My case that we deserve representation and authority over our online lives.
Oct 31, 2025
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9 min read
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?
Oct 17, 2025
8 min read
A legendary economist and World War 2 badass tells us why heading to Bluesky or the Fediverse makes big platforms’ lives easier, and what it would take to convince you to stay and fight.
Sep 26, 2025
10 min read
Last week, I said we need real-world identity online. This week, I rebut myself. Nobody said this Internet thing was going to be easy.
Sep 19, 2025
Free, anonymous online accounts let bad guys proliferate and platforms pretend we are disposable. Real-world identity requirements could help us reclaim our digital selves.
Sep 12, 2025
Free, anonymous online accounts are a cornerstone of the Internet. Fraud and child safety fears are putting that principle to the test.
Jul 18, 2025
Two millennia ago, Plato called them “philosopher-kings.” Today, we call them “global heads of platform safety.” They are still not a good idea.
Jun 20, 2025
6 min read
Ideas from the dial-up era are holding us back today. We can do better.
Jun 6, 2025
11 min read
Bluesky is open about almost everything, except setting and enforcing their community guidelines. They have an opportunity to lead the Internet forward with a democratic alternative.
Jun 3, 2025
5 min read
Tech companies just wanted to keep people safe. Now they are unelected governments. What went wrong, and what's next?
In September 2024, I gave a talk at Harvard that foreshadowed this newsletter. Here's a key excerpt.
