Archive

Palantir's Alex Karp goes full Galaxy Brain, and the US Supreme Court gets something right for once

Jul 10, 2026

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5 min read

Palantir's Alex Karp goes full Galaxy Brain, and the US Supreme Court gets something right for once

I am back from vacation and ready to take gratuitous potshots at Palantir CEO Alex Karp’s 20-minute free-associating rant on CNBC. Plus, a big win for online rights at the US Supreme Court (which I previewed back in March)!

Jun 26, 2026

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3 min read

News round-up: lawsuits, social media bans, and a curious launch from Google

Sarah Wynn-Williams strikes back at Meta, Google blurs the line between Search and YouTube, and the child safety wars continue to rage across the globe.

Explainer #7: Trust & Safety with Chinese Characteristics

Jun 19, 2026

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5 min read

Explainer #7: Trust & Safety with Chinese Characteristics

To learn more about due process, I read a book comparing great legal traditions. I found that modern trust and safety practices have more in common with Chinese dynasties than Western democracy. Yikes.

The Platformocracy: what is it, why is it bad, and how do we fix it?

Jun 12, 2026

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7 min read

The Platformocracy: what is it, why is it bad, and how do we fix it?

Internet platforms have become our unelected governments. They should be subject to the laws of the communities they serve, not the will of their owners. Summarizing my first year of posts.

Platformocracy is one year old! Here’s what’s coming next (including song lyrics and maybe some code)

Jun 5, 2026

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4 min read

Platformocracy is one year old! Here’s what’s coming next (including song lyrics and maybe some code)

First, like any enthusiastic one-year-old, I’m gonna smash a big piece of cake into my face with my bare hands. Then, I’m going to try some new things, including attempting to write code that demonstrates my ideas.

Practical exit part 2: groups and identity (again)

May 29, 2026

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5 min read

Practical exit part 2: groups and identity (again)

Last week I proposed regulation to make it easier for you to bring your friends and followers with you from one social platform to another. This week, I look at two use cases with more complexity.

Practical Exit: It’s time for regulators to require social graph portability

May 22, 2026

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5 min read

Practical Exit: It’s time for regulators to require social graph portability

We’ve had mobile phone number portability for twenty years. We now have proven technology to help move your online friends and followers in a secure and privacy-preserving way. If platforms won’t implement it, we should demand regulation to make it mandatory.

May 15, 2026

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5 min read

Social media vs. parasocial media vs. social networking

The “social media” platforms we demonize today are actually multiple suspects in a trench coat. Separating out key use cases makes it easier to talk about practical ways to reduce harm and take back control.

Meta unleashes a haiku of PR bullsh*t after being found guilty of harming children

May 8, 2026

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4 min read

Meta unleashes a haiku of PR bullsh*t after being found guilty of harming children

Yet again, Meta’s VP of Communications Andy Stone has responded to his company’s indefensible conduct with an insulting and ineffective public statement. Why does he keep doing this? Let’s break it down.

Q&A #2 - Ganesh Shankar, Google Director of Product Management, User Protection

May 6, 2026

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3 min read

Q&A #2 - Ganesh Shankar, Google Director of Product Management, User Protection

Second in this occasional bonus feature. Get to know the leaders, builders, and thinkers working to give us control over our online lives. This week - Ganesh Shankar from Google's Privacy, Safety, and Security team.