Nick Doty
@npdoty.techpolicy.social.ap.brid.gy
I fight for human rights online. I work on technical standards. I like wildflowers. I take public transit.
previously:
@[email protected] (2007-2016),
@npd […]
[bridged from https://techpolicy.social/@npdoty on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
previously:
@[email protected] (2007-2016),
@npd […]
[bridged from https://techpolicy.social/@npdoty on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Reposted by Nick Doty
What would happen if ICE wanted to join the Fediverse? Most instances probably wouldn’t host that account, but some would. The account would be broadly blocked at both individual and instance levels, and some instances would probably defederate the hosting instance. Some folks would migrate […]
Original post on cosocial.ca
cosocial.ca
January 17, 2026 at 2:25 AM
What would happen if ICE wanted to join the Fediverse? Most instances probably wouldn’t host that account, but some would. The account would be broadly blocked at both individual and instance levels, and some instances would probably defederate the hosting instance. Some folks would migrate […]
We could try to explain the privacy concept of "resignation" (answering apparent "privacy paradox" with evidence that people conclude surveillance is inescapable) with academic papers from Joe Turow and survey research ...
or, you could just watch this Subway Take […]
or, you could just watch this Subway Take […]
Original post on techpolicy.social
techpolicy.social
January 14, 2026 at 4:37 PM
We could try to explain the privacy concept of "resignation" (answering apparent "privacy paradox" with evidence that people conclude surveillance is inescapable) with academic papers from Joe Turow and survey research ...
or, you could just watch this Subway Take […]
or, you could just watch this Subway Take […]
The decisions made in standard-setting have "crucial ramifications for human rights" (so says the Human Rights Council) — so how should we design technical standard-setting bodies and their practices to better support human rights?
December 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
The decisions made in standard-setting have "crucial ramifications for human rights" (so says the Human Rights Council) — so how should we design technical standard-setting bodies and their practices to better support human rights?
Reposted by Nick Doty
I think that schools should take on this role.
You could have a server for a school with mastodon, but not connected to the rest of the fedi, you could network with similar schools. Just like at the school dance the teachers are around so there are limits to how it's used.
Teens could post […]
You could have a server for a school with mastodon, but not connected to the rest of the fedi, you could network with similar schools. Just like at the school dance the teachers are around so there are limits to how it's used.
Teens could post […]
Original post on sauropods.win
sauropods.win
December 14, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I think that schools should take on this role.
You could have a server for a school with mastodon, but not connected to the rest of the fedi, you could network with similar schools. Just like at the school dance the teachers are around so there are limits to how it's used.
Teens could post […]
You could have a server for a school with mastodon, but not connected to the rest of the fedi, you could network with similar schools. Just like at the school dance the teachers are around so there are limits to how it's used.
Teens could post […]
I wish it need not have happened in my time
November 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I wish it need not have happened in my time
because my favorite fediverse client is behind cloudflare, had to log in to my instance to directly to keep using decentralized social media
November 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM
because my favorite fediverse client is behind cloudflare, had to log in to my instance to directly to keep using decentralized social media
Reposted by Nick Doty
I was (and still am) concerned about "papers, please" demands, but didn't recognize how quickly the government would move to facial recognition lookups of anyone brownish and tackling people on the street and throwing them in a warehouse ("Kavanaugh stop").
October 29, 2025 at 8:25 PM
I was (and still am) concerned about "papers, please" demands, but didn't recognize how quickly the government would move to facial recognition lookups of anyone brownish and tackling people on the street and throwing them in a warehouse ("Kavanaugh stop").
Reposted by Nick Doty
The canceling of ICEBlock is more evidence, were any needed, that the Web is the platform of the future, the only platform without a controlling vendor. Anything controversial should be available through a pure browser interface.
#uspolitics
#uspolitics
October 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The canceling of ICEBlock is more evidence, were any needed, that the Web is the platform of the future, the only platform without a controlling vendor. Anything controversial should be available through a pure browser interface.
#uspolitics
#uspolitics
I can't make it in person this year, but @CenDemTech Tech Prom is coming up October 23rd -- it's always both nerdy and a fun party: https://cdt.org/event/2025-tech-prom/
#techpromcdt
#techpromcdt
October 1, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I can't make it in person this year, but @CenDemTech Tech Prom is coming up October 23rd -- it's always both nerdy and a fun party: https://cdt.org/event/2025-tech-prom/
#techpromcdt
#techpromcdt
In a city of a quarter million people where an infectious disease is currently spiking, what seems like the right number of healthcare facilities that will offer the protective vaccine?
September 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
In a city of a quarter million people where an infectious disease is currently spiking, what seems like the right number of healthcare facilities that will offer the protective vaccine?
Reposted by Nick Doty
We worried that there would be checkpoints and arbitrary stops where innocent people would face the dreaded "Your papers, please" demand. But that was wrong. They don't say "please".
https://wapo.st/41IZKeF
https://wapo.st/41IZKeF
September 8, 2025 at 5:53 PM
We worried that there would be checkpoints and arbitrary stops where innocent people would face the dreaded "Your papers, please" demand. But that was wrong. They don't say "please".
https://wapo.st/41IZKeF
https://wapo.st/41IZKeF
I have spent a lot of my career in circular conversations like this:
"We should maintain privacy feature X in Platform A."
-- "But Platform B doesn't have privacy feature X. Really what you're doing is forcing users to platform B, with worse privacy."
"Platform B should add privacy feature X as […]
"We should maintain privacy feature X in Platform A."
-- "But Platform B doesn't have privacy feature X. Really what you're doing is forcing users to platform B, with worse privacy."
"Platform B should add privacy feature X as […]
Original post on techpolicy.social
techpolicy.social
September 4, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I have spent a lot of my career in circular conversations like this:
"We should maintain privacy feature X in Platform A."
-- "But Platform B doesn't have privacy feature X. Really what you're doing is forcing users to platform B, with worse privacy."
"Platform B should add privacy feature X as […]
"We should maintain privacy feature X in Platform A."
-- "But Platform B doesn't have privacy feature X. Really what you're doing is forcing users to platform B, with worse privacy."
"Platform B should add privacy feature X as […]
Are the DC police just inundated with 911 calls? Gangs of armed men -- some wearing masks, some with tattoos -- are roaming the streets, harassing people when they get off the metro.
August 19, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Are the DC police just inundated with 911 calls? Gangs of armed men -- some wearing masks, some with tattoos -- are roaming the streets, harassing people when they get off the metro.
From time to time, I re-read "Who Goes Nazi?", with sadness.
https://harpers.org/archive/1941/08/who-goes-nazi/
The "macabre parlor game to play at a large gathering of one's acquaintances" is just as macabre, but that much more accessible when I accidentally open my Facebook feed. The spoiled […]
https://harpers.org/archive/1941/08/who-goes-nazi/
The "macabre parlor game to play at a large gathering of one's acquaintances" is just as macabre, but that much more accessible when I accidentally open my Facebook feed. The spoiled […]
Original post on techpolicy.social
techpolicy.social
August 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
From time to time, I re-read "Who Goes Nazi?", with sadness.
https://harpers.org/archive/1941/08/who-goes-nazi/
The "macabre parlor game to play at a large gathering of one's acquaintances" is just as macabre, but that much more accessible when I accidentally open my Facebook feed. The spoiled […]
https://harpers.org/archive/1941/08/who-goes-nazi/
The "macabre parlor game to play at a large gathering of one's acquaintances" is just as macabre, but that much more accessible when I accidentally open my Facebook feed. The spoiled […]
I often use search to confirm or deny a detail that I may have encountered in passing. This is among the most harmful moments for LLM intervention. Because I'm asking about something plausible, and LLMs produce plausible content, and because LLMs are obsequious, it will confirm the detail […]
Original post on techpolicy.social
techpolicy.social
August 6, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I often use search to confirm or deny a detail that I may have encountered in passing. This is among the most harmful moments for LLM intervention. Because I'm asking about something plausible, and LLMs produce plausible content, and because LLMs are obsequious, it will confirm the detail […]
Reposted by Nick Doty
"Yes, you read that right. A law supposedly designed to protect children now requires victims of sexual assault to submit government IDs to access support communities." […]
Original post on werd.social
werd.social
August 5, 2025 at 1:56 AM
"Yes, you read that right. A law supposedly designed to protect children now requires victims of sexual assault to submit government IDs to access support communities." […]
Thanks to engineers and advocates for meeting on a Sunday afternoon (before a very full week of other meetings) to talk about human rights in the technical standard-setting process.
https://techpolicy.social/@CenDemTech/114914121122768643
https://techpolicy.social/@CenDemTech/114914121122768643
CenDemTech (@[email protected])
Alongside the event, CDT helped organize a workshop on how to more concretely support human rights in the technical standard setting process. The UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (UNHCR) is continuing to consult with stakeholders prior to publishing an additional report on human rights in technical standards.
techpolicy.social
July 25, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Thanks to engineers and advocates for meeting on a Sunday afternoon (before a very full week of other meetings) to talk about human rights in the technical standard-setting process.
https://techpolicy.social/@CenDemTech/114914121122768643
https://techpolicy.social/@CenDemTech/114914121122768643
Reposted by Nick Doty
Presented my intro remarks to the UN workshop on Technical Standards and Human Rights at #ietf123. Slides here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1h9VaRly3WVgMn0xE6tk_Aktlzvi_wFsvi6-ACca5YHM/edit?usp=sharing It's a bit of a summary of what we've done so far with wide review in the W3C, how […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
July 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Presented my intro remarks to the UN workshop on Technical Standards and Human Rights at #ietf123. Slides here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1h9VaRly3WVgMn0xE6tk_Aktlzvi_wFsvi6-ACca5YHM/edit?usp=sharing It's a bit of a summary of what we've done so far with wide review in the W3C, how […]
Nick: this work is harmful. Rather than just saying no, I will do some good faith work to point out in greater detail the specific ways that it's harmful to our shared goals.
[]: Thanks for pointing out the ways that this is harmful. There seems to be broad agreement that you are correct about […]
[]: Thanks for pointing out the ways that this is harmful. There seems to be broad agreement that you are correct about […]
Original post on techpolicy.social
techpolicy.social
July 15, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Nick: this work is harmful. Rather than just saying no, I will do some good faith work to point out in greater detail the specific ways that it's harmful to our shared goals.
[]: Thanks for pointing out the ways that this is harmful. There seems to be broad agreement that you are correct about […]
[]: Thanks for pointing out the ways that this is harmful. There seems to be broad agreement that you are correct about […]
I had long stopped using the service or even checking on it, but finally realized that even having a dormant account with my name on it over on the MechaHitler site was too stomach-churning.
July 11, 2025 at 11:57 PM
I had long stopped using the service or even checking on it, but finally realized that even having a dormant account with my name on it over on the MechaHitler site was too stomach-churning.
Part of our mission to create a more open and decentralized social web ... is to be a centralized control point enforcing collection of identity documents and biometric data to comply with an invasive governmental mandate.
July 11, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Part of our mission to create a more open and decentralized social web ... is to be a centralized control point enforcing collection of identity documents and biometric data to comply with an invasive governmental mandate.
Reposted by Nick Doty
Supreme Court upholds Texas demand for ID for Web browsing:
https://papersplease.org/wp/2025/06/27/supreme-court-upholds-texas-demand-for-id-for-web-browsing/
In its worst decision ever on demands for ID, the Supreme Court today upheld a law that requires all visitors to some websites to […]
https://papersplease.org/wp/2025/06/27/supreme-court-upholds-texas-demand-for-id-for-web-browsing/
In its worst decision ever on demands for ID, the Supreme Court today upheld a law that requires all visitors to some websites to […]
Original post on liberdon.com
liberdon.com
June 27, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Supreme Court upholds Texas demand for ID for Web browsing:
https://papersplease.org/wp/2025/06/27/supreme-court-upholds-texas-demand-for-id-for-web-browsing/
In its worst decision ever on demands for ID, the Supreme Court today upheld a law that requires all visitors to some websites to […]
https://papersplease.org/wp/2025/06/27/supreme-court-upholds-texas-demand-for-id-for-web-browsing/
In its worst decision ever on demands for ID, the Supreme Court today upheld a law that requires all visitors to some websites to […]
The court's opinion in FSC v. Paxton only briefly touches on privacy, asserting that of course pornography websites and their vendors "have every incentive to assure users of their privacy" and so dismisses it altogether. As a factual matter, though, there are compelling reasons for users to be […]
Original post on techpolicy.social
techpolicy.social
June 27, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The court's opinion in FSC v. Paxton only briefly touches on privacy, asserting that of course pornography websites and their vendors "have every incentive to assure users of their privacy" and so dismisses it altogether. As a factual matter, though, there are compelling reasons for users to be […]
it is uniquely energy-sapping to me to hear "of course we're doing the bad thing, there's nothing you can do about" and "how dare you raise concerns" when it's combined simultaneously with "you, alone, need to work as quickly as possible on this topic to meet our intense deadlines or we'll do […]
Original post on techpolicy.social
techpolicy.social
June 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM
it is uniquely energy-sapping to me to hear "of course we're doing the bad thing, there's nothing you can do about" and "how dare you raise concerns" when it's combined simultaneously with "you, alone, need to work as quickly as possible on this topic to meet our intense deadlines or we'll do […]