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> The powerful and wealthy don’t think people should have unrestricted computers. Citation needed on that one, big time. All of the locking down by computer ve

> The powerful and wealthy don’t think people should have unrestricted computers. Citation needed on that one, big time. All of the locking down by computer vendors we’ve seen to date is pretty well explained by more boring but strong commercial benefits (e.g. app stores) and catering to users who couldn’t care less about whether their phones are “general purpose computers” and just don’t want to have to think too hard before they download an app or click a link. It’s also unclear to me how computers being able to run arbitrary code is the part these puppet masters would care about. As long as these devices have browsers (and they pretty much all do, even game consoles now) pretty much all the practical ability to be subversive is still there. I’ll worry when they outlaw/restrict at least one of: unrestricted browsers, wordpress, wordpress hosting. As long as those are around (and right now they’re highly commercially desired, so good luck to the puppet masters) you can get your thoughts out on the internet for chump change. If fixing the current state of discourse on Facebook is the last great hope for maintaining heterodox thought, we’re totally screwed even if we nationalize it or whatever.

matheusmoreira 6y ago
> All of the locking down by computer vendors we’ve seen to date is pretty well explained by more boring but strong commercial benefits (e.g. app stores) Yes. See also the copyright and advertising industries. Free unrestricted computing is directly opposed to the business interests of these multi-billion dollar industries. Simply because it gives me the power to block their stupid ads and tracking or copy their data without paying for it. They obviously don't want anyone to have this power and the only way to achieve that outcome is by destroying computing freedom. In order for me to not have this power, they must necessarily make it so that my computer does not obey me. I have no doubt there are more examples out there that I don't know about. Hopefully others will post about them as well. Like I said, these commercial interests are nothing compared to the big picture surrounding government control of computers. This is already a reality in certain niches such as radio: government agencies already try to control how radio equipment works and I have no doubt they will require trusted computing if they don't already. There have been several attempts to regulate encryption in the US. In the other Five Eyes, particularly Australia, these attempts have been more or less successful. > I’ll worry when they outlaw/restrict at least one of: unrestricted browsers, wordpress, wordpress hosting. What makes you think they won't be restricted? This is already a reality in certain parts of the world and the west is becoming ever more friendly to these ideas.

matheusmoreira 6y ago

> All of the locking down by computer vendors we’ve seen to date is pretty well explained by more boring but strong commercial benefits (e.g. app stores) Yes. See also the copyright and advertising industries. Free unrestricted computing is directly opposed to the business interests of these multi-billion dollar industries. Simply because it gives me the power to block their stupid ads and tracking or copy their data without paying for it. They obviously don't want anyone to have this power and the only way to achieve that outcome is by destroying computing freedom. In order for me to not have this power, they must necessarily make it so that my computer does not obey me. I have no doubt there are more examples out there that I don't know about. Hopefully others will post about them as well. Like I said, these commercial interests are nothing compared to the big picture surrounding government control of computers. This is already a reality in certain niches such as radio: government agencies already try to control how radio equipment works and I have no doubt they will require trusted computing if they don't already. There have been several attempts to regulate encryption in the US. In the other Five Eyes, particularly Australia, these attempts have been more or less successful. > I’ll worry when they outlaw/restrict at least one of: unrestricted browsers, wordpress, wordpress hosting. What makes you think they won't be restricted? This is already a reality in certain parts of the world and the west is becoming ever more friendly to these ideas.