The proposed KIDS Act could create a serious challenge for the Fediverse.
Mastodon relies on independent servers, often run by volunteers. Age-verification requirements could impose costs and technical burdens that smaller operators struggle to meet.
Protecting children matters, but so do privacy, anonymity and the ability to run independent online communities.
Could age-verification laws undermine the very decentralisation that makes the Fediverse different?
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS on a Xiaomi 12T Pro, running on the mainline Linux kernel.
The developer reports that most functions are working, including calls, navigation and YouTube. After a day of use and a few reboots, the battery was still at 50%.
The project also targets the Redmi K50 Ultra and provides the sources needed to build your own image.
It's an interesting experiment in bringing native Linux to smartphone hardware, beyond the usual Android-based alternatives.
https://github.com/royka1/diting-ubuntu/
Would you try Linux on a spare smartphone just to explore what's possible?
Canada could save up to $1.13 BILLION by moving away from Windows.
A proposal suggests developing a national, open-source operating system based on Debian Linux instead of relying so heavily on Microsoft Windows.
The potential benefits go beyond licensing costs:
🔹Less dependence on a US tech giant
🔹Greater control over government IT infrastructure
🔹More digital sovereignty
🔹Investment in local expertise and open-source software
The proposal estimates $23-43 million in initial costs, with potentially $700 million to $1.13 billion in gross savings over 10 years.
Of course, migrating an entire government isn't as simple as installing Linux. Support, training, software compatibility and long-term maintenance all matter.
But governments should at least consider open-source alternatives instead of treating dependence on a single vendor as inevitable.
Could Linux become a realistic alternative for government IT at a national scale?
Proton wants to protect us from Big Tech. But are we at risk of creating the same problem somewhere else?
Mail, VPN, cloud storage, calendar, password manager, AI… Proton is building an increasingly integrated ecosystem.
Convenience comes at a cost: centralizing so much of your digital life with one provider creates dependency. If your account is compromised or suspended, the consequences can affect multiple services at once.
Another point often overlooked: encryption doesn't necessarily hide all metadata. Recipients, timestamps and other technical details can still reveal information.
That doesn't make Proton equivalent to Google. Encryption, a subscription-based business model and open-source apps are genuine advantages.
But no company deserves unlimited trust simply because it champions privacy.
The goal of deGoogling isn't to replace one dependency with another.
Do you use Proton for most of your digital life, or do you prefer to spread your trust across different providers?
https://reclaimingprivacy.substack.com/p/the-problem-with-proton
Privacy projects face a difficult trade-off: principles, trust and technical progress.
Following controversy over a Mullvad co-founder's personal political donation, the Tor Project is suspending joint promotions but will continue working with Mullvad on Mullvad Browser.
That decision matters beyond the controversy. Tor says the collaboration has also helped make its own browser easier to maintain and audit.
Can a project protect its values without sacrificing the technical work that makes its tools stronger?
Full story: https://cyberinsider.com/tor-limits-mullvad-ties-to-technical-work-amid-funding-controversy/