Battalion<p><strong>Destroying Autocracy – 06 February 2025</strong></p><p><strong>Welcome to this week’s “Destroying Autocracy”.</strong></p><p>It’s your source for curated news affecting democracy in the cyber arena with a focus on protecting democracy. That necessitates an opinionated Butlerian jihad against big tech as well as evangelizing for open-source and the Fediverse. Since big media’s journalism wing is flailing and failing in its core duty to democracy, this is also a collection of alternative reporting on the eternal battle between autocracy and democracy. We also cover the cybersecurity world. You can’t be free without safety and privacy.</p><p>DA comes out on Thursday and is updated through the end of day on Friday. Then we start over. So take your time in perusing it and check back in over the weekend.</p><p><strong>FYI, my opinions will be in bold. And will often involve cursing. Because humans. Especially tech bros. And fascists. Fuck em.</strong></p> <p><strong>Featured Item</strong></p> <p>This week we feature our guide to the timeline we’re stuck in.</p><p><strong><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/techno-anarchist-manifesto/" target="_blank">The Techno Anarchist Manifesto aka Let’s fuck up Techno Feudalism</a></strong></p><p>I write:</p><p>“This practical and profanity-laced manifesto provides the loose philosophy, strategies, battleplans, tactics, and weapons to destroy Techno Feudalism via the practice of Techno Anarchism. It explains the war we are in, the Techno battle’s place in it, and what Techno Feudalism and Techno Anarchism are.</p><p>Don’t worry, I not going to start capping tech CEOs anytime soon. I’m not a 1914 anarchist or advocating for it in general.”</p><p>If you give a fuck about anything, please read it, save it, and act upon some of it!</p> <p><strong>We start and end with good news to make the middle bearable.</strong></p> <p><strong>The response to Russia’s War Crimes and other douchebaggery</strong></p> <p>The Kyiv Independent reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://kyivindependent.com/what-to-expect-from-ukraines-defense-innovation-in-2025/" target="_blank">What to expect from Ukraine’s defense innovation in 2025</a></p><p><a href="https://kyivindependent.com/kyiv-independent-raises-over-66-200-to-support-ukrainian-newsrooms-hit-by-us-aid-freeze/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kyiv Independent raises over $66,200 to support Ukrainian newsrooms hit by US aid freeze</a></p><p>The Next Web reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://thenextweb.com/news/european-ai-alliance-openeurollm-challenges-us-china" target="_blank">European AI alliance unveils LLM alternative to Silicon Valley and DeepSeek</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://thenextweb.com/news/deepfake-detection-improves-algorithms-demographic-diversity" target="_blank">Deepfake detection improves when using algorithms that are more aware of demographic diversity</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/06/eu-details-which-systems-fall-within-ai-acts-scope/" target="_blank">EU details which systems fall within AI Act’s scope</a></p><p>The Financial Times reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.ft.com/content/7303e57e-67ca-477a-8d00-8d5213f7120c" target="_blank">EU prepares to hit Big Tech in retaliation for Donald Trump’s tariffs</a></p><p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techpolicy.press/salvaging-european-technological-sovereignty-in-a-trump-2-world/" target="_blank">Salvaging European Technological Sovereignty in a Trump 2.0 World</a></p><p>A Whole Lotta Nothing reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://a.wholelottanothing.org/a-guide-to-using-signal-for-government-workers/" target="_blank">A guide to using Signal for government workers</a></p><p>Phiffer demonstrates:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://phiffer.org/archiving-your-meta-accounts/" target="_blank">Archiving your Meta accounts</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/legal/spain-arrests-suspected-hacker-of-us-and-spanish-military-agencies/" target="_blank">Spain arrests suspected hacker of US and Spanish military agencies</a></p><p>The (Semi)Justice Department reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/superseding-indictment-charges-chinese-national-relation-alleged-plan-steal-proprietary-ai" target="_blank">Superseding Indictment Charges Chinese National in Relation to Alleged Plan to Steal Proprietary AI Technology</a></p><p>Ars Technica reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/02/us-lawmakers-push-to-quickly-ban-deepseek-on-government-devices/" target="_blank">DeepSeek is “TikTok on steroids,” senator warns amid push for government-wide ban</a></p><p>The Electronic Frontier Foundation reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/ddosed-policy-website-takedowns-and-keeping-information-alive" target="_blank">DDoSed by Policy: Website Takedowns and Keeping Information Alive</a></p> <p><strong>The Evil Empire Strikes Back</strong></p> <p>The Index reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theindex.media/elon-musk-is-an-existential-threat-to-big-tech/" target="_blank">Elon Musk Is an Existential Threat to Big Tech</a></p><p><strong>This would be funny if it didn’t mean the rest of us get fucked even worse.</strong></p><p>Ben Werdmuller shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://werd.io/2025/move-fast-and-break-democracy" target="_blank">Move fast and break democracy</a></p><p>Tech Policy reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techpolicy.press/with-us-commitment-to-internet-freedom-in-jeopardy-china-and-russia-set-to-gain/" target="_blank">With US Commitment to Internet Freedom in Jeopardy, China and Russia Set to Gain</a></p><p>Wired reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.wired.com/story/treasury-bfs-doge-insider-threat/" target="_blank">A US Treasury Threat Intelligence Analysis Designates DOGE Staff as ‘Insider Threat’</a></p><p><strong>As I have said for years, Big Tech is the greatest threat to democracy. Again, see our featured item.</strong></p> <p><strong>Pariah States</strong></p> <p>The Texas Tribune reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/11/01/russian-facebook-page-organized-protest-texas-different-russian-page-l/" target="_blank">A Russian Facebook page organized a protest in Texas. A different Russian page launched the counterprotest.</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/04/spyware-maker-paragon-confirms-u-s-government-is-a-customer/" target="_blank">Spyware maker Paragon confirms US government is a customer</a></p><p>Reuters reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/italian-sea-rescue-activist-targeted-with-spyware-according-meta-alert-2025-02-05/" target="_blank">Italy says seven people targeted by Israeli spyware on WhatsApp</a></p><p>Cyfirma shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.cyfirma.com/research/apt-quarterly-highlights-q4-2024/" target="_blank">APT Quarterly Highlights : Q4 2024</a></p> <p><strong>Big Tech</strong></p> <p>ProPublica is outing:</p><p><a href="https://projects.propublica.org/elon-musk-doge-tracker/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Elon Musk’s Demolition Crew</a></p><p>The Verge reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/607934/doge-marko-elez-elon-musk-racist-posts" target="_blank">DOGE staffer resigns after reporters uncover racist posts</a></p><p>The Register reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/04/palantir_karp_comments/" target="_blank">Palantir designed to ‘power the West to its obvious innate superiority,’ says CEO</a></p><p><strong>This is the only motherfucker on earth who is a bigger c^nt than SpaceKaren.</strong></p><p>Speaking of Apartheid Clyde 404 Media reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/things-are-going-to-get-intense-how-a-musk-ally-plans-to-push-ai-on-the-government/" target="_blank">‘Things Are Going to Get Intense:’ How a Musk Ally Plans to Push AI on the Government</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.404media.co/doge-employees-ordered-to-stop-using-slack-while-agency-transitions-to-a-records-system-not-subject-to-foia/" target="_blank">DOGE Employees Ordered to Stop Using Slack While Agency Transitions to a Records System Not Subject to FOIA</a></p><p>TechDirt reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techdirt.com/2025/02/03/musks-takeover-of-the-governments-computer-systems-needs-to-be-understood-as-a-cyberattack-or-worse/" target="_blank">Musk’s Takeover Of The Government’s Computer Systems Needs To Be Understood As A Cyberattack, Or Worse</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.techdirt.com/2025/02/04/when-its-not-just-a-coup-but-a-cfaa-violation-too/" target="_blank">When It’s Not Just A Coup But A CFAA Violation Too</a></p><p>Ars Technica reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/02/as-internet-enshittification-marches-on-here-are-some-of-the-worst-offenders/" target="_blank">As Internet enshittification marches on, here are some of the worst offenders</a></p><p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/02/meta-torrented-over-81-7tb-of-pirated-books-to-train-ai-authors-say/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">”Torrenting from a corporate laptop doesn’t feel right”: Meta emails unsealed</a></p><p>Politico reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/meta-chief-lobby-eu-tech-artificial-intelligence-fines-marketplace-joel-kaplan/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Meta chief lobbyist slams EU tech laws and fines</a></p><p>Wired reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.wired.com/story/google-responsible-ai-principles/" target="_blank">Google Lifts a Ban on Using Its AI for Weapons and Surveillance</a></p><p>Dead Simple Tech has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://deadsimpletech.com/blog/licking_ai_boot" target="_blank">Licking the AI Boot</a></p> <p><strong>Cybersecurity/Privacy</strong></p> <p>Privacy Guides shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/01/29/installing-and-using-tails/" target="_blank">Using Tails When Your World Doesn’t Feel Safe Anymore</a></p><p>LAVX reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://news.lavx.hu/article/casio-uk-store-breach-a-deep-dive-into-magento-vulnerabilities-and-cybersecurity-lapses" target="_blank">Casio UK Store Breach: A Deep Dive into Magento Vulnerabilities and Cybersecurity Lapses</a></p><p>Wired reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.wired.com/story/meet-the-hired-guns-who-make-sure-school-cyberattacks-stay-hidden/" target="_blank">Meet the Hired Guns Who Make Sure School Cyberattacks Stay Hidden</a></p><p>Tim shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://timsh.org/tracking-myself-down-through-in-app-ads/" target="_blank">Everyone knows your location: tracking myself down through in-app ads</a></p><p>BleepingComputer reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-orders-agencies-to-patch-linux-kernel-bug-exploited-in-attacks/" target="_blank">CISA orders agencies to patch Linux kernel bug exploited in attacks</a></p><p>Cloudflare has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://blog.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-incident-on-february-6-2025/" target="_blank">Cloudflare incident on February 6, 2025</a></p> <p><strong>Fediverse</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://fediversereport.com/fediverse-report-102/" target="_blank">Fediverse Report – #102</a></p><p>All Things Open shares:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://allthingsopen.org/articles/activitypub-explained-the-protocol-connecting-the-fediverse" target="_blank">ActivityPub explained: The protocol connecting the Fediverse</a></p><p>Hollo announces:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://hollo.social/@fedify/0194d42d-ee82-7a21-b66e-f88702278099" target="_blank">We’re excited to announce the release of (Fedify 1.4.0)</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/04/team-behind-twitterrific-launches-a-multi-feed-app-called-tapestry/" target="_blank">Team behind Twitterrific launches a multi-feed app called Tapestry</a></p><p>We Distribute reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://wedistribute.org/2025/02/fedionfire-shutdown/" target="_blank">Public Firehose Project Shutters After Backlash</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://wedistribute.org/2025/02/radio-free-fedi-shuts-down/" target="_blank">Remembering Radio Free Fedi</a></p><p>The Verge reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/606050/threads-share-custom-feeds" target="_blank">Threads now lets you share your custom feeds</a></p> <p><strong>Other Slightly Federated Social Media</strong></p><p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://fediversereport.com/last-week-in-bluesky-2025feb-a/" target="_blank">Last Week in Bluesky – 2025feb.a</a></p><p>TechCrunch reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/07/bluesky-will-soon-let-you-limit-replies-to-followers-only/" target="_blank">Bluesky will soon let you limit replies to ‘followers only’</a></p> <p><strong>CTAs (aka show us some free love)</strong></p> <ul><li>That’s it for this week. Please share this edition of Destroying Autocracy.</li><li><a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a>. Or this site via the button in the footer. Or via <a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/feed/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">RSS</a>.</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/battalion64.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Or follow Battalion on Bluesky</a>.</li></ul> <p>Keep fighting!</p> <p><strong><em>Ringleader, Battalion</em></strong><br>Reuben Walker<br> <a href="https://friendica.me/profile/friendofsymfony/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/102/" target="_blank">#102</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ai/" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-protocol/" target="_blank">#ATProtocol</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/autocracy/" target="_blank">#Autocracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-journalism/" target="_blank">#BigJournalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-tech/" target="_blank">#BigTech</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/bluesky/" target="_blank">#Bluesky</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/democracy/" target="_blank">#Democracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fascism/" target="_blank">#Fascism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fedify/" target="_blank">#Fedify</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/pixelfed/" target="_blank">#Pixelfed</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-china/" target="_blank">#StopChina</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-israel/" target="_blank">#StopIsrael</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-red-america/" target="_blank">#StopRedAmerica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-russia/" target="_blank">#StopRussia</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/support-ukraine/" target="_blank">#SupportUkraine</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/threads/" target="_blank">#Threads</a></p><p><a href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=1324" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">battalion.mobileatom.net/?p=13</span><span class="invisible">24</span></a></p>