I noticed drones flying in formation in an entirely different part of US this weekend.

Of course my sister thought they were 👽 aliens. Was a bit disappointed when I informed her. 😁

For some reason I was also under the impression that international airports also counted as borders as well. So, that would mean that every major city in the sates would be in that red range.

Food for thought.

What a loophole. Doubt most people living there have any idea.

Even worse, technically, the 'border' extends 100 miles inland within the United States. Your rights are extremely limited in these areas: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/border-zone

If you've ever lived in, visited or traveled through some areas of the American south, you may be surprised to find border checkpoints 80 miles north of the US/MX border, for example. Borders aren't just land borders, either, as it also includes sea/lake borders.

Then there is the classic bit of lifting prints after they hand you something.

Not cool.

Crooks don' t appreciate (anon) critique

That's already an issue. Have you watched news out of there? Such a disconnect with reality.

This is an old article, but very related.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/russia-ratchets-up-internet-crackdown-with-block-privacy-service-tor-2021-12-08/

Ever try to sign up for a VPS in that country? Every one of them states in the ELUA that you are not allowed to use Tor.

But, they are not the only country that does this. China is a classic example. But, even places like France do country level blocking of various content.

bows head

This is crazy. Could it be a bad sign of something to come?

Prevention of access to information.

This is not unexpected. How will this play with the use of I2P there?

Exactly. Scary how these power-houses of finance "nudge" various figures / open source projects, in attempt to force them to "align" with personal ideology / goals. It's very organized.

Financial E-Corp

That's exactly the problem. There is no accountability or transparency on how any of this stuff is used.

Such a valuable tool (to trash the constitution).

So very sad to hear the teasing of... (almost) a hint of accountability for it. 😛

Sad thing is, as we've seen in recent years, banking can be completely political. We saw those Canadian truckers and their supporters get their bank accounts frozen, we've seen merchant account platforms like PayPal and Stripe close access to companies based on frivolous reasons.

Cash is still king.

Social media is a dangerous thing. People overshare all the time.

No, I have not, I will check it out, thanks!

Thank you. I feel that it's very important to help out the community in ways that I can.

Have you been following my blog? That's also a good resource with articles going back a couple years.

Your site is one of the first I stumbled upon while first exploring I2P, it is an amazing resource. I check the new listings often to see if anything exciting is available. Thanks for hosting this.

As you can see from my list, there are a very large number of clearnet mirrors on I2P. I thank the various people who make this possible.

I see more services making I2P mirrors available so people can use the services privately. This will result in some people running I2P only services, then eventually a large portion of the internet will be usable on I2P.

I am making this comment while on I2P, if more services had I2P mirrors I would use them instead of clear net.

They may not be perfect "iPhone: that's privacy" phone... but with their massive public influence, happy for every call-out they make. ;)

Good on Apple! More companies need to call bullshit like this out.

My expectation is rather bleak. People already willing give up so much personal data without a second thought.

You and RTP have put this into words far better than I could. Thank you.

Without collective action by people, I see current trajectory, continuing.

One of continual x, y emergencies (par for the course) used to strip our rights / freedom online / offline.

For example, Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum states: "we need to make a vaccine for the internet". That is something that stuck with me. I have to wonder, what is an "internet vaccine"? Can only imagine the wish is to "clean" (control) the internet, information, and visibility (amplify / deamplification) using AI, digitalID, worldwide. DigitalID will be introduced as a way to increase reputation / visibility. It's not a pretty picture.

We can clearly see innovation is no longer by chance, but instead being financed. Every trend has been by design.

Corporations continuing to make invasive increments in entertainment, "fun" (ie: media, ring doorbell cam TV show, etc - "building / funding our own mass surveillance for plutocracies is fun!").

I see people going 1 of 2 directions: on one hand, we have people who continue to integrate their reality into the newest invasive dopamine hit releasing tech / social products. That group will eventually have all behavior, speech, and lives fully automated by AI (as integration becomes ever more tailored to / in the individual). They will eventually lose what it means to be human (side effect of this tech + loss of privacy / behavior autonomy on long enough time period IMO). All speech / behavior will be policed in a privatized way much like we are seeing today. An increase in the same.

I see another group who for one reason or another choose to enhance private spaces (remaining human). Whether out of curiosity, instinct, or from learning the hard way by having their lives ruined in one way or another by dark corporate profit interests. And it will involve tech on the path of I2P, where all users pitch in resources to pool stronger anonymity be it network, radio or processing.

I forsee many companies willing to engage more of the darkside of AI to find new profit avenues (behind the scenes, and if powerful enough, out in open), to gain power / influence. From deeper / more malicious "reputation" based businesses of various kinds, to products designed to actively manipulate the former humans in the above group using their data. Possibly even businesses catering to manipulate individuals, for other individuals. A more mainstream service of sorts (in comparison to today).

AI will become the modern day "ministry of truth" (1984).

Most don't change until they feel pain. 🧐

Also why it's important to both embrace and create alternatives to the mainstream, like I2P, and alternative networks / mesh.

I do see real hope in that type of thing growing as people better understand threats in the landscape.

Facebook cares about it's users!

bows head

And people just hand personal data over right and left ...

Another self serving pact to provide a dash of extra plausible deniability for spying, chock full of empty promises...

As is the modern day standard. 🙃