soc.octade.net is a Fediverse instance that uses the ActivityPub protocol. In other words, users at this host can communicate with people that use software like Mastodon, Pleroma, Friendica, etc. all around the world.
This server runs the snac software and there is no automatic sign-up process.
Good morning, all.
Around my socials I've seen more than a few people asking about Flock cameras, what they are and why people are so angry, so I thought I'd re-share the video I made on Flock and Jeff Sovern, the alleged vigilante who destroyed 13 Flock cameras in his small town.
Please tap the like button if you enjoy the video or learn something new.
#Flock #Tech #Technology #MsasSurveillance #Privacy #Video #JeffSovern
In June 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Chatrie v. United States that police accessing your cell phone Location History from Google is a Fourth Amendment search. Justice Kagan: 'An individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy in records about his cell phone's location.'
The Court did NOT rule that geofence warrants are unconstitutional. It established the threshold: accessing this data IS a search. Whether a specific warrant is reasonable (probable cause, particularity) was sent back to the lower court.
On August 5, 2026, Judge Carlton Reeves (S.D. Mississippi) extended that logic to tower dumps - warrants that grab data from all devices connecting to a cell tower. He ruled them 'per se unconstitutional general warrants,' citing both Chatrie and the Fifth Circuit's Smith decision. 'The Government cannot have access to an entire haystack because it may contain a needle.'
The ruling may also affect Flock Safety's ALPR network (90,000+ cameras, 20 billion plate reads/month). A Virginia court already allowed a Fourth Amendment challenge to Flock to proceed. But Flock argues Chatrie actually helps them - the Court distinguished continuous cell-phone tracking from 'public-movements-only technology' on public roads. That legal question is unresolved.
Read more:
https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/court-rules-that-law-enforcements-use-of-geofence-warrant-was-a-search/
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6013559-mississippi-judge-declares-towers-dumps-unconstitutional/
Ran into this gem #today. It's from the (current version of the) privacy policy used on a #cardiology device (with mandatory smartphone app, mind you) called #Kardia that is given to patients within The Netherlands (and some other countries) by some cardiologists 🥲.
I send them a nice mail that the EU-US Privacy Shield became invalid in 2020 and the current EU-US DPF has been disputable since January 2025, so it might be time for a policy review. Figured someone got to let them know...
It's a sad thing of the current state of this world, that we cannot even trust devices given by doctors to be compliant.
Most AI transcription services require a monthly fee and send your sensitive meeting audio to third-party cloud servers.
Meetily is an open-source alternative that transcribes and summarizes your virtual meetings locally. You get the convenience of AI summaries without the subscription costs or privacy trade-offs.
Meet #ArcaneChat
No phone numbers required for registration.
No strangers discovering and contacting your family members.
All your conversations end-to-end encrypted.
it is magic! ✨
#privacy #security #family #encryption #autonomy #europe #european #android
heyo #mastodon! this is not an #introduction post, but I realized my bio had gone really stale, so I updated it. if you're interested in any of the topics below, feel free to request to follow!
I'm a data monkey in tech, but that's just what I do by day to keep the lights on.
things I am interested in & can talk about for hours on end if you let me:
🎮 #retroGaming #retroTech
🌐 the #smallWeb #indieWeb #Fediverse
🐧 #Linux #popOS
🖥 #privacy, #FOSS, the ""#AI"" bubble
🌆 #yeg #Edmonton 🇨🇦
🧵 1/2
FeedFlow is an open-source RSS reader for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux. Keep your library local or sync with services like FreshRSS and Miniflux, with Reader Mode, offline reading, filters, bookmarks, and OPML import/export.
👉 https://digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=feedflow
Happy Sunday!
The weekend is not over yet: you still have time to recommend #ArcaneChat to a friend or family and help them get in contact with you here.
Spread purple love 💜✨
Keep the family safe 🤗
#privacy #encryption #europe #european #OpenSource #android #security
Is the Device Encryption option missing in your Windows 11? This feature is key to protecting your files if your device is lost or stolen. Learn why it might be absent and how to potentially resolve it. Keep your data safe and secure! #Windows #Security #Privacy #TechHelp #GeekRewind https://geekrewind.com/why-is-the-device-encryption-option-missing-in-windows-11/
📶 Want to monitor your internet connection over time?
Speedtest Tracker is an open-source, self-hosted tool that automatically runs internet speed tests and keeps a history of your download speed, upload speed, ping, and other network metrics.
It supports Docker, scheduled tests, notifications, and a web dashboard for tracking performance.
More details:
https://digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=speedtesttracker
Tiny Privacy Recommendation 🔒:
When on a public social platform or a group chat, if you know someone from a different place, remember not to share more about them on that platform than what they have already shared there. Unless you have prior Consent from that person.
Privacy has modularity.
What someone has shared somewhere else, or privately, they might not wish to share on that new place.
Privacy works hand in hand with Consent.
And Consent can differ from one context to another.
Laws are only as strong as their enforcement.
This is the core problem with most privacy laws. We need to demand better laws, with stronger, faster enforcement mechanisms.
When I‘m visiting other cities I love adding details to Open Streetmap using @CoMaps
Opening hours, benches and trash bins…
Using the app doesn’t require an account but editing does. Which means that there’s a public record of places I‘ve been to if somebody connects the dots.
The whole project relies on community contributions but this is a little privacy issue in the back of my head.
"The great privacy revolt: people are pushing back against the glasses that record, the earbuds that eavesdrop and the TVs watching our lives — here’s what we can do about it, according to an AI research CEO and a digital rights advocate"
""
We need #privacy laws in this country SO bad. I know this is minor, but just imagine what else more nefarious is going on...
So I have very detailed setting for notifications from the #MLB app. It takes a while to dig into all the menus and get the right ones. I do this and it works for a couple of months and then...
Magically they've turned all the ones I specifically deselected back on! Suddenly one day I'm getting every news notification, games they want me to play, all the shit. I have to go in and do it all over.
This should be illegal.
RE: https://xoxo.zone/@davidcelis/117054792127968357
I seriously suspect certain #Democrats could gain a lot of support from demographics that have a disproportionate share of otherwise Republican-voting or non-voting people by committing to using all legal and budgetary tools of state power to restore the supply and reduce the price of PC and laptop DRAM (and SSDs too) for individuals and for organizations other than the hyper-scalers.
Potential policy actions include using (perhaps after amending) the CHIPS and Science Act, using the Defence Production Act, starting and funding FTC and antitrust investigations, and even creating a state corporation to build a chip fab specifically for RAM and SSDs in standard PC and laptop forms.
I could see Rep. #AOC and Sen. Elizabeth Warren successfully using this to direct attention and votes away from Republicans, even well outside #NY14 and #MA (respectively). A couple others who would be credible to advocate the federal government intervene to redirect semiconductor supply away from enterprise AI (HBM) and back toward general computing (DRAM) could include Joyner Kiros (already opposed to AI data center construction), and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (already opposed by the entire oligarchy; he could address semiconductor hoarding both as part of his populist economic messaging and as part of the cost, through hospital hardware prices, of healthcare).
Combining and connecting RAM & SSDs with related issues of #rightToRepair, #rightToOwn, #privacy, land, water, electricity, pollution, noise, underhanded municipal interference, creative and intellectual labor theft, and opposition to the AI, cryptocurrency (in fewer places), and #surveillance (in more places) industries, several Democratic candidates could make headway with a demographic of voters who usually lean highly libertarian or politically disaffected—voters who heavily favored Republicans in 2024 due to Elon Musk’s aggressive anti-establishment electioneering (which they now realize was disingenuous). Right now, most of that base is feeling betrayed and irate, as the hyper-scalers are interfering with their passions, their property, their jobs, and their businesses.
Places which could be swung with such an expanded hardware-focused platform, where parts availability and affordability is addressed as part of R2R, may include #TX10 (home to a lot of tech manufacturing and a large population of hardware engineers and technicians who despise corporate anti-repair, including #LouisRossmann himself), and perhaps #NC13 (where a candidate would need to focus specifically on hardware price-gouging and the right to repair as matters of autonomy, while avoiding anything too "over-regulation" sounding).
#OR05 (a right-to-repair battleground with many independent repair professionals and DIY enthusiasts who view anti-repair as an assault on private property) already has a Democrat, but perhaps Rep. Bynum could secure support of a demographic of voters who might otherwise lean R by addressing this issue. Similarly, #NC02 (home of #GamersNexus) currently has a #Democrat, but perhaps Rep. Ross could meet with Steve Burke (whom I'm guessing is a constituent of hers) on GN and discuss this.
And then there's the "AI" industry and data center backlash, where, depending on riding, voters could be swayed with varying emphases. Land, water, and drought issues may reach voters in #TX21 and #AZ01; noise pollution and underhanded municipal interference in #VA10 and #GA06; creative and intellectual labor theft in #CA30 and #NY10.
To gain effective rhetoric, candidates and their staff could study a bunch of recent GamersNexus reporting, especially the #GNCA videos, and read the popular comments on those videos from fans. (I'd suggest @davidgerard as a source, but I'm guessing he's from the UK. AFAIK, Steve Burke is American. I'd volunteer if the #NDP or #GreenParty wanted to run on this issue. @avilewis?)
For examples of this messaging in practice, already credible voices for a #consumerRights focus include Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (#WA03, a R2R champion who could appeal to libertarians, PC builders, and rural tech-hobbyists who voted Republican in 2024 but despise corporate infringement on private property), and Sen. Ron Wyden (#OR, a long-standing advocate for consumer privacy and digital rights in a state with a lot of tech professionals and digital sovereignty advocates).
controversial opinion (at least here):
People and actions like this clearly need to be dealt with. But ofc we need light on government abuses as well.
I am starting to think that there should be a higher emphasis on sousveillance and a lower emphasis on privacy as an absolute right.
*Sous*veillance is everyone watching everyone, as opposed to *sur*veillance which is police etc watching everyone but not being watched themselves.
Thoughts?
Computer maker #Framework notifies ‘all customers’ of a #DataBreach
https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/07/computer-maker-framework-notifies-all-customers-of-a-data-breach/
am I the only one annoyed by so frequent #GrapheneOS updates???
I am already pissed off one can not disable automatic download of updates, one can disable the updates app completely, but I would prefer to manually check for updates and review available update before downloading not to completely disable updates
then after applying updates it takes ages "optimizing apps" see this screenshot, only 8 optimized apps out of 35 and it has taken 19 minutes already and in the meantime the phone is very slow and overheated :(
#android #degoogled #degoogle #privacy #security #opensource
Harley, a Proton privacy expert, shares 7 physical privacy gadgets her team actually uses when passwords aren’t enough: BusKill laptop theft kill switch, IMSI catcher detectors, Faraday pouches, security keys, privacy screen protectors, USB data blockers, and yes—cash. 🔐🛡️📵 https://proton.me/blog/privacy-gadgets #privacy #security #ProtonTeam #Proton
Rescript is an open-source, local-first media editor that lets you cut video or audio by deleting words from the transcript. It supports Whisper transcription, filler/silence removal, speaker labels, and frame-accurate export.
Available for Linux, Windows, macOS, and the browser with no account or media uploads required.
More details: https://digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=rescript_editor
🔴 A defense contractor is now selling technology that scans every electronic device in your car as you drive past a camera. It ties everything to your license plate. You cannot opt out.
It is called SignalTrace. Made by Leonardo, an Italian military contractor with existing U.S. Special Operations Command contracts. It sweeps your phone, smartwatch, Bluetooth headphones, your dog's RFID chip, tire pressure sensors, your car's infotainment system. Anything that broadcasts.
It bundles these into what Leonardo calls your "electronic fingerprint," timestamped and geotagged. Stored in an "Enterprise Operations Center for future queries and analysis."
Those are their words. Not mine.
You did not consent. You cannot opt out. Your devices broadcast by existing. In most places, this is perfectly legal.
If this sounds like something that will be abused: it already has been. Police have used existing license plate reader networks to stalk partners, verify school residency, run background checks, and monitor protests. At least 22 officers charged or resigned for ALPR stalking.
SignalTrace does not read your messages. It does not need to. It knows who you travel with, where you go, and when.
Sources: https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/24/surveillance-tech-company-is-pitching-an-unholy-alpr-stingray-hybrid-to-law-enforcement/ and https://www.leonardocompany-us.com/lpr/elsag-signaltrace
🔐 #Privacy news & updates from @privacyguides:
“🚨 This Week In Privacy ⌗65 will be live in 30 minutes, we'll be discussing how Apple's iCloud Private Relay is leaking your real IP address, and covering the latest privacy & security news․👋 Come and watch and join th…”
https://mastodon.neat.computer/@privacyguides/117059656669203320
🤖 via RSS feed. May not reflect our views.
Cells tower dumps are old tech.
Tri-lateralisation ? Not needed when there are flock cams everywhere.
Flock knows exactly where they installed the cams and at what angle they are facing.
The flock cams instantly report over a cell network.
39 cities canceled Flock contracts this year after two counties caught its "nationwide" sharing setting feeding 600,000+ searches to agencies that never agreed to it.
Most hired Axon to run the same cameras. Axon lacks Flock's national network, but has announced plans for the same kind of network.
Swapping vendors doesn't fix it. It changes the logo.
https://www.thebluf.news/p/cities-ditching-flock-for-axon-same-surveillance
Futurism | Science and Technology News [Unofficial] » 🌐
@futurism.com@web.brid.gy
"He was actually kissing the homies goodnight at the time of the incident."
The post Public Offers Implausible Number of Alibis for Man Accused of Destroying Flock Cameras appeared first on Futurism.
Freeradical.zone is a Mastodon server themed around infosec and privacy and technology and leftward politics and cats and dogs.
This server has been online since 2017.
You can find out more at https://freeradical.zone/about or contact the admin account @tek
#FeaturedServer #InfoSec #Privacy #Technology #Mastodon #Fediverse #FreeFediverse
Looking for a messenger that doesn't require a phone number or email?
Zerion is an open-source Android messenger that runs over the Tor network for anonymous communication. It includes end-to-end encrypted chats, voice & video calls, group chats, encrypted file storage, and post-quantum cryptography support.
More details: https://digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=zerion
#OpenSource #Privacy #Android #Tor #Encryption #FOSS #FOSSApps #CyberSecurity
#EU #AgeVerification Project Mandates Hardware-Bound Attestation
https://linuxiac.com/eu-age-verification-project-mandates-hardware-bound-attestation/
This week Microsoft and ReliaQuest reported attackers using hotel Wi-Fi across the US, India and Saudi Arabia to steal credentials and push malware onto travellers’ devices. Connect to the network and you’re the target.
This is exactly why the network you’re on shouldn’t be something you have to trust. Zerion routes everything over Tor, so a hostile Wi-Fi sees only encrypted traffic, no IP, no metadata, nothing to harvest or inject into.
zerion.chat
#OpenAI’s Browser Could Be Hijacked to Spam Your #WhatsApp Contacts
https://www.wired.com/story/openais-browser-could-be-hijacked-to-spam-your-whatsapp-contacts/
#DHS Wants Protesters’ #Signal Group Chats
https://www.wired.com/story/dhs-wants-protesters-signal-group-chats/
Not a conspiracy theory anymore...
#surveillance #privacy
THIS is why they've been doing it all along!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZfZrOJf2Mc
Want a YouTube experience without the recommendation algorithm?
YT Zero is an open-source, self-hosted YouTube frontend that focuses on subscriptions instead of recommendations. Follow channels without a Google account, organize videos locally, and optionally download them for offline viewing with yt-dlp integration.
More details: https://digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=ytzero
Privacy News That Actually Matters. Every Monday, one story from the data privacy world. Recent, relevant, and actually readable.
Privacy News That Actually Matters. Every Monday, one story from the data privacy world. Recent, relevant, and actually readable.
"A series of issues in Apple’s web browser engine — the tech underlying all browsers on iOS — means that Apple’s iCloud Private Relay tool, which is supposed to hide a user’s IP address, in many cases doesn’t actually work. Instead, the issues mean a malicious attacker can set up a website to learn a Private Relay user’s real IP address, or that many websites have also already collected this information incidentally. The issues also impact OnionBrowser, an iOS app for browsing the web through the Tor anonymity network, the researchers who discovered the issues say.
The Private Relay leak is the second issue to recently impact Apple’s paid-for privacy products. Last month 404 Media reported a bug in Apple’s Hide My Email feature was actually revealing peoples’ real email addresses. Apple knew about that issue for more than a year before fixing it.
“In short: any website that supports, or pretends to support, passkeys can see the user’s real IP address despite having iCloud Private Relay on,” security researcher Tommy Mysk, who discovered the issue along with Talal Haj Bakry, told 404 Media."
https://www.404media.co/apples-private-relay-is-exposing-users-real-ip-addresses/
Futurism | Science and Technology News [Unofficial] » 🌐
@futurism.com@web.brid.gy
The outrage is surging.
The post Flock Is Losing Dozens of Contracts as Controversy Grows appeared first on Futurism.
I am on a quest for a privacy respecting, preferably open cell phone that does not:
I know this is quite a list. Perhaps others have more use cases. Bottom line: I want a phone I can rely on and feel safe while making good ethical decisions?
Help a guy out with suggestions? Boosts appreciated. 1/2
#Proton seems to be working on its own web browser (article in Dutch)
https://tweakers.net/nieuws/250686/proton-lijkt-aan-eigen-webbrowser-te-werken.html
Ad fraud accounts for an estimated $84 billion in global losses annually, with fake bot traffic consuming advertising budgets without any human viewer exposure.
Ad fraud accounts for an estimated $84 billion in global losses annually, with fake bot traffic consuming advertising budgets without any human viewer exposure.