Em :official_verified:

Public-interest technologist and digital rights activist, with a focus on privacy rights, privacy laws, and privacy technologies.

I'm a consultant, writer, researcher, advocate, programmer, and designer (from a previous career).

Spending most days writing, reading, and talking about privacy.

Member of the Lockdown Systems (npub1w0j…nr5d) collective 🐢

Previously 🔒
Journalist + Activism & Outreach Lead at Privacy Guides (npub1dm2…7754)

Located in Canada 🇨🇦
She/Her 🏳️‍🌈

Privacy tips: #TinyPrivacyTip
Mastodon tips: #TinyMastodonTip
Other hashtags I talk about:
#DigitalRights #HumanRights #Privacy #Security #FOSS #OpenSource #NoAI

Secondary accounts (don't contact me there):
🐘 infosec.space/@Em0nM4stodon
🐘 mastodon.social/@Em0nM4stodon

#nobridge #nobot #nobots #noai #noindex #nosearch #noarchive #fedi22

This is a personal account. Opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect my employer. Especially emojis :awesome:

Web: https://emontheinternet.me
Code: https://snakecase.software
Privacy Guides Articles: https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/author/em/

Public Key

npub1gmnuxx4vhn5hs7zfcqst9ev2ra7s9hflz4yvnaasqpf8338mek8sgszh7q

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsyde7rr2kte6tc0pyuqg9juk9p7lgzm5l32jxf77cqq5nccnaumrcpqq377q88

Publishing to

Author Public Key

npub1gmnuxx4vhn5hs7zfcqst9ev2ra7s9hflz4yvnaasqpf8338mek8sgszh7q

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Published at

2026-11-08T15:41:05Z

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Event JSON

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Last Notes

2026-11-07 16:57:44 GMT

I do not want the firehose of ads, rage baits, and disinformation that comes with commercial social media.
It's strange to me that people who laugh at me because I'm not there do not understand that.
I feel sad they might never know the calming and deeply nourishing spaces they are missing on alternative networks.
Long live the Fediverse :blobheartcat:
#Fediverse #Mastodon

2026-11-07 15:02:55 GMT

Which *legal* and *ethical* resource do you use to download books in epub format? :blobcatreading:
#Bookstodon

2026-11-01 18:29:28 GMT

I don't understand why our society values speed and innovation so much without any qualifiers defining where this is going and what it's innovating.
Moving fast in which direction?
Breaking which things?
Innovating what?
Going fast in the wrong direction isn't a good thing. Supporting innovations that cause harm, injustices, and inequalities shouldn't be celebrated. What is the end goal here?
We need to demand more than those empty words justifying nothing and leading nowhere.
Otherwise, we might remain oblivious to the fact that they might be leading us to our own demise.

2026-10-25 17:43:37 GMT

Why are clothes categorized in stores by genders instead of sizes?
My woman body isn't physically incapable of wearing clothes intended for men, but it is incapable of fitting well into something that is too small or too big.
Arranging clothing by sizes makes so much more sense. Gendering clothing is very stupid.

2026-10-24 15:09:10 GMT

- reply

I'm so sorry, I've experienced this too, it's devastating 😔💔

2026-10-17 17:23:24 GMT

Targeted advertising shouldn't exist.
It is the source of ill on the internet.
#Privacy #Ads

2026-10-16 03:24:57 GMT

- reply

Truth.

2026-10-15 03:33:28 GMT

What are your recommendations for:
A RSS reader application that is good-looking, privacy-respectful, and that allows collaboration between multiple users? 📰👀
[preferably open-source]
#AskFedi #RSS #FOSS

2026-10-13 14:00:45 GMT

- reply

Agreed :1000: I wrote an article about this! Not directly about, but also applicable to, and intersecting with, so-called "AI" technologies: https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/06/17/you-can-say-no/

2026-10-12 05:46:16 GMT

What are your recommendations for:<li>A fiction book or book series that is:<ul><li>lighthearted,</li><li>wholesome, </li><li>and <em>isn't</em> The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy nor The Murderbot Diaries series. </li></ul></li>
📖👀
#AskFedi #Bookstodon #Scifi #Fantasy #Book

2026-09-30 15:54:22 GMT

Good personal news today! 🎉
I'm starting a new job next week! :awesome:
I will not share where it is for now, but I'm very excited to start working with this amazing team, in a new role that is right in my skill set.
Thank you so much to everyone who helped me during my quest for work! I appreciate your support immensely 💚

2026-09-29 23:54:15 GMT

Privacy needs to be the default,
Even for people who don't think they need it,
And even for people who don't care about it.
Privacy is a human right.
#Privacy #HumanRights

2026-09-20 15:10:05 GMT

Boost boost boost, Fedizens!
We need more boosts! :ablobcatbongokeyboard:
#Fediverse #Mastodon

2026-09-19 14:58:15 GMT

I hate that I can recycle my posts about Chat Control every 6 months and they are still relevant.
Please don't give up, and keep fighting against authoritarian policies destroying our privacy rights ✊
We have a responsibility to fight for a better future for all, not only for ourselves but also for the next generations 💚🔒
#ChatControl #Privacy #HumanRights #DigitalRights

2026-09-19 14:12:37 GMT

The problem isn't necessarily solving problems, the problem is agreeing on what is actually a problem that needs solving.
When the AI tech billionaires tell you they want to create a god-like machine that solves all problems, keep in mind they mean *their* problems, not yours.
And those are likely two very different things.
#NoAI

2026-09-19 02:26:00 GMT

AI isn't going to kill us all. But the people in power who trust its content as facts might.
#NoAI

2026-09-18 14:43:39 GMT

- reply

I love Mastodon and the community here, but sadly this is true. I know too well what you mean 😩
I really wish there was a feature to limit replies to public posts to followers only (i.e. everyone can see/like/boost but only followers can reply), it would do a lot to reduce this behaviour I think.

2026-09-14 16:36:33 GMT

The problem with the new Apple Watch features isn't just about the technology, it's about the erosion of trust in our society.
Even if you don't activate those features on your Apple Watch, even if you wear an older model, and even if you wear a completely different brand of smart watches, people might think you are recording them now.
For the same reason I had to carefully choose my new glasses model to make sure they cannot be confused with Meta's Ray-Ban spy glasses, people will now look at your wrists suspiciously.
These technologies that record everything around without consent dissolve the base of trust we had for each other.
All of our words scrutinize, at all time, in every context.
This silences us over time.
This makes us feel unsafe.
The problem goes well beyond technology itself, and well beyond a technical fix, it has become a cultural problem. One that we need to fix urgently.
#Privacy #Consent #MassSurveillance #Trust

2026-09-13 00:03:15 GMT

For anyone tempted to use the newly announced Apple Watch features, despite all the ethical, legal, privacy, and security concerns,
Please remember that Apple specifies (in very small print):
"Siri Recap summaries and Live Rewind text snippets are generated using Apple Intelligence and may be incomplete or inaccurate.
Important details may be omitted, misunderstood, or summarized incorrectly.
When accuracy matters, confirm important information with the people involved or another reliable source.
Siri Recap is designed to limit certain potentially sensitive content, such as financial information, government-assigned identifiers, and more, but automated filtering may not remove all sensitive information."
Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/148354
#Apple #Privacy #Security

2026-09-12 18:28:27 GMT

Imagine you're having a remote appointment with your doctor for a very personal health issue.
Your doctor is a tech enthusiast, and is proudly wearing the new Apple Watch with all the recording features enabled.
You don't see the "Audible and visible signals for Live Rewind", because you don't see your doctor's wrist on videochat or on speakerphone.
The "Omitted content" safeguard fails to detect the sensitive conversation, because none of the pre-selected keywords are detected.
"What about all the privacy laws protecting me?", you claim in distress.
Sadly, your doctor is unaware and thinks "surely Apple respects all the laws by default?"
The medical clinic isn't informed about privacy risks related to new technologies, and hasn't implemented any training or policies about it yet.
Your sensitive health data is collected by Apple's new features, stored on their servers, blissfully unaware of the infringements to your consent, your privacy, and all the laws supposed to protect you.
This is only one scenario of the many surveillance nightmares we might hear about in the coming months and years.
Brace yourself.
#Privacy #Security #Consent #Apple

2026-09-11 17:14:16 GMT

What gives you hope for the future of technology? :heart_cyber:
#Tech #AskFedi

2026-09-06 15:10:14 GMT

Which color was your first computer? 💻 🎨

2026-09-03 16:28:43 GMT

What tool, device, or software that you used a lot, but then disappeared from your life (or from the world), do you miss the most? :dragon_heart:

2026-09-03 16:12:26 GMT

I want the internet to be:
:neocat_aww: Cat content
📚 RSS feeds written by humans
:mastodon: Mastodon and Fediverse connections
:ablobcatpopcorn: Educational videos running on PeerTube
:opensource: Free, open-source, privacy-by-default, and AI-free software made with love
📖 And unionized Wikipedia
#Internet #Fediverse

2026-09-03 06:27:17 GMT

If you want a password manager that you can keep local-only, KeePassXC is a great option 🔐
It's free,
Open-source,
Easy to install and use,
Doesn't require an account,
Works on Linux, macOS, and Windows,
And the team is here! 👉 @npub16s6…2ny3
Here's how to set up KeePassXC with a YubiKey: ‪https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/03/18/installing-keepassxc-and-yubikey/
#PasswordManager #KeePassXC #Privacy #Security #Passwords #FOSS

2026-09-01 16:13:08 GMT

I'm having a second interview for an awesome job next week! Wish me luck! 🤞🎉

2026-08-23 17:15:50 GMT

The problem with using LLMs to research information is that this technology *generates* text, it does not *report* information.
Generating a map is not the same as finding an accurate map that already exists. Same for any other pieces of information.
And even if it was able to find and report information without modifying it (what a search engine does basically), it cannot evaluate if this information is accurate.
Adjust your level of trust accordingly.
#NoAI

2026-08-23 16:55:11 GMT

If you live outside of the United States,
do you know if your country has a plan if the US government decided to cut access to Google, Microsoft, and Amazon products overnight?
What would happen to your work?
What would happen to your hospitals?
What would happen to your emergency services?
What would happen to your banks?
Imagine overnight, for all those public services and private businesses, no more Windows, no more AWS, no more Google and Microsoft office software, no more remote files storage, no more emails, no more online maps, no more videochats.
What would happen?
Is your country prepared?
#DataSovereignty

2026-08-21 05:43:24 GMT

What do you like the most about the Fediverse and Mastodon? :ablobcatrainbow: 👀
#Fediverse #Mastodon #AskFedi

2026-08-21 02:45:49 GMT

Mastodon is definitely the only platform where I find bot accounts are actually funny.
Which are your favourite automated accounts on Mastodon? 🤖👀
#Mastodon #Bots

2026-08-18 21:11:08 GMT

After some time off, I'm now ready to look for work again! I'm especially interested in positions related to:
✊️ Digital rights activist (with a specialty in privacy rights)
📣 Communications or Campaigns Manager
🔒️ Privacy expert or consultant
🙌 Managerial position
📰 Tech journalist (investigation, education, advocacy, review)
💻️ Technical writer (tutorials, documentation, research)
:mastodon: Fediverse and Mastodon advocate
:opensource: Open-source advocate
💚 Or any other fitting positions
I am especially interested in working with nonprofit organizations, cooperatives, open-source projects, privacy-oriented software companies, or any other organizations working for the public good.
Also, with a team that doesn't require to be recorded during meetings or presentations (and doesn't use AI notetakers).
🇨🇦 Remote from Canada
:no_AI_logo: All the work I produce is guaranteed to be AI-free
Let me know if you hear of any good opportunities!
#FediHire #GetFediHired #Tech #JobSearch

2026-08-10 17:48:45 GMT

- reply

This ☝️

2026-08-09 20:28:25 GMT

Tiny Offline Tip for Music! 📵🎶
You can move out of streaming services entirely, buy music to encourage artists on Bandcamp (where they keep about 85% of the sales) or Faircamp, download the music files, and upload them on a cheap MP3 player.
Benefits:
❤️ Actually helps the bands and artists you like to keep producing music.
📵 No need for the internet while listening to your music.
📴 No need for your phone when listening on the go.
🔒 No one is tracking you while listening to your music.
💿 Own your media forever, even if the online service shuts down later.
#TinyOfflineTip #Bandcamp #Music

2026-08-09 19:38:15 GMT

Your AI did not "go rogue"
it's just a program.
Your AI did not "hallucinate"
it has no brain.
Your AI did not "create" anything
it's just a plagiarism machine.
Your AI is not your "friend"
stop anthropomorphizing it.
It's just code. Exploitative, polluting, and unethical code :no_ai:
#NoAI

2026-08-09 16:32:01 GMT

I miss when technology
wasn't spying on us.
#Tech #Privacy

2026-08-09 16:01:29 GMT

I still think DEF CON should move to Canada. Just saying 🤘🇨🇦
#DEFCON

2026-08-07 15:49:40 GMT

Quick reminder to boost the posts you like and add alt-text to your images!
This is important on the Fediverse! 🤘🚀
#Fediverse #Mastodon

2026-08-06 22:26:22 GMT

"Have you thought about not using AI today?" has become the new "Have you thought about not using your car today to save the planet?"
This is truly the dumbest reason to pollute the planet and accelerate climate changes. Really, we don't need any of this.
And even if you like the technology, it's not worth the cost: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p426fSlYH4
#NoAI #Pollution #DataCenter #ClimateChanges #SaveThePlanetStopDataCenters

2026-08-05 10:33:14 GMT

Be kind to your friends. Give them compliments regularly. Make them feel valued and loved.
We all need this, especially right now 💚

2026-08-04 17:14:37 GMT

The minimum wage should be tied in percentage to the maximum rent allowed for a one-bedroom apartment.
Someone working full-time should be able to cover all their minimal living expenses with their wage. It's a catastrophic society failure that this isn't the case anymore in many places around the world.

2026-08-03 20:46:27 GMT

I'm so tired of the AI hype,
and I'm so tired of capitalism.
Oh wait... 🤔
it's the same thing.
#NoAI

2026-08-01 18:22:28 GMT

Deleting my Facebook and Twitter accounts is still one of the best things I've ever done.
10/10 Highly recommend.
#DeleteTwitter #DeleteX #DeleteFacebook

2026-08-01 16:28:15 GMT

I cannot tell you enough how insulting it is for artists to see any use of AI-generated images.
This technology was made from *our* work, *our* labour, stolen from us, violating our consent and copyrights. Somehow without any legal consequences, and without any financial compensation made to us, but making billions in profits exploiting us.
I feel rage each time I see an AI-generated image.
Each time it's a reminder of how much people devalue the hard labour of artists and feel entitled to their work for free.
It's disgusting.
#NoAI #HumanArt

2026-08-01 15:50:26 GMT

A software program doesn't "go rogue,"
it's just a poorly coded program with lots of bugs and security vulnerabilities produced by human carelessness.
Yes, I'm talking about AI.
#NoAI

2026-07-31 17:59:32 GMT

- reply

Yay!! Congratulations!! 🎉

2026-07-31 17:54:34 GMT

Raise your hand if you too are tired of capitalism.

2026-07-31 17:31:44 GMT

I'm very tired of capitalism.
Very.

2026-07-30 16:43:29 GMT

Do you know a good hosting service that hasn't gone all AI-bananas, offers hosting packages for multiple static websites, and has server locations based in Europe?
#AskFedi #NoAI #Hosting

2026-07-28 19:11:34 GMT

People think a lot about the output they get from AI tools and chatbots.
But they don't think enough about the input they give to AI tools and chatbots.
Your input is very likely collected, tagged, evaluated, shared, and reused. Every word, every image, every line of code, every data point you share with them, knowingly or unknowingly.
You're not using them.
They're using you.
#NoAI #Privacy #DigitalRights #MassSurveillance

2026-07-28 18:22:28 GMT

Would you prefer a job where:
a) Work meetings are never recorded and AI notetakers are never used, but you have to take notes manually occasionally.
b) Or a job where meetings are regularly recorded and are using AI notetakers, but you never have to take notes.

2026-07-28 17:54:45 GMT

The most fundamental concept to comprehend to understand privacy is consent.
The most important concept to comprehend to understand why most AI training data is unethical is consent.
Consent is one the least understood concept in our society, yet the most likely to save it.
If you have difficulty understanding why privacy is important and why nonconsensual data sets are problematic, start learning more about consent.
It will benefit all aspects of your life,
and society as a whole as well.
#Consent #Privacy #HumanRights #NoAI

2026-07-28 00:11:28 GMT

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Completely unreal. Where is democracy there?

2026-07-27 18:14:13 GMT

When do you think the AI Bubble will burst?
#AI #NoAI

2026-07-27 17:08:58 GMT

If you don't trust AI and AI's accuracy, then why would you trust an AI "AI-detector" 🤨
Turns out, AI is horrible also at detecting AI. And this is once again an AI "solution" that creates much more damage than benefits. Please stop this nonsense.
#NoAI #AIDetector

2026-07-26 22:45:19 GMT

Dystopian tech is not inevitable.
We can push back against dystopia.
And we can win.
Do not capitulate.
#BeTheResistance #DigitalRights #HumanRights #NoAI

2026-07-25 19:34:28 GMT

I was not really interested in watching The Odyssey, but now that I know Elon Musk hated it, I really want to watch it.
Thank you for the anti-recommendation Elon, sounds like a great movie!

2026-07-24 20:40:47 GMT

Is the only way to have work meetings that aren't constantly recorded or using an AI notetaker (which is recording) to start one's own organization with a no-recording policy?
#Privacy #HumanRights #NoAI #NoSurveillance

2026-07-23 06:59:12 GMT

I want the privacy we had in the 90s,
With the wokeness we might have in 200 years if things continue in a good direction,
With the "AI" we had 50 years ago.
Is that too much to ask?

2026-07-21 06:26:30 GMT

Have you ever experienced being recorded against your consent during a job interview or during a work meeting, either by direct recording of a remote meeting or through the use of an AI notetaker?
#Privacy #NormalizedSurveillance #Consent

2026-07-18 17:49:55 GMT

Does anyone know an e-reader with all these features? :blobcatreading:
• Small like a phone that can be hand held
• Backlit
• SD card for storage
• Dark mode (light text over dark background)
• Reads epub format
• Can be used entirely offline
• Reasonably affordable
#Epub #Reading

2026-07-17 18:34:12 GMT

What's the best tv show you have watched this year? :ablobcatpopcorn:
#AskFedi

2026-07-17 00:37:51 GMT

This is one of the most chilling manipulative lie I have read in a while. And I have read a lot of chilling manipulative lies from that American administration:
“When the leftist protests that we are violating his rights, understand that he is lying to try to persuade people who are not closely following the political scene that some injustice has been perpetrated against him. We must stay the course and be completely unflinching in the pursuit of justice against these enemies of civilization.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/16/political-violence-event-trump-marco-rubio
#USpol #Fascism #Authoritarianism

2026-07-09 23:06:36 GMT

Hire
Human
Artists
#NoAI #HumanArt

2026-07-09 22:50:44 GMT

I hate it when I look in my post history and find posts from years ago about some horrific dystopian tech issue that are still relevant because we haven't stopped, banned, or fixed the horrific dystopian tech issue yet.
I wish humans were better at stopping, banning, or fixing horrific dystopian tech issues faster. *sigh*

2026-07-06 16:26:38 GMT

Nothing that humans made up is inevitable.
The technologies we use are choices we make. The governments we elect are choices we make. The regulations we design are choices we make.
All of it can be changed, reversed, banned, and is indeed evitable.
#NoAI

2026-07-03 21:12:43 GMT

Gentle reminder to add alt-text to your images and screenshots if you want your content to be accessible AND multiply your engagement with much more people reposting your posts.
Adding alt-text is a win-win-win situation, really. It helps everyone 💚
#Mastodon #Fediverse #AltText

2026-07-03 20:10:16 GMT

I will never understand why so many activists still use generative images for their content, and rely on big tech for communications and organizations when there are now so many practical, more secure, and much more ethical alternatives.
Your principles aren't just to be stated, they must also be embodied and integrated in your work.
We must show by example what can be done with ethical tech and ethical practices.
#Activism #NoAI #NoBigTech

2026-07-03 19:55:23 GMT

I am tired of the lack of humanity in tech.
I am also tired of the lack of humanity in humans.

2026-07-03 19:30:10 GMT

Generating statistical sentences is
not the same as writing an essay.
Generating statistical visuals is
not the same as creating art.
Generating statistical sounds is
not the same as composing music.
Value the difference.
#NoAI #HumanArt

2026-06-24 21:20:32 GMT

It saddens me that many people do not see far enough to understand well what we are losing while losing privacy rights and trivializing data protection. It is so much more than most think. This affects our intimacy, our safety, our social lives, our freedoms, and all our human rights.
It goes well beyond targeted advertising. Attacks on privacy lead to direct increases in authoritarianism and dictatorial governance.
We must care much more about it than we do now. It is critical to ourselves as individuals, but also to democracy and society as a whole.
#Privacy #Authoritarianism

2026-06-18 17:08:59 GMT

If you have to upload a piece of information to validate your age or identity, it is not privacy-preserving.
Stop privacy-washing surveillance tech.
Stay alert about false privacy claims.
#Privacy #StopIDSurveillance #StopKillingTheInternet

2026-06-16 00:44:45 GMT

Surveillance capitalism is
mass surveillance is
authoritarianism.

2026-06-15 16:05:58 GMT

Do not provide your ID or facial scan to access social media.
I repeat, do NOT provide your ID or facial scan to access social media when requested.
This is not a drill.
If everyone refuse to comply, and let their accounts dormant instead, I promise you the platforms themselves, with their immense budget and network of lobbyists, are going to fight these absurd laws to recover their users.
They need you more than you need them.
Make them fight for your rights.
Do not comply.
Spread the word and boycott ID checks ✊
#StopIDSurveillance #AgeVerification #Privacy #HumanRights #Democracy #Safety #MassSurveillance #Authoritarianism

2026-06-14 18:36:02 GMT

If you want to hire someone with a guarantee that they will not be using any AI in their work, let me know, I'm still available (and semi-looking).
More information on the types of work I'm looking for on my profile page pinned post :no_ai:
#GetFediHired #NoAI

2026-06-11 15:46:27 GMT

From Global News:
Grok AI broke Canada’s laws, created 6K sexual deepfakes per hour
"The investigation has found that X Corp and xAI violated Canada’s federal private sector privacy law by launching the Grok AI-powered image generation tool without implementing appropriate safeguards at the outset," privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne said in a press conference in Ottawa Thursday.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11899687/grok-sexual-deepfake-report/
#NoAI #Grok #Privacy #Consent #CanPoli

2026-06-10 17:17:26 GMT

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Information and references 📚🧵
Portal of resources about age verification (EFF):
https://www.eff.org/issues/age-verification
Everything You Wanted to Know About a Kids’ Social Media Ban (Michael Geist):
https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/06/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-a-kids-social-media-ban-but-were-rightly-afraid-to-ask-a-faq-on-age-verification-and-mandated-id-for-everyone/
How and Why to Fight Back Against Social Media Bans (EFF):
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/06/how-and-why-fight-back-against-social-media-bans
Transgender youth 5 times more likely to attempt suicide, study finds (CBC):
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-transgender-youth-suicide-1.6487787
Age Verification Lobby Pushes For Age Verification Checks For VPN Use (Reclaim The Net):
https://reclaimthenet.org/lobbyists-propose-vpn-age-checks
Reddit User Uncovers Who Is Behind Meta’s $2B Lobbying for Invasive Age Verification Tech (Gadget Review):
https://www.gadgetreview.com/reddit-user-uncovers-who-is-behind-metas-2b-lobbying-for-invasive-age-verification-tech
Firm that verifies mugshots for ChatGPT and Roblox feeds US surveillance apparatus with 269 distinct checks (Cybernews):
https://cybernews.com/privacy/persona-leak-exposes-global-surveillance-capabilities/
Discord says hackers stole government IDs of 70,000 users (Ars Technica):
https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/10/discord-says-hackers-stole-government-ids-of-70000-users/
(9/9)
#StopIDSurveillance #Privacy #HumanRights #AgeVerification #CanPoli #Canada

2026-06-10 17:14:44 GMT

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Canadians need better privacy protections 🔒🧵
Canadians need better and stronger privacy protections, not less. A ban on social media for children is effectively a mandatory ID checks for all adults.
I hope that you will consider these important risks in your evaluation this week, and that you will favour regulations to make social media safer for everyone instead. Excluding children from social media is a decision that should remain a parent's responsibility, not a government one.
As a Canadian citizen who care deeply for the safety of all Canadians, I thank you for taking the time to read this letter and consider my concerns.
(8/9)
#StopIDSurveillance #Privacy #HumanRights #AgeVerification #CanPoli #Canada

2026-06-10 17:13:49 GMT

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This is nothing like showing ID at the liquor store 🪪🧵
Finally, it's important to take note that age verification online is nothing like showing an identification card to be able to purchase alcohol. This often-used comparison is disingenuous.
If we stay within this analogy of the analogue world, then online age verification is more comparable to showing an official identification card at the liquor where the cashier would make thousands of photocopies of it, store some in an unlocked drawer, share some with all other liquor stores worldwide, also share some with grocery stores, newspapers, their friends, and random strangers on the street. Then leave a bunch of copies on the floor, for anyone to grab.
Nobody would accept to show their ID at the liquor store if it was happening that way. But sadly, most people ignore the extent to which data is shared, lost, and stolen online, on a daily basis.
(7/9)
#StopIDSurveillance #Privacy #HumanRights #AgeVerification #CanPoli #Canada

2026-06-10 17:12:52 GMT

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Adults would be harmed by this ban 🧑🧵
In addition to the already stated dangers of increasing the risk of identity theft, fraud, devaluation of official documents, attacks on the most vulnerable, discrimination against marginalized groups, and self-censorship, a ban of social media for children would give a free pass for corporate platforms to perpetuate the harm they also currently cause to adults.
All that is harmful to children on social media is also harmful to adults.
Social media are an integral part of modern communication and it has many benefits, but commercial platforms have been exploiting their users for decades, much beyond what our society should deem reasonable.
It is time for the Canadian government to regulate social media, yes. Not by excluding children and teens from it, but by obligating platforms to be responsible in protecting the safety and sanity of its users. It should be more profitable to run a platform that is open, transparent, and healthy for its users than one that is not.
A ban on addictive algorithms and data reselling, strong privacy protections and user controls, mandated transparency and effective moderation, an obligation to implement proven safety measures, and important consequences for platforms that prioritize profits over users' safety would all be much more effective at protecting everyone on social media, including the children.
(6/9)
#StopIDSurveillance #Privacy #HumanRights #AgeVerification #CanPoli #Canada

2026-06-10 17:11:52 GMT

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Children would be harmed by this ban 🧒🧵
Despite how it might feel at first glance, a ban of social media for children would actually create new harm for children.
First, many children would try to circumvent the ban, this is already happening in countries with such legislation, like Australia.
Second, children who cannot circumvent the ban might be pushed to darker corners of the web to rebuild their social lives, on worse platforms, without any moderation or safety measures. Moreover, being pushed out of the legal frame, these teens and children might feel less inclined to report any abuses experienced to a trustworthy adult, effectively making the situation much worse.
Then, children living with abusive or unsupportive families could lose their support network overnight. It is quite common for 2SLGBTQ+ teens and children living with families that do not support them to find emotional support in a network of peers online. This is often vital to survival. Losing this support suddenly can have devastating permanent consequences.
(5/9)
#StopIDSurveillance #Privacy #HumanRights #AgeVerification #CanPoli #Canada

2026-06-10 17:11:17 GMT

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Lobbyists are influencing policies more than experts and advocates 💰🧵
Unfortunately, there are many groups that are putting pressure on governments all around the world to increase surveillance under the guise of protecting the children. The rapidly growing, for-profit, age assurance industry has all to gain in influencing governments to push for age verification processes and bans of social media for children.
Even Meta has reportedly invested heavily in a network of organisations to discreetly lobby for age verification at the operating system level.
Meanwhile, nonprofit organisations and advocates who genuinely care for the well-being of the public have been warning for years about the dangers of age verification and social media ban legislation, but have much less money and power to influence policies at the government level.
I implore you, as the elected representatives for all Canadians, to consider this threat of corporate influence cautiously in your decisions, to listen to the warnings from advocates and experts in the field, and to prioritize first and foremost the well-being and safety of all Canadians.
(4/9)
#StopIDSurveillance #Privacy #HumanRights #AgeVerification #CanPoli #Canada

2026-06-10 17:10:31 GMT

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A ban does nothing to address the harm caused by social media 🧨🧵
The things that harm children on social media also harm adults. A ban of social media for children sadly does nothing to reduce the harm caused by social media, it only reserves it to adult, and postpones it for children.
The addictive and manipulative black-box algorithms, the privacy-intrusive data collection, the harmful violent content and misinformation, are all hurting adults as well.
Moreover, children who do not go around the ban before the restricted age (other implementations have shown that most children will attempt to circumvent the ban) will find themselves completely ill-equipped to protect themselves from social media harm once they come of age, and will be made even more vulnerable by our own legislation claiming to protect them.
A true solution to this is to regulate corporate platforms to forbid addictive algorithms, targeted advertising, intrusive data collection, third-party data sharing, violent content, weak moderation, manipulative tactics, and other abusive mechanisms used by certain platforms to prioritize profits over the safety and sanity of its users.
This would not only help children, but adults and society as a whole as well.
(3/9)
#StopIDSurveillance #Privacy #HumanRights #AgeVerification #CanPoli #Canada

2026-06-10 17:09:27 GMT

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Age verification processes are dangerous to Canadians ⚠️🧵
Unfortunately, there is no magical solution: A ban of social media for children necessarily means a requirement to identify every adult using social media. This means that intrusive age-verification processes would have to be put in place by social media platforms, therefore collecting an immense quantity of very sensitive information from every Canadian adult using social media.
This is dangerous in many ways.
First, it means many (if not most) platforms will delegate this task to private for-profit third-party vendors with little to no incentive to protect this information properly. We have already seen data breaches of sensitive information in this process. This would increase the risk of Canadians becoming victims of identity theft and fraud, and would diminish the value of Canadian identification documents over time.
Secondly, this can create a permanent record of legal identities tied to social media accounts. This would endanger users who rely on pseudonymity online for safety, such as victims of domestic violence, trans and gender diverse people (for whom the legal identification might not match the name used on social media), performers using stage names online, and other people that are part of marginalized groups regularly targeted online (women, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ people, etc.).
All these vulnerable groups would only be one data breach away from incredible harm with the implementation of mandatory identity checks to access social media.
Furthermore, risking to link every social media account to a legal identity can have a silencing effect for activists, journalists, and whistleblowers. This can lead to self-censorship of topics important to discuss publicly in a free democracy.
(2/9)
#StopIDSurveillance #Privacy #HumanRights #AgeVerification #CanPoli #Canada

2026-06-10 17:08:31 GMT

A thread to Stop ID Surveillance from coming to Canada ⛔️🧵
Yesterday, I sent a long letter the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Culture Minister Marc Miller, and the leaders of all other major federal parties in Canada.
I sent this letter to voice my concerns about the upcoming bill that is planned to be introduced today at 5 p.m. ET, to propose a ban of social media for children, therefore requiring all social media platforms to identify every adults accessing it.
This is a long thread of what I wrote (mute me for one hour if you don't want to see it).
Feel free to copy any parts you want to share in your own letter of opposition sent to your representatives this week.
Here's how to find their contact information: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/search
(1/9)
#StopIDSurveillance #Privacy #HumanRights #AgeVerification #CanPoli #Canada

2026-06-09 23:26:46 GMT

In reality, what they call age verification is abusive ID surveillance checks for everyone.
Start calling it what it is:
ID Surveillance.
We must all fight to Stop ID Surveillance.
#StopIDSurveillance #AgeVerification #MassSurveillance #Authoritarianism #Privacy #HumanRights

2026-06-09 16:33:57 GMT

PRIVACY ALERT!
Please boost for reach! 🚨👇
The Canadian government is planning
to introduce a bill on Wednesday, June 10th, to mandate identity surveillance of every adult using social media in Canada! 👁️‍🗨️
https://globalnews.ca/news/11894610/canada-social-media-ban-teens-online-harms-bill/
A ban on social media for children
does nothing to reduce the harm caused by commercial social media. Instead, it means mandatory ID scans for every adult using social media.
We must stop this authoritarian proposal,
and demand our government focuses instead on reducing the harm for *everyone* using social media.
It has been explained by experts over and over that bans of social media are shortsighted lazy measures that do not help in the end, but in fact harm everyone, including the children.
Stop ID surveillance in Canada! ✊⛔️
Contact your MP and our Prime Minister TODAY to voice your opposition. Here's where to find their contact information: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/search
If you aren't aware of this issue yet, here's more information on age verification: https://www.eff.org/issues/age-verification
#AgeVerification #Privacy #Canada #HumanRights #CanPoli #StopIDChecks #StopIDSurveillance

2026-06-08 21:01:58 GMT

I'm so tired of the AI hype.
Can we start solving real problems please?
#NoAI

2026-06-08 20:45:33 GMT

I'm so done with Apple.
We could have had nice things.
But no.
Instead we get dystopia.
I shouldn't be terrified of every software update pushed on the devices I bought.
#Apple #NoAI #Privacy

2026-06-08 00:17:35 GMT

What do you miss the most about how the web was 10, 20, or 30 years ago? 🕸️✨
#Web #Tech

2026-06-07 17:20:50 GMT

I want to rebuild my blog and start writing regularly again, but for weeks I've been a bit in a state of analysis paralysis about the best way to do this, and the best way to potentially monetize it a bit (since sadly I need income).
What do you think would be the best way for me to try to monetize my blog? Is it even worth trying?
What would make you want to contribute to support my writing, and in which ways?
#Blog #Writing #GetSelfFediHired

2026-06-07 15:52:12 GMT

Please stop with the floating elements on websites. They're hiding your content, and make me want to leave!
No, I don't want to "swipe to the next article" if there's also gonna be a giant floating arrow hiding the text and make me want to stop reading the one I'm painfully trying to read right now.
No, I don't want to "donate" if I can't even fully read what your organization is about because of all those buttons floating over your content.
The goal is to *show* your content! Why hiding it with a bajillion arrows, buttons, and popups? And please test your website for small mobile display. Your floating elements are ENORMOUS there 😭
#WebDesign

2026-06-05 18:01:29 GMT

Tiny reminder to add alt-text to the images and media you post here my FediFriends :ablobcatbongokeyboard:
This is not only the right thing to do for accessibility, but it will also increase your posts' engagement by having more people happy to repost them!
Thank you! :awesome:
#Mastodon #Fediverse #AltText #Accessibility

2026-06-04 21:45:54 GMT

Today, 37 years ago, was the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing.
Remember these events.
Remember these people who fought for freedom and democracy.
This is important 💛☂️
"On the 30th anniversary of the protests in 2019, the well-known Chinese artist Ai Weiwei wrote that 'autocratic and totalitarian regimes fear facts because they have built their power on unjust foundations' and he also wrote that memory is important: 'without it there is no such thing as a civilised society or nation' because 'our past is all we have.'"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Tiananmen_Square_protests_and_massacre
#TiananmenSquare #Democracy #JuneFourth

2026-06-04 21:00:06 GMT

I don't want a Canada AI Strategy,
I want a Canada UBI Strategy,
I want a Canada Affordable Rent Strategy,
I want a Canada Pharmacare Strategy,
I want a Canada Food-For-All Strategy,
I want a Canada Student Dept Elimination Strategy, I want a Canada BigTech-Free Strategy, I want a Canada Strengthening Privacy Rights Strategy, I want a Canada International Humanitarian Aid Strategy, I want a Canada Welcoming Refugees Strategy, I want a Canada ...
#Canada #NoAI #CanPoli

2026-06-02 18:37:41 GMT

Tech could be good.
Tech could serve humanity first.
Surveillance capitalism isn't an inherent part of tech, it's an inherent part of capitalism.
We could, and we must, build better tech.
Tech for the people.
#Tech #Privacy #HumanRights

2026-06-02 18:03:23 GMT

Which Linux distros have officially taken a stand against AI in their OS?
#Linux #NoAI

2026-06-01 17:12:46 GMT

Last year for Pride I wrote a series
of articles at the intersection of privacy and LGBTQ+ experiences :rainbow_heart: 🔒
Data privacy is important for everyone. But for some marginalized populations, data privacy is indispensable for social connection, access to information, and physical safety.
Here are 3 articles published with Privacy Guides last year discussing this topic from different angles:
[The Importance of Data Privacy For The Queer Community](https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/06/03/importance-of-privacy-for-the-queer-community/ )
[Stay Safe, but Stay Connected](https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/06/10/stay-safe-but-stay-connected/ )
[Queer Dating Apps: Beware Who You Trust With Your Intimate Data](https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/06/24/queer-dating-apps-beware-who-you-trust/ )
#PrideMonth #Privacy #LGBTQ #HumanRights #DigitalRights

2026-05-29 15:00:20 GMT

Every job post I see involves AI 🙃
Let me know if you see one that doesn't.
I'm looking.
#NoAI #GetFediHired

2026-05-27 23:47:43 GMT

Seriously, I cannot emphasize this enough Canadian friends:
Bill C-22 SHALL NOT PASS! ⛔️
If you are Canadian, you *must* contact your representative ASAP to tell them you strongly oppose Bill C-22.
We cannot have this kind of authoritarianism in Canada (or anywhere else frankly).
More information here: https://action.openmedia.org/page/188754/action/1
Contact your representative(s) directly without the form by finding their contact information here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/search
#BillC22 #Privacy #HumanRights #DigitalRights #Canada #Authoritarianism #MassSurveillance #CanPoli #CndPoli

2026-05-14 17:53:59 GMT

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:blobheartcat: