Matt Panhans @mpanhans@librem.one

#WSocial will open up their beta program today… and I have a SCOOP for you: it appears that they have quietly gone closed-source!

This is ironic, considering that the @EUCommission just unveiled their Tech Sovereignty Package, emphasizing the importance of #OpenSource. And yet they have migrated their main ATproto accounts to W Social - whose code can no longer be inspected!

My full article - with a great analysis by @aral:

🔗: https://blog.elenarossini.com/w-social-public-institutions-and-the-theater-of-european-digital-sovereignty/

#FOSS #DigitalSovereignty #BigTech

Signal is working on a standalone version for Signal Desktop that does not require a mobile phone 🤩

Also more customizable options when using Desktop as a linked device

👉 https://aboutsignal.com/news/signal-desktop-without-a-mobile-phone-standalone-version-in-development/

#signal #signalapp #signalmessenger #news #windows #linux #macOS #desktop #tech #aboutsignal

"Kagi Small Web is an open source reminder that the web is plenty weird and interesting, despite the reports that social media is making the Internet homogenized. Social Media is not the Internet and there's a lot of goodness to enjoy outside of it. Go find it with Small Web!"

https://www.yewknee.com/blog/kagi-small-web

#Kagi #SmallWeb

Isn't it sort of weird that there is practically no mainstream software for writing that is noncommercial? https://nathanschneider.info/2026/06/toward-a-durable-writing-stack/

Jellyfin is free open source software that lets you create your own streaming services at home. It's a libre alternative to closed platforms like Plex and Emby.

Jellyfin works with locally stored video/audio files, internet radio/TV and broadcast TV. You can find out more at:

🌱 https://jellyfin.org

You can follow their official account at:

🌱 @jellyfin

#SelfHosting #MediaServer #FOSS #Plex #Emby #Alternatives #Streaming

🌟 Project Release Announcement Time! 🎉

I wrote a WebUSB extension for Firefox.

This lets web pages access USB devices (with your permission). This has long been supported by Chrome, but Mozilla has not wanted it, at least by default. Fortunately, because add-ons are a thing (for now. make sure to keep fighting for this!), it's possible to change that!

Common reasons for wanting this include programming microcontrollers, 3d-printers, smartphone bootloaders, and similar "physical computing" projects.

This works on Windows, Linux, and macOS

You can get the source code here: https://github.com/ArcaneNibble/awawausb

In order to make this work, you will need to install a small program on your computer. This is explained in the README. You can then install the .xpi file (on the GitHub Releases page) into your browser (which was _just_ auto-approved while I was typing this announcement up).

Please boost (if you want), test, report bugs, etc. etc. (although do keep in mind that this code is entirely written by a single catgirl)

i think this is the perfect type of project to drop late on a sunday / very early on a monday?

Suspiciously supportive. | More comics: https://rooniecomics.com/comics/always-there

This is how we can keep building a web worth wanting in the face of disingenuous veto players [1] and subversion of standards venues based on degraded competition [2]. The humility to admit your first idea is *probably* wrong (at least in part), combined with urgency to fix real problems for users and developers, puts a premium on responsibility in leadership. I'm proud of the team for taking that seriously.

[1]: https://infrequently.org/2025/09/apples-crimes-against-the-internet-community/
[2]: https://www.mnot.net/blog/2026/02/13/no

I wrote about Zuckerberg's texts with Musk and how they undermine the principles of a fair and equal platform for everyone https://www.platformer.news/zuckerberg-musk-texts-trial-content-moderation/

The problem with Meta’s business model is that they’re beholden to shareholders, not their community. We are not publicly traded, we are publicly FUNDED.

Mastodon has no incentive to keep you addicted. Our incentive is to make you happy, and help you build friendships, because it’s the right thing to do for you, and it's the right thing to do for humanity.

If you believe in a better way forward for our digital social spaces, please help support us by donating: https://joinmastodon.org/sponsors#donate

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@mpanhans @carlrichell Hi, this research could point to who… https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings