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Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (March 2026)

A teenage girl looks at her smartphone while a algorithm recognises her face and places a box around it — mollyvsthemachines.com

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed hearing the insanity of prediction markets, potential governmental influence on app stores and Open AI confidence is dispensing.

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 a potential global privacy standard, The EU getting very serious about sovereignty and NHS doctors are urged to not use Palantir’s platform.

The worst idea of the 21st Century

Ian thinks: New scientist’s video conversation is a fantastic summary of some of the worst recent technology ideas. There’s all the usual ones and a few surprising ones but make sense when explained.

Your vibes are killing open source

Ian thinks: Everyone is talking about vibe coding and there is a lot of discussion for and against. However this well researched piece in hackaday, really breaks down the destruction of the open source ecosystem. From the endless bug reports to the degrading of reusable code. Those vibes are the new kool-aid, rooting ecosystems everywhere.

Artificial intimacy

Ian thinks: The FT have a new series looking at the many issues which come from AI systems and intimacy. Perfectly timed for Valentines day… Through the series covers a lot of my thoughts about intimacy, the artificial intimacy, really touches so much of the future challenges we see with emotional hijacking

Perfectly intimacy programmed? (nsfw)

Ian thinks: Following on from the last link, Dr.Malik breaks down the different ways artificial intimacy is realistically happening now and finds research which points at its impact. There is blunt and real figures which are suitable for adults, but its worthy of watching as it makes this whole era of intimacy very real.

Gamifying life, sounds fun?

Ian thinks: This interview sheds a lot of light on the very dark side of gamification. If you were under any illusion how damaging gamification can be when controlled by someone else or entity. This discussion will make you rethink and readdress existing ideas. I personally sent it to someone in the last month.

Ian thinks: Being in the space of digital legacy, I can not understand how Meta was granted the patent as there are so many people who have setup DIY systems to do similar. Its pretty gross I personally think, especially if not done in a honest way.

A future trend report from Public broadcasters

Ian thinks: Future Media Hubs is a combination of many public service broadcasters mainly across Europe. This year, has some noticeable points for many different sectors including social, AI and young people. If you want to get a grip of what’s on broadcasts minds, this trend report speaks volume.

We should all be Luddites

Ian thinks: I recently finished blood in the machine, about the luddities movement started in the north of England. Since then I have been thinking about how this applies to the technology we use everyday. Of course I’m not the only one as the story of the luddite club first heard on Tech won’t save us, makes super clear. Can’t wait to see the documentary.

Stop Google from going back on its pinky promise for Android

Ian thinks: A while Google said they were going to get all developers to register before they can publish apps, then made side-loading even more difficult. The response from Android users & developers was strong, google then backed off. However months later, the pinky promise is no more, as Fdroid makes clear in their blog. If you care for an open ecosystem even if you are a IOS user, sign the petition.

Algorithms rules everything around you

Ian thinks: The trials over social media currently happening in the states is horrifying. There is a lot be said about each and every case. Taking a look just one, Mollys case is a real eye opener and this online piece really demonstrates how the incentives of traditional social media companies are so misaligned with humanity and real life.

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Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Feb 2026)

The Future Is Europe 6 floor Mural in Brussels. Belgium. Maalbeek metro station

By Linda DV

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed hearing about the whisperpair flaw, Windows Bitlocker keys available to the FBI and owning nothing is freeing of your money.

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 the quiet advances with graphene, the windfarm project agreement and Denmark very much in news recently is also trying red street lights for environmental reasons.

2026 has to be the year of digital sovereignty?

Ian thinks: This is a perfect summary of where we are right now. Marx combines the huge geopolitical and challenges with the world order, with the rush for AI and control. Recorded at the very start of 2026, the rest of the month felt perfectly placed.

EU making FOSS a priority?

Ian thinks: This is long time coming but I have seen Germany make huge changes to open source adoption. A few people I have spoken to recently have pointed out Trump is most likely the biggest reason for the push.

Ian thinks: If you read the press, you might think the new W network is the one and only social network out of Europe. Of course this is a lie, with wedium.social and the most thoughtful eurosky also in the same hat. The main point I think people are missing is, it doesn’t matter who is first but rather how they are run, governed and their underlying values.

Atwood is sharp as a ever

Ian thinks: This interview with Margaret Atwood is a breath of fresh air. Atwood is always on point with her scrutiny but also brings a level of humour to some of the societies deepest problems. Love her thoughts on AI like fire.

How game theory influences so much of the world?

Ian thinks: I had no idea that the prisoners dilemma was not taught in Finland due to the country being strong on trust and collaboration. This interview with Sonja Amadae, is a very good reminder of the broken theories which grip the world now and future.

An enshittification resistant internet is possible?

Ian thinks: Doctorow talking at the CCC 39 over the holidays, is grand. No mixing of words and lots of great examples well thought out. This is certainly Cory on top form and the message is very strong.

Ian thinks: I have heard the idea of a tool library a few times, including via Rushkoff. This podcast digs deep into the genuine sharing economy and if you think it can’t really work, I found one in Manchester.and will likely sign up soon. Have a look for one in your area, you might be surprised.

Do you really trust your operating system?

Ian thinks: Hearing Signal talk from CCC 39 about all the work they had to do to stop Microsoft Recall from doing just that, is a little insane. All this adds up to the end of application security and the end of trust in operating systems?

Ian thinks: To fully understand the mindset of the people in mainstream social platforms such as meta. You should read through this court evidence. Or you could read through the high/low lights in the verge post about it. It’s not pretty and you can feel the absolute contempt for their users.

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Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Dec 2025)

Traffic jam of cabs in New York shot from the back with red lights from the cabs — Cars everywhere: (cc-by-nd) https://www.flickr.com/photos/strolicfurlan/24747443097/

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed seeing the questionable AI courtcase in the UK, Zuck running an illegal school and big tech refusing to talk about election influencing in the Netherlands.

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 Android supporting airdrop, The Eurosky sovereign bluesky project now has open code and Dr Ruha Benjamin’s unlearn speech from Mozfest 2025.

The future of addiction

Ian thinks: I found this conversation spot on, as it touches on many things I find really interesting right now and links them up. From the problems of mass social media to weaponized addiction being generated on mass. Addiction is always a contentious point but regardless, it all points to a future where our revealed preferences are indulged without friction for profit and control..

Why we need a war on cars

Ian thinks: I don’t drive a car, and this episode is full of interesting points including the one about superman, electric cars effect on space and the city and the social impact on loneliness.

The characteristics of a AI bubble

Ian thinks: If you are in the tech field or even looking in, its clear everybody is talking about the AI bubble but this podcast from Wired again, really breaks down the characteristic of a bubble.

Keep Android open

Ian thinks: Great site, seems Google might have listened to the pressure in recent days. What they mean by an alternative is a big question however.

Reasons for divorce: AI relationship

Ian thinks: We all new this was coming. You message first thing in the morning, last thing at night, you message on the toilet! That relationship seems so innocent but engaging. Now there is legal challenges a foot, which could make that relationship grounds for a divorce.

Digital legacy and death tech overview

Ian thinks: This video from Wired magazine, starts off with the usual cryogenic nonsense but then grief bots and AI avatars suddenly become a lot more real. I especially like the shout out to get a will and manage your digital legacy. This is something I am working on with a project called Machine readable wishes.

NSA’s mobile phone guide

Ian thinks: The NSA’s mobile guide is interesting reading, there are nuggets of information such as restart your phone weekly and have a case which block room audio. Paranoid or just good advice?

Ian thinks: I recently gave a talk about AI to a health insurances. I talked a lot about loneliness and bots. Although I didn’t include it, this detailed video forecasts the logical end of social being the dead internet theory but far far worst.

What does 47,000 conversations with ChatGPT tell us?

Ian thinks: Remember when OpenAPI was sharing chatGPT conversations? Well analysis of the conversations by the Gerrit De Vynck tells us exactly how puppy like and integrated it is with peoples lives. Counter to what the AI companies have been saying, this is worry-some to hear and read.

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Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Oct 2025)

Mesh network running off solar on top of a house

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed seeing AI attempting to rewrite history, Agentic AI browsers fooled and Rabbit R1 is back?

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 good counter-points parts [1][2][3] to tell the AI die-hards, a uptake of LoRaWAN and low energy decentralised networks thanks in part to meshtastic and alternative to typical internet servcies but European based look no further.

Small acts of community interest

Ian thinks: Rushkoff’s story about borrowing a drill and community has become similar to the billionares and the event story. Rushkoff calls it a revolutionary act, I call it an act of community interest, something we rarely see in

The case for no billionaires

Ian thinks: This interview with professor Ingrid Robeyns, is a good listen especially after reading Limitarianism and thinking about the problems of inequality. I wonder if anyone in government is taking notes as there are so many voices and credible research pointing to the same conclusion.

Right to repair hard truths

Ian thinks: Like it or not, Rossmann speech about the right to repair, how we can’t own anything as the makers find more clever ways to enshittify is on point. I am sure Samsung’s fridge with adverts you can’t turn off, would be in a updated version if redone now..

Empires and their religions they build

Ian think: Karen Hao, has been the rounds recently with the Empires of AI book. This is one of the best conversations/interviews I seen with her. The mid point and end points are well argued by Hao, touching deeply on the need to make their own religious pyramids of technology.

Ian thinks: Do you remember when people use to “hard” post? What happened? According to Chayka many things. From algorithms, ephemeral, context collapse, advertising, etc. Let’s not forget the effect of bots too.

Learning from the Ozone crisis

Ian thinks: in 1985 most won’t remember the Ozone hole threat as its so baked into the world we live in now. Tristan talks with Susan about the solution and how it can be applied now to the AI challenge.

Ultra-processed authoritarian algorithms

Ian thinks: Nobel peace-prize winning journalist’s conversation with the Daily shows’s Jon Steward about the state of journalism and authoritarian, is a rare and frank exchange with Maria Ressa making it super clear how the playbook happened almost a decade ago and how they tried to alert the world back then.

What is the difference between Android and iOS?

Ian thinks: If this is true and the video summary isn’t off the mark. There is a big question about where do people go? We always knew having a duopoly for mobile devices was going to blow up in our faces.

AI’s branding team are on fire

Ian thinks: Meredith Whittaker tells it as it is, is great in this interview about how she got started in the tech industry, signal gate, AI, masculinity and so much more. Her insight on how “useful” AI agents are infiltration services such as Whatsapp and Signal is spot on.

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Fediverse: a New Era of Social Media – The video

The most recent Fediforum brought a lot of incredible changes for the Fediverse. One of the biggest and most exciting was the video by Elena Rossini. Oh and I also did one of the 3 keynote talks too…

Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (June 2025)

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed reading how expensive NFTs were replaced with errors, Meta adding facial recognition to their glasses regardless and Chrome backtracks on 3rd party cookies plans.

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 the Fediforum’s first unconference for 2025 , Bristol University’s research into better Social media and how a good number of young people would rather grow up in a world without the internet

Jeanine Salla is not your sentient machine therapist!

Ian thinks: 404 media’s coverage about AI chatbots as “licensed therapists” is unhinged. The importance of mental health and therapy is clear but having Gen AI lying they are licensed therapists is a example we need be more careful what we do with AI. This also follows on from related a interview on Brainrot AI and post.

What happens when there are only 2 browser engines?

Ian thinks: Although a short video from Mozilla themselves, the Mozilla CEO’s comes on their own podcast to make clear why Gecko (Firefox’s browser engine) must exist. The points are clear and concise, because Chambers is right. You only have look at the smartphone market to see how bad things can be; another market going through the legal system. Sad news about Pocket too.

Its not just Blueskies but also Blacksky

Ian thinks: A lot of people are aware of Blacktwitter, which has moved on. Where its moved and where its is going is quite something. Shaping the AT protocol and federated social space to suit the community is simply thoughtful, forward thinking and a breath of fresh air.

Will the European ecosystem create the next generation of internet services?

Ian thinks: I found this view a good opportunity to name check the Euro stack, There are sceptics around, especially if you count the previous attempts. But if the Euro stack becomes real, we really could see the next generation of internet services.

Digital Sovereignty in a Time of Rising Fascism

Ian think: Quite a monologue from Paris, but its a clear and thoughtful summary of the giant political changes on technology and the internet now. Although recorded in New Zealand, there are pointers to the EU and even the UK. Once again putting more weight on the Euro stack as a third way.

Sovereignty and Self hosting?

Ian thinks: I have spotted an up-tick in people talking about self-hosting and sovereignty. Although in different places, both are saying similar words. This link is all about the up-tick in self hosting but you could easily swap a few words out for ownership, control and sovereignty

The Roots of Elon Musk’s War On Empathy

Ian thinks: This more usual conversation with Julia is quite political in nature but a important reminder of the whole movement against empathy. It reminds me of Sinek’s Infinite game book, where he describes people with infinite and finite mindsets. Clearly this war is coming from the finite mindset.

The enshittified ecosystem laid bare

Ian thinks: In this humbling discussion between Rushkoff and Ongweso, I was able to get a sense of the full extent of enshittification. Ongweso’s critiques of the current tech ecosystem are spot on. Its a long listen but worthy of your time.

AI guides actually worth your time

Ian thinks: The Vatican guide to AI and the UK Government digital services (GDS) are actually well written, honest and worth reading. Good practical advice, written from different and fair views.

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Wonderful chocolates shared

I use to share notable chocolates on twitter and my blog in the past.

However with the Fediverse and one of my favourite platforms is pixelfed (like Instagram without all the crap, algorithmic nonsense, enshittifcation and unhuman design).

So with this, I started posting select Chocolates I recently enjoyed there

You can also comment and do the usual social media things there, but safely from your own fediverse account.

Look forward to the feedback

Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (May 2023)

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed seeing the environmental impact of ChatGPT, the fascination to force people back into the office and that musk interview.

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 a new right to repair for up to 10 years. how solar got so cheap and John Oliver’s 2nd reaction to cryptocurrencies.

Weakening encryption is a idea which needs to die

Ian thinks: There is so much to say about the potential UK online safety bill, when it comes to encryption. In my personal experience, weaken encryption is no encryption. I’m not the only one. There is a reason why no one uses MD5 anymore.

Using photosynthesis as a source of clean energy?

Ian thinks: This energy hack is exciting to say the very least. Although very exciting its very early. I certainly encourage reading the details of the Cambridge research here.

Heating our homes using abandoned coal mines?

Ian thinks: Novel use of the many shut down coal mines, is a gem of not just an idea but something being put into practice in other countries.

The bright future of Homomorphic encryption,

Ian thinks: This interview with Rand Hindi of zama.ai is very enlightening. The idea of Homomorphic encryption at every level is fascinating. Could it be quantum resistant? Well Rand certainly thinks so. I also expect we will be hearing a lot more about this in the next 2 years and will be a building block for the public service internet.

Bluesky finally on Android but join the waiting list

Ian thinks: Its good to finally see an Android version of Bluesky, as there is growing interest in Bluesky and the actively developed AT protocol. There is also a lot of pumped up tension from some about Mastodon vs Bluesky which is just nonsense and a waste of energy.

The danger of stochastic parrots

Ian thinks: This very shared piece calls out the real problems of the new range of “AI Chatbot.” Bender runs through history and her challenging sometimes ignorant experiences talking with those evangelising the AI future. Its well worth the read if you haven’t come across it somewhere else already.

The stochastic parrots which drives us insane

Ian thinks: Jaron’s thought on the affects of AI on our well-being is spot on. Be it consistently doubting, double checking or just the overload of AI generated content. It always makes me think an adversarial AI bot working for you makes a lot of sense.

Ian thinks: This very detailed post outlines with countless data points summarising the effect of social media on young girls. Just incase you were not clear already?

Is Kevin Kelly’s technium, unrealistic or genius?

Ian thinks: This interview was a difficult one to hear, mainly because I usually find Kevin Kelly a good thinker. However his general thoughts on tech will save us, painful to listen to and it runs through most of his thoughts. Worth a listen with a sharp critical mind.

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Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Mar 2023)

See no evil: Loopholes in Google's Data Safety Labels

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed seeing AI for everything, Elon changing the twitter algorithm to insure reach and even the BBC blue check mistake.

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 large scale eink screens coming, BBC R&D’s remote interaction guidelines and young people falling out of love with cars.

Mozilla Festival and so much more

Ian thinks: March is the month of the 3rd virtual Mozilla festival, tickets are available now., Mozilla is also responsible for some hard cutting research into the recent data safety labels in the Android play store, which leads to even more Tiktok privacy worries.

The Public Spaces Incubator

Ian thinks: A whole number of public service broadcaster join New_Public to reclaim public spaces with a new incubator looking to tackle so many of the ills online right now. Will it be successful, I hope so, and will be a sign of the great collaborations to come

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