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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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>The Next Web reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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>The Financial Times reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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>The Next Web reports:</p><p><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/ddosed-policy-website-takedowns-and-keeping-information-alive" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/ddosed-policy-website-takedowns-and-keeping-information-alive</a></p> <p><strong>The Evil Empire Strikes Back</strong></p> <p></p><p>The Index reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" href="https://werd.io/2025/move-fast-and-break-democracy" target="_blank">Move fast and break democracy</a></p> <p><strong>Pariah States</strong></p> <p>The Texas Tribune reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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>The Register reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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>Wired reports:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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><strong>Fediverse</strong></p> <p>The Fediverse Report has:</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" href="https://wedistribute.org/2025/02/fedionfire-shutdown/" target="_blank">Public Firehose Project Shutters After Backlash</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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>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 noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" target="_blank">RSS</a>.</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/battalion64.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" target="_blank">Follow me on the Fediverse</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/102/" target="_blank">#102</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/activitypub/" target="_blank">#ActivityPub</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/ai/" target="_blank">#AI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/at-protocol/" target="_blank">#ATProtocol</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/autocracy/" target="_blank">#Autocracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-journalism/" target="_blank">#BigJournalism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/big-tech/" target="_blank">#BigTech</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/bluesky/" target="_blank">#Bluesky</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/democracy/" target="_blank">#Democracy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fascism/" target="_blank">#Fascism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fedify/" target="_blank">#Fedify</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/fediverse/" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/pixelfed/" target="_blank">#Pixelfed</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-china/" target="_blank">#StopChina</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-israel/" target="_blank">#StopIsrael</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-red-america/" target="_blank">#StopRedAmerica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/stop-russia/" target="_blank">#StopRussia</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://battalion.mobileatom.net/tag/support-ukraine/" target="_blank">#SupportUkraine</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" 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 noreferrer" 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>