Bridget Almas
@BridgetAlmas@mstdn.social  ·  activity timestamp 3 weeks ago

Looking for a consulting gig working on a cool open-source interoperability project? Consider responding to this RFP from the Lyrasis Organizational Home for Community Supported Techologies! https://lyrasis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Lyrasis-Interoperability-Project-RFP-2025.pdf
#glam #oss #interoperability#fedihire
just small circles 🕊
@smallcircles@social.coop  ·  activity timestamp 3 weeks ago
@tijl @strypey

In the 2nd topic above I describe the conceptual architecture as:

> "a distributed network of addressible actors for the exchange of social activities”

There is a full domain model there, and this conceptual architecture conveys the full promise and potential for #ActivityPub based social networking. All the various gears and mechanics that make the protocol tick have a place in it.

It is a bit of a meta-model, as it is not directly basis for impl in code, but input for specs.
just small circles 🕊
@smallcircles@social.coop replied  ·  activity timestamp 3 weeks ago
@tijl @strypey

There's Babylonian confusion of speech in all #ActivityPub related discussions that occur across the #fediverse. We have the #SocialWeb protocol specification itself, then the reality-on-the-wire where gaps and optional technology choices are implemented. And where protocol decay and post-facto #interoperability (follow-the-Mastodon) murky the waters. Leading to misunderstandings, wrong expectations, etc.

An example is in how we talk on Nomadic Identity:

https://socialhub.activitypub.rocks/t/nomadic-identity-for-the-fediverse/2101/96?u=aschrijver

just small circles 🕊
Bonfire
just small circles 🕊 and 1 other boosted
just small circles 🕊
@smallcircles@social.coop  ·  activity timestamp last month

More #Geosocial coming..

https://delightful.coding.social/delightful-fediverse-experience/#geosocial-networking

@bonfire request feedback on #UX designs for #Bonfire Geosocial.

https://socialhub.activitypub.rocks/t/please-provide-feedback-on-bonfire-geosocial-ux-designs/5427

The designs may also be inspiring to other devs working on #Geo functionality for the #fediverse and there's opportunity to align approaches for max #interoperability.

People are highly encouraged to start related more general discussion topics on improving protocol support for geosocial-enabled #ActivityPub platforms in the federated forum categories.
Ian Brown 👨🏻‍💻
@1br0wn@eupolicy.social  ·  activity timestamp last month

"Most modern consumer #messaging platforms...support end-to-end #encryption, but users today are limited to communicating with contacts who use the same platform. This is why Google is strongly supportive of regulatory efforts that require #interoperability" https://security.googleblog.com/2023/07/an-important-step-towards-secure-and.html
just small circles 🕊
@smallcircles@social.coop  ·  activity timestamp last month

More #Geosocial coming..

https://delightful.coding.social/delightful-fediverse-experience/#geosocial-networking

@bonfire request feedback on #UX designs for #Bonfire Geosocial.

https://socialhub.activitypub.rocks/t/please-provide-feedback-on-bonfire-geosocial-ux-designs/5427

The designs may also be inspiring to other devs working on #Geo functionality for the #fediverse and there's opportunity to align approaches for max #interoperability.

People are highly encouraged to start related more general discussion topics on improving protocol support for geosocial-enabled #ActivityPub platforms in the federated forum categories.

Tim Chambers
Cory Doctorow
Tim Chambers and 1 other boosted
Ian Brown 👨🏻‍💻
@1br0wn@eupolicy.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

Looking forward v much to our discussion this morning at the UK's Competition & Markets Authority on #interoperability: lessons (for the #DMCCA) from #telecoms regulation!

Tim Cowen (Preiskell & Co.) and Prof. @chrismarsden.bsky.social are both world authorities on this topic 👀 And we have a surprise guest to talk about payments & water regulation lessons!

Here are my background slides https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1SBE2-MOzPn5wvsL7XhYqfmGEbJ7W1FvV6frq5VeXlL8/edit?usp=sharing
Ian Brown 👨🏻‍💻
@1br0wn@eupolicy.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago
#Threads "reached 100m sign-ups faster than any other app in history, which you can partly attribute to its linkage to #Instagram and streamlined profile creation via your IG info. But even so, it’ll go down as a record either way, while Threads also reached 100m active users in just a few months." #interoperability#DMA#DMCCA#Meta#SelfPreferencing

From: @tchambers
https://indieweb.social/@tchambers/114811908883686443
Ian Brown 👨🏻‍💻
@1br0wn@eupolicy.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago
#Threads "reached 100m sign-ups faster than any other app in history, which you can partly attribute to its linkage to #Instagram and streamlined profile creation via your IG info. But even so, it’ll go down as a record either way, while Threads also reached 100m active users in just a few months." #interoperability#DMA#DMCCA#Meta#SelfPreferencing

From: @tchambers
https://indieweb.social/@tchambers/114811908883686443
Ian Brown 👨🏻‍💻
@1br0wn@eupolicy.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

Looking forward v much to our discussion this morning at the UK's Competition & Markets Authority on #interoperability: lessons (for the #DMCCA) from #telecoms regulation!

Tim Cowen (Preiskell & Co.) and Prof. @chrismarsden.bsky.social are both world authorities on this topic 👀 And we have a surprise guest to talk about payments & water regulation lessons!

Here are my background slides https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1SBE2-MOzPn5wvsL7XhYqfmGEbJ7W1FvV6frq5VeXlL8/edit?usp=sharing
Ian Brown 👨🏻‍💻
@1br0wn@eupolicy.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

Thank you @EUCommission for committing (at the end of today's #compliance workshop) to further explore the geolocalisation obstacles #Meta is imposing on #DMA #interoperability for #NIICS! And good work @Amandine for raising the problem so clearly 👏

Screenshot of Ian Brown's questions in the online Q&A (Slido): * Does the Commission accept this restrictive Meta interpretation? GDPR, for example, explicitly applies to data controllers OUTSIDE the EU offering services within the EU, or monitoring the behaviour of EU residents * Don't the EDPS, EDPB, and other members of the DMA high-level panel have something to say that the Commission thinks Matrix and others being forced by Meta to geolocate all their users is trivial/unproblematic?! * I thought BEREC clearly said (i ts review of the original Meta reference offer) that a separate inbox for third-party chats was not acceptable? * Given how the geolocalisation DMA interpretation of Meta is causing such damage to fair and contestable NIICS, will the EC open an investigation and then take action to remove this obstacle?
Screenshot of Ian Brown's questions in the online Q&A (Slido): * Does the Commission accept this restrictive Meta interpretation? GDPR, for example, explicitly applies to data controllers OUTSIDE the EU offering services within the EU, or monitoring the behaviour of EU residents * Don't the EDPS, EDPB, and other members of the DMA high-level panel have something to say that the Commission thinks Matrix and others being forced by Meta to geolocate all their users is trivial/unproblematic?! * I thought BEREC clearly said (i ts review of the original Meta reference offer) that a separate inbox for third-party chats was not acceptable? * Given how the geolocalisation DMA interpretation of Meta is causing such damage to fair and contestable NIICS, will the EC open an investigation and then take action to remove this obstacle?
Screenshot of Ian Brown's questions in the online Q&A (Slido): * Does the Commission accept this restrictive Meta interpretation? GDPR, for example, explicitly applies to data controllers OUTSIDE the EU offering services within the EU, or monitoring the behaviour of EU residents * Don't the EDPS, EDPB, and other members of the DMA high-level panel have something to say that the Commission thinks Matrix and others being forced by Meta to geolocate all their users is trivial/unproblematic?! * I thought BEREC clearly said (i ts review of the original Meta reference offer) that a separate inbox for third-party chats was not acceptable? * Given how the geolocalisation DMA interpretation of Meta is causing such damage to fair and contestable NIICS, will the EC open an investigation and then take action to remove this obstacle?
Ian Brown 👨🏻‍💻
@1br0wn@eupolicy.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

Thank you @EUCommission for committing (at the end of today's #compliance workshop) to further explore the geolocalisation obstacles #Meta is imposing on #DMA #interoperability for #NIICS! And good work @Amandine for raising the problem so clearly 👏

Screenshot of Ian Brown's questions in the online Q&A (Slido): * Does the Commission accept this restrictive Meta interpretation? GDPR, for example, explicitly applies to data controllers OUTSIDE the EU offering services within the EU, or monitoring the behaviour of EU residents * Don't the EDPS, EDPB, and other members of the DMA high-level panel have something to say that the Commission thinks Matrix and others being forced by Meta to geolocate all their users is trivial/unproblematic?! * I thought BEREC clearly said (i ts review of the original Meta reference offer) that a separate inbox for third-party chats was not acceptable? * Given how the geolocalisation DMA interpretation of Meta is causing such damage to fair and contestable NIICS, will the EC open an investigation and then take action to remove this obstacle?
Screenshot of Ian Brown's questions in the online Q&A (Slido): * Does the Commission accept this restrictive Meta interpretation? GDPR, for example, explicitly applies to data controllers OUTSIDE the EU offering services within the EU, or monitoring the behaviour of EU residents * Don't the EDPS, EDPB, and other members of the DMA high-level panel have something to say that the Commission thinks Matrix and others being forced by Meta to geolocate all their users is trivial/unproblematic?! * I thought BEREC clearly said (i ts review of the original Meta reference offer) that a separate inbox for third-party chats was not acceptable? * Given how the geolocalisation DMA interpretation of Meta is causing such damage to fair and contestable NIICS, will the EC open an investigation and then take action to remove this obstacle?
Screenshot of Ian Brown's questions in the online Q&A (Slido): * Does the Commission accept this restrictive Meta interpretation? GDPR, for example, explicitly applies to data controllers OUTSIDE the EU offering services within the EU, or monitoring the behaviour of EU residents * Don't the EDPS, EDPB, and other members of the DMA high-level panel have something to say that the Commission thinks Matrix and others being forced by Meta to geolocate all their users is trivial/unproblematic?! * I thought BEREC clearly said (i ts review of the original Meta reference offer) that a separate inbox for third-party chats was not acceptable? * Given how the geolocalisation DMA interpretation of Meta is causing such damage to fair and contestable NIICS, will the EC open an investigation and then take action to remove this obstacle?
just small circles 🕊
@smallcircles@social.coop  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago
@mamund thank you. I will also give the linked article on agentic systems a read.

Note that #ActivityPub here on the #fediverse has this need to discover and introspect the capabilities of actor endpoints on the network.

This entirely missing. With #ActivityStreams#LinkedData endlessly versatile, a player on the fediverse can freely invent their own flavours on-the-fly, introducing protocol decay and makes #interoperability harder.

Whack-a-mole driven development to moving targets ensues.