Bluesky, The Twitter Protocol Tragedy, Alternatives

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announced that the company would be setting up a team to pursue a more open alternative to social network; unfortunately, the time to do so was ten years ago.

Portability and Interoperability

Data portability is friendly to consumers, but it has very little to do with encouraging competition, at least relative to interoperability.

The Google Squeeze Follow-up, Disney+ Launch, Instagram Influencer Follow-Up

Google’s approach to travel mirrors its approach to Shopping, which, correctly or not, was already ruled to be illegal in Europe. Then, Disney+ rolls out like a movie, and fails like a service. Plus, more on Instagram and influencers.

Tech and Liberty

The First Amendment is not about a law, but rather a culture — specifically a culture of liberty. It is essential to tech, and in this context, Facebook is mostly right about political ads (but can still do better).

The Internet and the Third Estate

Mark Zuckerberg suggested that social media is a “Fifth Estate”; in fact, social media is a means by which the Third Estate — commoners — can seize political power. Here history matters.