A weekly newsletter that tells the story of how tech companies became unelected governments and what to do about it, by former Google executive and 30-year Internet veteran Jonathan Bellack.

Posts

Dec 5, 2025

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7 min read

Reader mailbag #2 - my first poll, and I missed a bunch of Fediverse tools for Exit

Your chance to pick my end-of-year articles, and a review of Exit coolness I overlooked from the world of ActivityPub.

Nov 21, 2025

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10 min read

Exit and Interoperability Exist Today, If You Know Where To Look

Outside the big walled gardens, the open social web is making Exit and interoperability a reality. I review a few projects that I’m excited about, and where I think they could take us next.

Nov 14, 2025

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7 min read

Guest Post: A Former Meta Integrity Leader Fights For Transparency

Rob Leathern saw fraud and harm up-close at both Meta and Google. Now he’s started a non-profit to shine a light on the dark places. He and I trade newsletters this week.

Nov 7, 2025

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10 min read

Rant: Meta is earning billions from scams and fraud. Their lack of transparency is an insult.

Meta’s newly-revealed carelessness is egregious, but their bullshit response is the Platformocracy at its worst. I am pissed. Welcome to what my coworkers used to call a “Bellack Special.”

Oct 31, 2025

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9 min read

Can we regulate or spend our way to Exit? Lessons from Europe, Utah, and Project Liberty

The EU has regulated data portability, but the US is dragging its heels. A deep-pocketed benefactor has put $500 million into the fight, but is even a large fortune enough to make a difference?