Tag: ATproto

Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Nov 2026)

Scene from the film gravity - Astronaut blown into space high above the earth
Scene from the film gravity – Astronaut blown into space high above the earth

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed seeing the AI reskins, hearing how AlJazeera was hacked with a zero click attack and reading about cognitive atrophy

To quote Buckminster Fuller “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

You are seeing aspects of this with Norway fining Microsoft’s adfirm for using Grindr data, Proton making clear where those flock camera are and thank you Ondřej Surý and many more for their time working on PHP

Does AI make closed source, open?

Ian thinks: There has been a lot of talk about Photocraft which is allegedly a whole recreation of adobe’s suite of tools written in Rust. However the important part is the ethical aspects and could this mean all closed source could become exist? Also worth watching the 404 media video about this all and a related keynote from Anil Dash, which mentions proprietary platforms are like ice cubes..

Services without servers

Ian thinks: The freenet project is one of those projects you heard about decades ago and forget about. In the background they have been working hard using modern technology to build out decentralised systems which suit modern times. I am interested how this interop’s with open social networks. Love to see bridges on to Matrix and other networks.

The environmental impact of data centres in the UK

Ian thinks: It’s so good to hear Matha Dark from Foxglove talking about the state of data centres in the UK and the ramifications for future data centres in other countries in the Europe and who knows where next? I was truly open mouthed that data centrers can make claims and are never held accountable to them. Unbelievable. I would also recommend Paris Marx talking on better offline, as he’s book Hyperscale just hit the shelves.

What are AT proto spaces?

Ian thinks: This is a keynote via the Fediforum, which explains the new feature a lot of people have been asking for in the AT/skies ecosystem. Private social spaces which isn’t readable in the AT fire-hose of conversations. Its going to be very useful for many people, and answers some of the questions of companies and scrapers using conversations. It doesn’t quite go as far as I would have liked but its good to see progress.

Team human is done?

Ian thinks: When I heard about Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon on stage at the pro-human AI event calling for team human. I wanted to understand how Rushkoff thought about this movement, which he coined and shepherded. Rushkoff reflects back on many years of this and where things sit now. Its worth listening

Trust me, this is not your muse

Ian thinks: Meta’s Muse AI IOT device is unlikely to make it to the UK or Europe, thankfully. The muse is aimed at adults but looks like something for kids, I honestly think this is highly and morally irresponsible. But its not like Meta are not known for this type of behavior. Good reminder to check out the social reckoning before it disappears.

Drinks made for the internet only?

Ian thinks: I have been following the culture of things made to share online for a long while. However this video shows the real impact of private/venturer capital on the culture of sharing online, this is well worth focusing on. But even the idea of a drink which has enough sugar and calories for the average human is insane.

Are you human or a bot?

Ian thinks: I found the identity part very interesting as there is mention of community identity. The idea of using this to combat the onslaught of AI bots is a interesting one because it can help create a verifiable proof of humanity alongside privacy preserving verification,

Ian thinks: Deep down I said no but this video shows a more positive view that it can be done due to the strong legal framework of Europe. I wonder how long it may take and will the Kessier syndrome will come into effect sooner?

Why do they do it? Profit!

Ian thinks: Jess Asato’s story and courtcase against X/AI’s Grok is incredible and a reminder of how deeply troubling for everyone but mainly women; how AI systems can be used to weaponise harm against people.

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Whatsapp must never be public infrastructure

For the longest time I have avoided using Meta’s Whatsapp.

Recently its become more difficult with more and more services using Whatsapp as there default way to communicate. Luckily my partner has become a bit of a human bridge to some Whatsapp groups.

To be really clear this is not good! I’m very aware of the mental load women shoulder in society and relationships. I struggle with it but we have talked about it and how I do a lot in our relationship too.

I am finding it almost inconceivable that WhatsApp has become (de-factor) something like public infrastructure. It was refreshing to see a ton of people using signal, the fediverse and heck email to swap details…

Which leads me the PublicSpaces conference, where people who strategise, build and encourage; a future which is democratic and fair for everyone. Unlike a lot of conferences I have been to, this had the actual builders alongside policymakers, all considering how this can actually practically work.

Usually PublicSpaces is 2 days of conference but this year there was a extended day of conference on Friday (added the open social awards) and also a series of unconferences, social events and workshops the day before and the day afterwards. We were fully immersed and perfectly created.

Robin with a slide on a big screen saying fediverse heart matrix heart atmosphere
Foreshadowing later announcements

Robin Bjon’s opening keynote set the mood, I especially loved this quote from Audre Lorde…

But I do have hope. To face the realities of our lives is not a reason for despair—despair is a tool of your enemies. Facing the realities of our lives gives us motivation for action. For you are not powerless.

Then in the afternoon, during a panel which I was chairing came the European social stack. It was all live streamed so you will see the chaos which unfolded and myself trying to manage it (I felt I did a reasonable job)

Ultimately the European social stack is an attempt to standardise a stack of open social platforms and private messaging. Based around core principles of… Autonomy, diversity, decentralisation, democracy, open source and more.

But this isn’t some blind manifesto, this has aims which are defined. It’s also not about being in Europe but rather the values, and represents a 3rd way between the other super powers vision of the internet.

Later on the same day during the Social web awards, Rudy from Black Sky algorithms gave ActivityPub some props in his talk, similar to Robin from Eurosky. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was impressed the two break off skies (Eurosky & Blacksky) were positioning themselves in a very different space than the big mainstream Bluesky. Reminding me, I should just move off Bluesky…

His talk was framed as a talk with dangerous ideas and honestly there was a lot of excellent ideas. For example I was looking into Blacksky cash a while back and it’s something which takes an old traditional way of sharing wealth and puts it in the modern world; but relies on strong community and democracy.

It feels like the protocol wars are cooling between Activitypub and ATProto. But better still is the formulation of a social stack, which is logical and still gives plenty of room for creativity and experimentation without taking liberties with people’s data, attention and democracy.


Looking forward to open social becoming a reality for more people. I would also add this was one of the best publicspaces conferences I have been to and likely one of the best conferences in recent times.

Where to go next in 2017?
The Eurostack adopts the European social stack live at PublicSpaces 2027?!