digital communication. However, Matrix’s journey hasn’t been without challenges.</p>
658. <h3 id="too-heavy">Too heavy</h3>
659. <p>Synapse, the most prevalent Matrix server implementation, is known for its high demand on system resources. This requirement significantly limits accessibility for individuals and smaller organizations with constrained resources. In contrast, XMPP is more mature and boasts a range of extraordinarily lightweight server implementations. The protocol’s accessibility also simplifies the process of building a custom server, tailored with only the desired XEPs.</p>
660. <h3 id="protocol-complexity">Protocol complexity</h3>
661. <p>Unlike XMPP, which has hundreds of feature proposals, the Matrix protocol is more rigidly defined. This well-defined structure, paradoxically, adds to its complexity. The intricate nature of Matrix leads to a steeper learning curve for developers, potentially impacting the diversity of server software as fewer developers might be willing to engage with such a complex system.</p>
662. <h3 id="ux-issues">UX issues</h3>
663. <p>Matrix is designed for scalability, but this doesn’t come without its own set of user experience issues. Particularly in larger rooms with numerous participants, users have reported performance-related problems, including message delays and server load challenges. These issues underscore the need for ongoing optimization in the Matrix ecosystem.</p>
664. <h3 id="federation-complexity">Federation complexity</h3>
665. <p>While one of Matrix’s strengths is its federated architecture, setting up and maintaining federation can be complex and sometimes lead to issues where rooms or messages are not properly synced across different servers.</p>
666. <h2 id="where-do-we-go-from-here">Where do we go from here?</h2>
667. <p>I don’t know. You can probably tell I’m not exactly optimistic about the state of open source, federated instant messaging.</p>
668. <p>One could make the argument that these technologies don’t need mass adoption in order to be successful. You can say they already are successful simply because they exist. And while it is true these technologies have contributed massively to the Internet and society in general, the way I see it is that these improvements and contributions have merely served to improve the software of massive corporations who have a strong incentive to keep their platforms closed and exclusive to their users only.</p>
669. <p>Therefore, it doesn’t seem very helpful that in order to enjoy the benefits of these systems, I am more or less forced to use proprietary walled garden implementations, because it is not possible to, for example, talk to WhatsApp users from Signal or XMPP, even though WhatsApp is built on top of XMPP.</p>
670. <p>This situation presents a paradoxical landscape in the world of instant messaging. The ideals of open-source, federated systems – transparency, user control, privacy, and interoperability – stand in stark contrast to the closed, proprietary ecosystems that dominate the market. This divide poses significant challenges, not only in terms of user convenience but also in shaping the future direction of communication technologies.</p>
671. <p>The harsh truth is that closed-source systems typically benefit from greater funding and a singular, market-driven objective: to dominate their sector, extract value from users, and convert this into profits for stakeholders. As these proprietary platforms grow, they attract more investors, who pour in funds that enable the hiring of more dedicated engineers. This influx of talent often leads to the development of advanced features, drawing users from simpler applications. This cycle perpetuates, continually reinforcing these platforms’ market dominance.</p>
672. <p>Yet, there is a silver lining. The very existence and ongoing development of open-source protocols like XMPP and Matrix demonstrate a persistent commitment to these ideals. They embody a resistance to the trend of centralized control over communication platforms, offering an alternative path that prioritizes user freedom and open standards.</p>
673. &lt;p>In the end, the future of instant messaging – open-source or otherwise – will likely be shaped by a complex interplay of technological innovation, market forces, and social groups and their preferences.&lt;/p></description></item><item><title>Hello World</title><link>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-06-hello-world/</link><pubDate>Sat, 06 Jan 2024 00:07:22 +0100</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-06-hello-world/</guid><description>&lt;img src="https://ulven.zone/p/2024-01-06-hello-world/banner.jpg" alt="Featured image of post Hello World" />&lt;p>After many years of hesitation, I have decided to start my own blog.&lt;/p>
674. <p>In this blog, I will explore and elaborate on my thoughts. How my political and philosophical views have changed over time, and how I believe we can build a better world.</p>
675. <p>A key aspect of my identity is my commitment to challenging and expanding my worldview. Throughout various phases of this journey, I’ve gained significant insights. It’s these learnings that I’m excited to share with you through my blog.</p>
676. &lt;p>For engaging in deeper discussions, please visit the Links section to join our Telegram discussion group. Additionally, feel free to reach out to me directly using the social media buttons located on the left side of this page.&lt;/p></description></item><item><title>Archives</title><link>https://ulven.zone/archives/</link><pubDate>Sun, 06 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/archives/</guid><description/></item><item><title>About me</title><link>https://ulven.zone/about-me/</link><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/about-me/</guid><description>&lt;p>Hello! I am A* Ulven. I also go by Ulveon. Both Ulveon and A* Ulven (Ulven for short) are my fursonas.&lt;/p>
677. <p>A* Ulven is a wolf-dragon, and Ulveon is an eeveelution Pokémon of dragon type.</p>
678. <h2 id="how-to-reach-me">How to reach me</h2>
679. <p>Social, in order of preference (higher preference positioned first):</p>
680. <ul>
681. <li><a class="link" href="https://t.me/ulveon" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
682. >Telegram</a> ~> <code>@ulveon</code></li>
683. <li><a class="link" href="https://signal.me/#eu/pT0p3SHVuHjnkoR8JiAAh9nPVgyMuhrjZr4kDHE-4-DXdysT-qJAbKv0zSStKDW7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
684. >Signal</a> ~> <code>ulveon.44</code></li>
685. <li><a class="link" href="https://bsky.app/profile/ulveon.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
686. >Bluesky</a> ~> <code>@ulveon.net</code></li>
687. <li><a class="link" href="https://getsession.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
688. >Session</a> ~> <code>05dffd0465c54f30c42e8364c50e5f8bf6de852d92447b953bf1902769caf6bd44</code></li>
689. <li><a class="link" href="https://discord.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
690. >Discord</a> ~> <code>ulveon</code></li>
691. </ul>
692. <p>On Fediverse:</p>
693. <ul>
694. <li><code>@AlgorithmWolf@derg.social</code> ~> <a class="link" href="https://derg.social/@AlgorithmWolf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
695. >https://derg.social/@AlgorithmWolf</a></li>
696. <li><code>@AlgorithmWolf@blob.cat</code> ~> <a class="link" href="https://blob.cat/AlgorithmWolf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
697. >https://blob.cat/AlgorithmWolf</a></li>
698. <li><code>@AlgorithmWolf@c.im</code> ~> <a class="link" href="https://c.im/@AlgorithmWolf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
699. >https://c.im/@AlgorithmWolf</a></li>
700. <li><code>@AlgorithmWolf@toot.io</code> ~> <a class="link" href="https://toot.io/@AlgorithmWolf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
701. >https://toot.io/@AlgorithmWolf</a></li>
702. <li>Migrated, inactive: <code>@algorithmwolf@ioc.exchange</code> ~> <a class="link" href="https://ioc.exchange/@algorithmwolf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
703. >https://ioc.exchange/@algorithmwolf</a></li>
704. </ul>
705. <p>Other accounts:</p>
706. <ul>
707. <li><a class="link" href="https://github.com/algorithmwolf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
708. >GitHub</a></li>
709. <li><a class="link" href="https://gitlab.com/AlgorithmWolf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
710. >GitLab</a></li>
711. </ul>
712. <h2 id="cryptography">Cryptography</h2>
713. <p>I use <a class="link" href="https://github.com/FiloSottile/age" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
714. >age</a> and <a class="link" href="https://jedisct1.github.io/minisign/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
715. >minisign</a>.</p>
716. <h3 id="encrypt">Encrypt</h3>
717. <p>If you want to send me an encrypted file, use my <code>age</code> public key:</p>
718. <div class="highlight"><div class="chroma">
719. <table class="lntable"><tr><td class="lntd">
720. <pre tabindex="0" class="chroma"><code><span class="lnt">1
721. </span></code></pre></td>
722. <td class="lntd">
723. <pre tabindex="0" class="chroma"><code class="language-fallback" data-lang="fallback"><span class="line"><span class="cl">age1gysjgmt0p6hvjpj0u97ylkjd78zf28cagk4t2txwd5hf92t3dgaqg2g22k
724. </span></span></code></pre></td></tr></table>
725. </div>
726. </div><h4 id="how-to-encrypt-a-file-for-me">How to encrypt a file for me</h4>
727. <p>If your file is, for example, <code>text.txt</code>, run:</p>
728. <div class="highlight"><div class="chroma">
729. <table class="lntable"><tr><td class="lntd">
730. <pre tabindex="0" class="chroma"><code><span class="lnt">1
731. </span></code></pre></td>
732. <td class="lntd">
733. <pre tabindex="0" class="chroma"><code class="language-fallback" data-lang="fallback"><span class="line"><span class="cl">age -e -r age1gysjgmt0p6hvjpj0u97ylkjd78zf28cagk4t2txwd5hf92t3dgaqg2g22k -o text.txt.encrypted < text.txt
734. </span></span></code></pre></td></tr></table>
735. </div>
736. </div><p>Send me the <code>text.txt.encrypted</code> one.</p>
737. <h3 id="verify">Verify</h3>
738. <p>If you want to verify me, you can check my <code>minisign</code> signature. My <code>minisign</code> public key:</p>
739. <div class="highlight"><div class="chroma">
740. <table class="lntable"><tr><td class="lntd">
741. <pre tabindex="0" class="chroma"><code><span class="lnt">1
742. </span></code></pre></td>
743. <td class="lntd">
744. <pre tabindex="0" class="chroma"><code class="language-fallback" data-lang="fallback"><span class="line"><span class="cl">RWSirVd4246SxcVyhof7x4qVBZcW2oUbfUlXSz9y6pz6h+8WGNW6xBgx
745. </span></span></code></pre></td></tr></table>
746. </div>
747. </div><p><a class="link" href="ulveon.pub" >Download my public minisign key</a></p>
748. <p>This page <a class="link" href="https://gitlab.com/AlgorithmWolf/ulven-thoughts/-/blob/main/ulvens-thoughts/content/page/about-me/index.md" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
749. >index.md</a> is signed with my <code>minisign</code> key.</p>
750. <h4 id="how-to-verify-this-page">How to verify this page</h4>
751. <ol>
752. <li>Download (right-click ~> save as…) <a class="link" href="index.md.minisig" >index.md.minisig</a></li>
753. <li>Download <a class="link" href="https://gitlab.com/AlgorithmWolf/ulven-thoughts/-/raw/main/ulvens-thoughts/content/page/about-me/index.md?inline=false" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
754. >index.md</a></li>
755. <li>Download <a class="link" href="ulveon.pub" >ulveon.pub</a></li>
756. <li>Run <code>minisign -V -m index.md -p ulveon.pub</code></li>
757. </ol>
758. <p>You should get something like this:</p>
759. <div class="highlight"><div class="chroma">
760. <table class="lntable"><tr><td class="lntd">
761. <pre tabindex="0" class="chroma"><code><span class="lnt">1
762. </span><span class="lnt">2
763. </span></code></pre></td>
764. <td class="lntd">
765. <pre tabindex="0" class="chroma"><code class="language-fallback" data-lang="fallback"><span class="line"><span class="cl">Signature and comment signature verified
766. </span></span><span class="line"><span class="cl">Trusted comment: timestamp:xxx file:index.md hashed
767. </span></span></code></pre></td></tr></table>
768. </div>
769. &lt;/div></description></item><item><title>Links</title><link>https://ulven.zone/links/</link><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/links/</guid><description>&lt;p>At the moment, there are some links below to access my group chats on Telegram. I will continue updating this section as necessary.&lt;/p>
770. &lt;p>For social links (Fediverse, Bluesky, and so on), please use the buttons below my profile on the sidebar, or the top of the page on mobile devices.&lt;/p></description></item><item><title>Search</title><link>https://ulven.zone/search/</link><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/search/</guid><description/></item><item><title>Statistics</title><link>https://ulven.zone/stats/</link><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://ulven.zone/stats/</guid><description>&lt;iframe plausible-embed src="https://plausible.io/share/ulven.zone?auth=9pzA_3SIx9rRr7ZhDlMxE&amp;embed=true&amp;theme=system&amp;background=transparent" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" style="width: 1px; min-width: 100%; height: 1600px;">&lt;/iframe>
771. <script async src="https://plausible.io/js/embed.host.js"></script>
772. <p><noscript>If you would like to see the analytics dashboard, please enable JavaScript.</noscript></p>
773. <p>If you don’t see a dashboard above this text, then you are blocking Plausible Analytics.</p>
774. <p>Note: Plausible Analytics does not use cookies. Read more about <a class="link" href="https://plausible.io/data-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
775. >their privacy policy</a>.</p>
776. <p>I don’t have access to individual metrics like browser fingerprints, IP address or any other information. The information you see in this dashboard is all information I have access to.</p>
777. &lt;p>If you would like to block tracking on this website, then you can add a rule that blocks &lt;code>https://plausible.io/js/script.js&lt;/code>.&lt;/p></description></item></channel></rss>

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