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Aral Balkan

Oh, nice, looks like the Fosstodon instance (@fosstodon) silenced my profile.

fosstodon.org/@JoshStrobl/1106

I guess it tells you more about “FOSS”todon than anything else that they chose to block a human rights activist/privacy advocate who wakes up and works at a not-for-profit on free and open software every day. Maybe if I were to work at Google and hack on a hobby open source project in the evenings I’d be acceptable?

*smh*

Edit: “silenced” not “blocked (i.e., suspended)”

10 Jul 2023 at 8:46 | Open on mastodon.ar.al
146 comments
DansLeRuSH ᴱᶰ

@aral I had some issues to access (to some specific accounts) from there, that's mainly why I just moved 🤔

10 Jul 2023 at 8:50 | Reply | Open on floss.social
Leon Paternoster

@aral @fosstodon I’m on Fosstodon and can still see you, Aral. @fosstodon I’d question blocking Aral!

10 Jul 2023 at 8:51 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
David Alonso

@leonp @fosstodon @aral FWIW, Aral has been silenced, not suspended.

10 Jul 2023 at 8:56 | Reply | Open on masto.es
Fish Id Wardrobe

@aral @fosstodon You're a contentious figure that likes to make dramatic statements. That *does* tend to rub some folk up the wrong way. Fairly or unfairly.

10 Jul 2023 at 8:54 | Reply | Open on mastodon.me.uk
Gareth Kitchen
@fishidwardrobe But to be blocked just for airing that view! That's just wrong. Plain wrong. @aral @fosstodon
10 Jul 2023 at 9:00 | Reply | Open on stroud.social
kcarruthers

@aral they’re very blocky aren’t they

10 Jul 2023 at 8:54 | Reply | Open on mastodon.social
Chris Ely

Not really. I tend to notice when other instances block this instance more often than I find there is an account that I can't follow from this instance.

There are a fair number of accounts that I can't see from my backup account that I can and do follow from here.

@kcarruthers
@aral

10 Jul 2023 at 9:56 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Nantucket E-Books

@aral @fosstodon This is why the difference between free software and open-source software is not some trivial
distinction.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:04 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Aral Balkan

Edit: So if you’re on Fosstodon, know that Fosstodon has silenced my account.

You should be able to follow me if you want to see my posts but won’t otherwise see them if they’re boosted into your timelines, etc.

Or maybe consider switching to a FOSS server that doesn‘t silence FOSS developers.

(Please boost if you haven’t been silenced by Fosstodon also so folks there might see. Thanks.)

#foss #fosstodon #censorship #fediverse #mastodon #freeSoftware #openSource #privacy #SmallTech #SmallWeb

10 Jul 2023 at 9:08 | Reply | Open on mastodon.ar.al
maegul

@aral so if you don’t mind my asking, as someone not enough in the know, why did they do this?

10 Jul 2023 at 9:09 | Reply | Open on hachyderm.io
Aral Balkan
Nuno & Lua :DsaprvingLua:

@aral @maegul given their CoC I would guess that has something to do with their anti-advocacy stance or rule on "controversial" posts, I mean it's their server but 🤦
Edit: added screenshots
10 Jul 2023 at 9:30 | Reply | Open on mas.to
Thomas Ricouard

@ncrav @aral @maegul And that's why I would never go on niche servers. Admin can just run it like Elon in the end.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:40 | Reply | Open on mastodon.social
DELETED

@maegul @aral unfortunately this is what happens when mods and admins think they know what's "best" for all their users.

Pro-tip, users are quite capable of figuring out who they want to follow/mute or block themselves without some overzealous mod or admin deciding for them.

Edit: additionally its using tools like hide, or suspend things that are designed for troublesome users/spam/malicious actors being used on someone who's only crime was *maybe* having a different opinion... Absurd.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:38 | Reply | Open on mstdn.dsnv.net
EdenDestroyer (He/Him)

@aral yikes. what was their reasoning to silence you?

10 Jul 2023 at 9:11 | Reply | Open on solarpunk.moe
moonwalker

@aral hmm... how do you call the account you follow and don't follow at the same time?

10 Jul 2023 at 9:11 | Reply | Open on infosec.exchange
SolSoCoG

@aral huh that's an odd thing to do. Also, Limiting removes follows? Thought it would basicly just block your content from their fed tl.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:11 | Reply | Open on ieji.de
73 million seconds

@aral from Your followers should still be fine. Based on Mastodon docs limiting (silencing) a user doesn't break follows and only means posts won't show up on public timelines: docs.joinmastodon.org/admin/mo

Or are the Mastodon docs incorrect?

10 Jul 2023 at 9:13 | Reply | Open on infosec.exchange
Aral Balkan
Timo Tiuraniemi

@aral @73ms Indeed, I still get Aral's toots fine.

But still, really want to know what happened here with the silencing. @kev ?

10 Jul 2023 at 9:31 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
John Conway

@aral @73ms yeah, I thought the whole point of silencing was that it allows follows, but keeps posts off the public timelines so people can’t come across them by accident.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:37 | Reply | Open on sauropods.win
~/hyde

@aral I hope it was a mistake... We'll see

10 Jul 2023 at 9:13 | Reply | Open on lazybear.social
dick_turpin

@aral So what did you say (write) to get yourself placed on the naughty step?

10 Jul 2023 at 9:15 | Reply | Open on mastodon.org.uk
Aral Balkan

Note: edited to make it clear that I was silenced not suspended.

Apparently that doesn’t make people unfollow you but it means that your posts do not show up in people’s timelines if they’re boosted there, etc.

So, basically, folks on Fosstodon are not made to unfollow me but I’m censored there.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:34 | Reply | Open on mastodon.ar.al
Mehrad :kde: :emacs: :rstats:

@aral it does, I still follow you *and* I saw your boost from @doot with no issue. Can you explain how you came up with such conclusion and how I for one can see and intract with you both from my Fosstodon account?!

@fosstodon

10 Jul 2023 at 9:40 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
DELETED

@Mehrad @aral @fosstodon you follow aral and aral boosted me, so you can see us due to your follow relationship with aral.
We wouldn't show on the federated feed because of follow relationships on the server alone though, I believe.

We are only hidden to those who do not have some connection in that way.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:43 | Reply | Open on glitterkitten.co.uk
Leon Paternoster

@aral fwiw @fosstodon I can’t see anything that warrants @aral’s silencing, both in tone and subject.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:43 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Jan

@aral fosstodon is the new closetodon?

10 Jul 2023 at 9:48 | Reply | Open on toot.io
Aral Balkan

@jan No idea. I was apparently silenced and now I’m apparently not… 🤷‍♂️

10 Jul 2023 at 9:49 | Reply | Open on mastodon.ar.al
Eva Pavlikova

@aral and did they tell you why? Did you get any message on it?

10 Jul 2023 at 9:58 | Reply | Open on mastodon.social
Digital Mark λ 📚 🕹 💾 🥃

@aral fosstodon is mostly a troll instance, I have a couple followers there but the vast majority of interactions with them are some "Well Actually GNU Linux".

10 Jul 2023 at 9:38 | Reply | Open on appdot.net
Kye Fox

@aral That's a weird call. I think silencing is generally a good feature, but my perspective is knowing and trusting all the people who run the instance I'm on to make good calls.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:47 | Reply | Open on tech.lgbt
BitPirate
Maria Liv

@aral @fosstodon Omg, you are not serious! Wtf! Why?!

10 Jul 2023 at 9:11 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Jonathan Cremin

@aral that's crazy, but really shows how running your own instance is a good defense against censorship. Very surprising behaviour from @fosstodon

10 Jul 2023 at 9:15 | Reply | Open on social.crem.in
Dušan 🇷🇸 :arch: ⚛️
Joshua Strobl

@aral @fosstodon Is it possible there was just enough reports against your account / posts that you were blocked as a result, even if the reports date back years? I find @kev and co to be reasonable individuals and would hesitate to attribute malice. Fosstodon is an incredibly popular Mastodon instance, with a big user base, so I would wager some mistakes just happen during the process of administrating it.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:20 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Aral Balkan
Mehrad :kde: :emacs: :rstats:

@aral @JoshStrobl @fosstodon @kev no it is not. I don't understand why you and others are saying this.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:34 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Mehrad :kde: :emacs: :rstats:

@aral @JoshStrobl @fosstodon @kev i also posted under another such claim which obviously is not true (because I can see both your posts and interact)

fosstodon.org/@Mehrad/11068909

10 Jul 2023 at 9:35 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Aral Balkan

@Mehrad Are you following @doot? If so, sign out and visit the page.

This is what I see.

@JoshStrobl @fosstodon @kev
10 Jul 2023 at 9:38 | Reply | Open on mastodon.ar.al
DELETED

@aral @Mehrad @JoshStrobl @fosstodon @kev to be clear i don't take issue with them doing so, if that's what they feel is right for them then fair enough

10 Jul 2023 at 9:50 | Reply | Open on glitterkitten.co.uk
Mehrad :kde: :emacs: :rstats:

@aral no I don't follow @doot account. And using Tusky (which I have used all this time) I can see their profile and read their posts. Shall I share screenshot?

@JoshStrobl @fosstodon @kev

10 Jul 2023 at 9:51 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Timo Tiuraniemi

@Mehrad So silencing means:

"A limited account is hidden to all other users on that instance, except for its followers. All of the content is still there, and it can still be found via search, mentions, and following, but the content is invisible publicly."

IIUC it means that if someone you follow boosts a silenced account you don't also follow, you won't see it. If you use search, you will still find it.

Edit. doot via fosstodon.org shows "This profile has been hidden...", but not via Tusky.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:55 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Joshua Strobl

@Mehrad @aral @doot @fosstodon @kev

doot appears as blocked by mods for me. Once I click to show anyways, so long as I do not refresh the page, it will continue showing the profile. The moment I do a full refresh, it shows the same thing again (so likely retained in page state until it's cleared on refresh).
10 Jul 2023 at 9:55 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Aral Balkan
Mehrad :kde: :emacs: :rstats:

@aral @JoshStrobl @fosstodon @kev yes, I see his post and I don't see what he sees. That simple. There is something wrong, sure, but it is not what you claimed it to be because I'm from the same instance and I saw your posts in my wall (that's how I found out and replied)

10 Jul 2023 at 9:45 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Joshua Strobl

@Mehrad @aral @fosstodon @kev Because it was? You think I'm just gonna make up some random bullshit and what...GIMP some screenshot? What would the objective be there? I'm perfectly happy with Fosstodon, I got no reason to stir shit up. @hyde ping me, couldn't see @aral, went to his account and got the message.

Following the account does not provide any prompt.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:39 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Mehrad :kde: :emacs: :rstats:

@JoshStrobl @aral @fosstodon @kev @hyde all I'm saying is that I (as you can see) have no issue seeing the posts, following @aral and I don't see **any** warning or notice in the client I use. So we better investigate rather than pointing fingers.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:44 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Ralf Rottmann

@aral @fosstodon Fundamental flaw in Mastodons design. Especially the lack of transparency. A decentralized network of arbitrary censorship nodes.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:25 | Reply | Open on rottmann.social
Jeroen Baert

@aral @fosstodon That's disappointing. I don't see why anything that's even remotely related to FOSS would want to block you. Sure, you're vocal and (positively!) radical, isn't that exactly what a movement needs? Even if you don't always agree? Sigh.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:26 | Reply | Open on mastodon.social
Emanuel Pina

@aral @fosstodon I'm on Fosstodon and could, and still can, see your posts. Do you have confirmation that they have limited your account? Do instances have a public log of limited accounts? I have @kev and @mike as very reasonable and transparent. Hope we can get this straight.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:28 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Aral Balkan

@emanuel Just edited the post to make it clear I was silenced not suspended. Not that that’s great but important to be precise. I’ll update the other post to make it clear that that hasn’t caused people to unfollow. (I was confused because someone said they had to re-follow.)

@fosstodon @kev @mike

10 Jul 2023 at 9:32 | Reply | Open on mastodon.ar.al
Emanuel Pina

@aral @fosstodon More. Even when logged out, I can see your latest post on the public federated timeline: fosstodon.org/public

10 Jul 2023 at 9:42 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Aral Balkan

@emanuel Yep, looks like my account is no longer silenced.

@fosstodon

10 Jul 2023 at 9:57 | Reply | Open on mastodon.ar.al
katt

@mike @aral @kev @emanuel @fosstodon Yes, I think, Limit preserves existing follows. It’s people who don’t yet follow u who won’t be able to see posts. At least that’s the behavior I saw when migrating to an instance that Limits m.social. Existing m.social follows that I migrated over were preserved and functioned as usual. But I couldn’t view posts from M.social accounts that I didn’t follow. If I found an account by other means and followed them, then everything functions normally. So basically everyone on that instance just needs to follow you and all will be copacetic! 🙌 😊. Sorry this happened. What a pain. :/

@mike @aral @kev @emanuel @fosstodonYes, I think, Limit preserves existing follows. It’s people who don’t yet follow u who won’t be able to see posts. At least that’s the behavior I saw when migrating to an instance that Limits m.social. Existing m.social follows that I migrated over were preserved and functioned as usual. But I couldn’t view posts from M.social accounts that I didn’t follow. If I found an account by other means and followed them, then everything functions normally. So basically...

10 Jul 2023 at 9:49 | Reply | Open on tech.lgbt
kim_harding ✅
Aral Balkan

@kim_harding Yep, I can access it too now. I guess I was unsilenced 🤷‍♂️

@fosstodon

10 Jul 2023 at 9:49 | Reply | Open on mastodon.ar.al
Aral Balkan

Well it looks like my account is not silenced anymore on Fosstodon?

e.g., Access fosstodon.org/@aral@mastodon.a while signed out and you should be able to see it.

Hiccup?

Policy reversal?

🤷‍♂️

Any idea what happened here, @fosstodon?

10 Jul 2023 at 9:47 | Reply | Open on mastodon.ar.al
thomkennon

@aral @fosstodon

Also, clicking on *Share profile anyway* does not reveal, it's a dead click for me.
10 Jul 2023 at 9:50 | Reply | Open on mastodon.social
Andrej

@aral @fosstodon It seems like that happened to other people as well.

10 Jul 2023 at 9:59 | Reply | Open on trees.social
Benjamin Hollon 🇺🇸🇲🇾🇮🇳🇦🇫

@aral This post is an odd find under Fosstodon’s trending posts. 😂

10 Jul 2023 at 10:47 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Twelve :GrapheneOS:

@aral
Never noticed any silence from you, hopefully just a hickup otherwise id be a bit disepointed
@fosstodon

10 Jul 2023 at 11:16 | Reply | Open on fosstodon.org
Moon
@aral @fosstodon

> a human rights activist/privacy advocate who wakes up and works at a not-for-profit on free and open software every day

You can be all those things and still be an irritating asshole (hypothetically.)
10 Jul 2023 at 11:16 | Reply | Open on shitposter.club
Extra_Special_Carbon

@aral @fosstodon This is the first I’ve seen of your posts in a while. Don’t know if it’s connected. I wondered where you had gone.

10 Jul 2023 at 12:03 | Reply | Open on mastodon.world
Nikov :comunismo: 🇵🇸

@aral @fosstodon probably because your ideas are close to communism and speak to communists like me and others? 😂 beeep, beeep, anticommunist alarm! ⚠️

10 Jul 2023 at 13:21 | Reply | Open on masto.nobigtech.es
Mike Christensen

@aral @fosstodon Maybe no one told the Fosstodon admins that because you're a human rights activist/privacy advocate who wakes up and works at a not-for-profit on free and open software every day that their rules just don't apply to you and you can say and do whatever you like and they can't ever do anything or risk your ire?

11 Jul 2023 at 1:29 | Reply | Open on mas.to
Twitter_expat ✅(Fedi Resident)

@aral @fosstodon

If the #fediverse is worth something I belive is for advocacy for or against something NOT for perusing censure of different points of views. Any server or instance that promote censure of reasonable point of views is in the wrong place. Needless to say that racism, nazism or misogyny is NOT a point of view.

11 Jul 2023 at 6:41 | Reply | Open on mastodon.world
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