Empiricism @Empiricism_Reloaded@qoto.org

Hi #climate activists (only the genuine ones)

My account at Climate "Justice" social was suspended (deleted) with zero due processes (no warning nor written reason was given. How ironic. "Justice"?)

Though this essay mentions probably why. https://qoto.org/@Empiricism_Reloaded/110483463813324339

With no admin accountability, we can only guess what goes on behind the scenes. So, #twitter users should feel right at home on #mastodon ;-)

If you were following me at empiricism@climatejustice.social or @empiricism and would like to re-follow. This is the Empiricism_Reloaded@qoto.org account.

#sustainability #ClimateChange #ClimateJustice #ClimateCrisis #JustStopOil #FossilFuels #extinction #degrowth #NationalHealthService #NHS #democracy #accountability #equity #AntiRacism #lgbt #justice #ecology #Conservation #biology

@lucifargundam @freemo

How observant. Is that OK with you?

This is one method to prove your identity on Mastodon - should an instance lose, corrupt, or deny you access to your data. For example, an account "suspension" means you can't transfer your account to another instance.

I've written a password-protected blog post at https://empiricalperspective.home.blog/2023/06/04/empiricism-on-mastodon-verification-post/

To quote the blog post

This post is to verify the empiricism @ mastodon account.

My current account is on the qoto instance Empiricism_Reloaded@qoto.org

For people that have not opened an account on Mastodon - Mastodon is similar to Twitter. From the end user's perspective - The main difference is that Twitter is generally controlled (administrated) by one corporation \ owner (e.g., Elon Musk & the company shareholders), whilst Mastodon is controlled by the administrators of whichever instance you have an account on. This means in both cases, other people have control of your data. For example, your "followers" info can be deleted if the admin decides to. The instance can be shut down without notice if the admin decides to. Although that is less probable to happen with Twitter (unfortunately)

Whether it's one central corporation such as Twitter or many Mastodon instances - you are still trusting your data to agents ( administrators) that lack transparency (accountability for their actions & what they do with your data).

However, I prefer the less of two evils - so I'm on Mastodon (until something better comes along)

FYI, having said that, if you have the time and resources (e.g., money), you can choose to manage your own Mastodon instance (for yourself or more people). Although, that would mean either trusting (& usually paying) a service provider to host your mastodon instance. https://masto.host/ for example -

Or, buying some tech and learning (if you haven't already) to self-host a server that runs a Mastodon Instance.

Personally, I think a person-to-person (p2p) social network is the way to go. Then people will have more control over their own data. However, there is money to be made in social networking, so, what's best for the end users, is often not best for those that are seeking to make a profit out of social networks and or people's data (a conflict of interests).

#security #mastodon #fediverse #money #business #corruption #climate #disinformation

@kjr

You do know that a "host" is a server ("cloud service") that is managed by other people.

So, yes, I would be the admin of the mastodon instance hosted on the masto.host "cloud" service.

However, the masto.host has the final say if they decide to prevent me from using their service.

It's evidently not addressing the core problem.

@bigtechblows@techhub.social

What do you mean by "someone"?

The previous admin suspended my account. "Your account" is on their server.

My account was suspended without a warning or a written explanation. However, I can still log in to the "settings" page and download the "follows" data. But I can't transfer the "followers" list to another server (effectively, the admin has deleted it).

As I mentioned, for reasons I don't know, the "follows" list is reported as "12" when prior to the suspension it was 100 +

"Get your own server" is the generic response that some people say.

@kjr

Thanks for that link I will check it out. However, that simply moves the admin onto the masto.host as they can decide to suspend any hosting account.

I post about climate change. There is a huge amount of money behind climate disinformation (e.g., greenwash).

@bigtechblows@techhub.social

"get your own server" is not going to solve the general problem. Because most people won't get their own server. Furthermore, as well as the technical and time demands, "get your server" requires more resources, and more power, to be consumed. In a world in which the amount of resources and power we are consuming can not possibly be sustained.

#Mastodon #security

Evidently, there is a security flaw in Mastodon (see screenshot). It's not prudent to trust unknown admins with our #data.

Therefore, how do we make the #Fediverse admins more accountable? Or, should the fediverse be developed to be more user-friendly - so that we can connect directly to the network without having to depend on servers? (that is do-able. e.g., p2p networks)

#software #SocialMedia #data #hack #admin #justice #activism #equity
Say no to #BigBrother #network #surveillance or unjust #admin #employers #corporations #corruption

Hi,

My account was suspended (effectively deleted) on climatejustice.social without warning nor was a written reason provided.

I was following you with the previous account. I generally follow people that regularly post about #ClimateChange.

So, if you'd like to re-follow me this is my new "reloaded" account on Qoto :)

Have a good day, evening, etc.

Greetings!

Who regulates the regulators? Who regulates the #Mastodon admin? The answer, generally, is no one! They can decide to delete your account, without a warning, at a whim (e.g. if they're in a bad mood, etc) If the admin suspends (deletes) your account, that means you can’t move your account to another instance (you have to start a new one). Account suspension prevents you from transferring the "followers" list. That list could be your friends, colleagues, lover, whistle-blower, you name it.

Effectively, there is zero accountability for Mastodon servers! So, when you read posts that say it doesn't matter what Mastodon server you join, that’s misinformation! Ideally, you’d know and trust the admin personally - that’s the most secure way to protect your data (but, not usually practical). Now if you complain, many admins will say, to paraphrase “You can always run your own server!”. Like they think everyone has the time and resources to do so (it’s just their way of avoiding the problems associated with the network)

My previous account was "suspended", without warning and with no written reason given, by the admin of climate justice social (the irony) https://climatejustice.social/@empiricism . I just received an email that said “Account suspended. You can no longer use your account, and your profile and other data are no longer accessible. You can still login to request a backup of your data until the data is fully removed in about 30 days, but we will retain some basic data to prevent you from evading the suspension”

But, as mentioned. You can’t transfer your followers list (effectively, unless you have copied all the followers' addresses – the admin has deleted them!)

I assume the account deletion was because I'd made an accusation public (a private message from the admin), regarding the unfair conduct of ecoevo.social and climatejustice.social admin (they prefer to do their account warnings, etc, behind the scenes. i.e., no public accountability for their decisions). I posted publicly a link to a conversation I had with another person, in which I said that the OP was being prejudiced. In my public post, I linked to the conversation (made it public) that I was being warned of (by the admin). I asked people (the public on Mastodon) what do they think about the conversation? But, before I received any replies, the account was suspended (deleted).

I've asked this before on Mastodon without receiving any reasonable answer. How can anyone trust Mastodon if people can't backup up their own followers' list? There is no agency in the current system. A server could crash, the owner may just decide to close it or run out of money to finance it, etc.

So, this is a security flaw that should be addressed. The only reason I can think of why this security flaw isn’t been addressed (openly talked about with the seriousness it deserves) is that the server owners, don't believe it’s in their interest. However, evidently, it’s in the Mastodon community's interest to have a system in which they can easily back up the follower's list and have some democratic accountability from the admin. Fundamentally, it should not be up to the servers admin to delete a person's followers list (not even Twitter, Facebook, etc, would do that without any warning! Well, maybe they would, I haven’t used those networks in years)

What methods can a user of the #mastodon network use to back up the "followers" list? (since the software developers seem to be against it) The last time I asked this, the reply I received, I assume from an admin was to quote "You can download a copy of your follows list". Evidently, intentionally tried to avoid the question I was asking because I stated the “followers” list.

So, can Mastodon be a better alternative to #Twitter, etc? or is this just lip service? Because business as usual is the money controlling the general flow of information! (& that’s a form of corruption).

For the Fediverse to be decentralized, people will be able to connect to the network without any “middlemen” (that’s a given). So, can we have an adult discussion about what’s best for a social media network? Without it being monopolized and parasitized by the age-old corruption of social power (e.g. money). I doubt it, but…..

#fediverse #corruption or #justice #democracy #accountability #software #technology #climate #sustainability #science #computing #psychology #SocialPsychology #ethics #business #money #AntiRacism #ClimateJustice #twitter #corporations #DarkMoney