Latest #FOSSAcademic: "Reading the Online Harms Act with my Fediverse Admin Hat On"
https://fossacademic.tech/2024/04/10/Online-Harms-Act.html
In which I discuss Canada's proposed #OnlineHarmsAct from the perspective of a #fediverse #admin. While I understand the reason for the Act, I also note it could likely put a burden on fedi admins. And the big question I have is: how will the Act define the fediverse?
[replies to this post will appear as comments on my blog unless you use followers-only or DM]
@rwg in the US we actually have two federally guaranteed consumer banking systems, one of just normal banks, but the other type is called a credit union, and that might have some relevance here.
Overstating for effect, CUs exploit loopholes in banking regulations by operating as exclusive clubs with membership requirements, that often seem pretty lax.
Well, given the excerpts I see in the post, Fediverse instances might be able to escape the regulation the same way, with administrators putting forward a minimal membership requirement so that the purpose isn’t international communication but just a place for local members to talk among themselves.
@rwg It’s not about profit or non-profit, but about the way the act is written today already, it seems like there’s a loophole that could be exploited based on statement of purpose.
I honestly don’t care in the least about profit versus non-profit since in the real world so often that just comes down to accounting trickery. And it would be the same here with regard to social media.
@volkris This is a good point (I'm a fellow USian and a longtime user of credit unions). If the Act could break out for-profit and non-profit social media (beyond what it does now) the matter could be a bit clearer. I would still want non-profit social media to be well-moderated, but I think that can be done without onerous reporting procedures.