Thanks Paul Chambers @paul for flagging Ashley M. Gjøvik @ashleygjovik 's thread dissecting the insane Bluesky Terms of Service. If you read one thing today, read this.
"...gives Jack a 'perpetual' & 'irrevocable' license to all your content (posts, name, likeness, pics). BlueSky can delete your account for any reason, but may refuse to delete it if you ask. You can't screenshot BlueSky. All disputes = individual arbitration"
@paul The experts are starting to weigh in. Check out Russell Cameron Thomas, Data Scientist and Cyber Risk Modeler at RMS - Moody's Analytics. @MrMeritology.
@Lazarou Maybe they don't like getting caught and are in damage control mode now, but the strategy is likely to make no substantive changes, whether the storm, and operate on the principle (probably correct) that most people won't care.
That's why it is critical to make a big stinky fuss about this right now, And keep attention on this issue.
@codybrom@paul No problem. It is super important to keep attention focused on this issue. Most people believe as you did that all these contracts are the same, but the Bluesky Terms of Service are a breed apart and are dangerous for the future of social media.
@tchambers@activitypubblueskybridge@mmasnick@anildash@manton Before you invest too much energy in this effort check out the Bluesky Terms of Service for using the AT Protocol. Currently they are asserting a unrestricted free-for-all license to any content the touches the AT Protocol (https://staging.bsky.app/support/tos). Seems crazy, but arguably you could be opening the door to giving Bluesky all the Fediverse content. In any case, the #DataProtection issues need to be nailed down.
@blake@tokyo_0@tchambers@activitypubblueskybridge@mmasnick@anildash@manton Well, technology is cool, it is easy to get wrapped up in solving interesting problems, and no one likes to look at the legal stuff. But it is important. Before you open up a bridge to a legal regime where rights to content may be getting assigned, you better know what you are doing. It may make a lot of users upset you are giving away their content, and you may not have the legal right to do so.
Yesterday, unfortunately, my main #smartphone was stolen. #Essen-#HBF, when picking up the daughter....
Should someone be offered a #Google#Pixel6a, with #GrapehenOS and small #Linux#Penguin sticker (hard to get off), please report. This should be my beloved #Phone.
Thanks.
OK, it's getting late, so here is the insane overreach that #Bluesky are attempting:
Not only do their Terms of Service grant them a limitless, free-for-all, forever license to all your content for using their application (Bluesky). They are taking, get this, a limitless, free for all, forever license for anything that touches their AT protocol. And they imagine a future where all social media runs on their protocol. Isn't that rich?
"To make these Terms easier to read, our Site, Protocol, and App, and our content and services provided therein, are collectively called the “Services.”"
"By making any User Content available through the Services, you hereby grant to Bluesky and its subsidiaries, affiliates, licensee, successors, and assigns... an irrevocable, non-exclusive, perpetual, transferable, worldwide, royalty-free license..."
@LizardSF You see what they are doing there. The second part says when you use the "Service" which includes the "Protocols" you grant them the license...
@LizardSF It is very easy to think that all terms are the same, but that is not the case. The reason for these limitations is that users have in the past demanded that they retain rights to their data and not allow Facebook a free-for-all license. It is important to remain vigilant, and not dismiss these matters as "everyone does it". Because all contracts are not the same.
One of the books which has had the most profound impact on my professional (don't laugh; despite what I post here, I am a professional) life is the absolutely excellent "Queer Privacy" by @sarahjamielewis.
For me - cis het white man - it was eye opening.
You can choose your own price, and it is well worth a couple of hours of your time.
Hardenhuish School, a mixed secondary academy in Chippenham, UK, sent texts to parents and guardians of its 1,623 pupils notifying them of a ransomware attack. The identity of the ransomware group has not been revealed as yet.
When you post on Twitter(1) or Bluesky(2) you grant them a broad perpetual license to use, modify, and sublicense your content. You effectively make them co-owners of your content. They can mine it and monetize it. They can even sell it. When you post on Mastodon(3) most instances take no license at all. That's right, they tell you what they are doing with your content—storing posts and delivering them—but no license.
@privacat@austin@thomasfuchs Your expertise would be greatly appreciated. Not a lawyer, but very familiar with contracts, and the Bluesky ToS are breathtaking. Not only is it limitless free-for-all to the content for using their application (Bluesky). They are taking, get this, a limitless free for all license for anything that touches their AT protocol. And they imagine a future where all social media uses their protocol. Isn't that rich?
"NAS ran into a problem and was shut down improperly. This
could be caused by power failure or other reasons and may result in
severe data loss. Therefore, we highly recommend using an SNMP or USB
UPS to protect your device and data if you don't already have one
installed."
Yes, yes, I know. And one day I will protect you oh little decade-old NAS that does very little and holds no data of consequence.
In a misguided attempt to demonstrate the benefits of post-Brexit freedoms, the government is setting the UK on a dangerous path to further economic instability and the erosion of fundamental rights.
This appears to be an attempt to take power from citizens and give it to government.
Carol Monaghan MP highlighted our concerns in the debate on the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (UK).
Another example of why the #ICO is not fit for purpose:
"Wiza have not complied with their obligations in this instance." ... "despite contacting them on 20 March, 28 March, 11 April and 17 April 2023, I have received no response from the organisation. With this in mind, at this time I am unable to assist you further."
So the ICO's policy is to not do any enforcement when organisations break data protection legislation but refuse to talk to the ICO about it.
The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill returned to the UK House of Commons last week.
Stephanie Peacock, Shadow Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure, raised our concerns about the new government powers to issue instructions and interfere with the Information Commissioner's Office – the independent regulator that plays a key role in the oversight of the government’s use of data.
Tomorrow, René Mahieu will publicly defend his doctoral thesis entitled 'The right of access of personal data in the EU. A Legal and empirical analysis'. In Brussels, and online.
The police have collected biometric data of 2,400 unaccompanied child asylum seekers under 'Operation Innerste'. This data is shared with immigration enforcement and can be held for at least five years. A huge and outrageous violation of data rights.