Digital rights
Source reports covering Digital rights. Stories will appear when analysis and community reactions are ready.
10 reports · page 1 of 1
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Source reports
Aaron Swartz was prosecuted for scraping, while Meta does it without consequence
opinion
1 min read
Aaron Swartz faced federal charges after downloading roughly 70 gigabytes of academic articles from JSTOR. The charges carried potential penalties of up to 35 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and asset forfeiture, according to the post. Swartz died by suicide before his case went to trial. The post identifies him as a co-creator of RSS and characterizes his intended use of the material as dissemination and archival of knowledge. The post contrasts Swartz’s prosecution with Meta’s alleged use of torrents to obtain 80 terabytes of books for AI training. Meta faces litigation over the alleged book downloads, while the post says its AI models remain commercially active. The writer argues that the difference in legal and financial consequences reflects unequal treatment by the legal system. The writer also contends that Meta uses the material to support proprietary AI products, and predicts that any eventual penalty will likely be financial rather than a restriction on the company’s AI business. The post expresses anger over Swartz’s treatment and calls attention to the power held by technology billionaires.
EFF letter to FTC on X consent order (2 July 2026) [pdf]
news
1 min read
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) submitted a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding a consent order for X. The letter addresses concerns about user consent and data privacy practices associated with the platform.
The (real) dead economy theory
opinion
10 min read
The real dead economy theory examines the influence of cultural trends and meme stocks on economic perceptions. Various topics are covered, including Jim Baen's health issues, criticisms of Apple’s iTunes DRM, and the implications of a Washington Post coverage blackout on Trump.
Age verification for social media, the beginning of the end for a free internet?
opinion
15 min read
Age verification for social media is being implemented globally to enhance child safety online. Critics argue that this measure could lead to increased government control over internet access and content.
The Intolerable Hypocrisy of Cyberlibertarianism
opinion
18 min read
Cyberlibertarianism promotes the idea of a free and open internet while often ignoring the implications of inequality and power dynamics. Critics argue that this ideology can lead to a disregard for the societal responsibilities of technology companies.
Austerity Creates Fascism
opinion
13 min read
Austerity measures are linked to the rise of fascism, suggesting that society cannot afford to neglect quality of life. Various topics are covered, including cultural references, legal cases, and upcoming events.
The open web isn't dying, we're killing it
opinion
5 min read
Powerful companies are undermining the open web by extracting value from open systems and becoming hostile to the norms that support them. The current wave of AI should not be solely blamed for the challenges facing the open web.
Montana passes Right to Compute act (2025)
news
2 min read
Montana has enacted the Right to Compute Act (MRTCA), granting citizens comprehensive rights to own and utilize computational and AI tools. This legislation establishes protections for digital privacy and enhances technology accessibility within the state.
A simple web we own
opinion
28 min read
Large corporations and governments currently control the Web and Internet, resulting in a surveillance economy and a sense of users as tenants and products. Questions arise about alternatives to this ownership model and ways to change the current dynamics.
US plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere
news
4 min read
The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal, hosted at "freedom.gov," to allow access to content banned by governments in Europe and elsewhere, including hate speech and terrorist propaganda. Officials are considering incorporating a virtual private network function to enhance user privacy.