#Firewall Interference

[technicalfika]

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[hypewinter]

Dick stared out at the snowy landscape past the window before turning back to his new baby brother. Danny was sitting in his high chair, happily munching away at some Cheerios. Looking at him now Dick thought back to how he had come to Wayne Manor just a few months prior.

Bruce had stormed into the Manor after coming back from a Justice League mission with a bundle in his hands. Dick who had stopped by the manor to steal food catch up with Alfred had been thoroughly thrown off by his father's open animosity. He could hardly recall the last time he'd seen Bruce this outwardly furious. The man's glare alone could rival Darkseid's omega beams. As Bruce sat down at the table, the two men finally got a good look at just what he was carrying. It was an infant. An infant who was fast asleep, his soft black hair falling over his eyes. Bruce quietly asked Alfred to prepare a room as well as all necessities needed for a baby. The old butler had immediately set off to just that.

Meanwhile Dick was quick to ask what had happened but Bruce didn't say. Even when the others gradually found what was happening and asked their own questions, he still refused to answer. Not even Alfred had been told where the baby had come from. The only information Bruce had offered up was that the baby's name was Danny and he would be staying at the Manor from now on. As for the rest of the details, he claimed he would tell them in due time. But Batman's "due time" was often too late to actually do anything about it so desperate for answers, the family had turned to their own investigations only to come up with nothing.

All files related to Danny were locked behind a mountain of firewalls and Oracle had apparently already been sworn to secrecy by the big man himself. Whatever it was, Bruce wanted absolutely zero interference, so for now, the family was forced to sit in their hands.

That led till now, 5 months later. It was mid-January and Dick was on babysitting duty. Everyone else was either out running errands or on a mission. Not that Dick minded though. Danny was incredibly cute and he loved taking care of him. Besides, it gave him the perfect opportunity to get Danny to see him as the favorite brother. Still, Dick couldn't help but feel couped up today. Maybe it was because it had been snowing the last few days leaving both boys alone in the giant manor all day long.

Dick stared wistfully out the window once again before an idea dawned on him. He turned back to Danny who had stuffed the last of the Cheerios into his mouth along with his entire hand.

"Hey Danny. Wanna have a snow day?" he asked cheerily. The boy cocked his head at Dick, hand still in mouth. Dick smiled wider. "I'll take that as a yes!"

Dick hoisted Danny out of his high chair and carried him upstairs to his room. After he set Danny down in his crib, he grabbed all the gear he needed. He picked out a long sleeve shirt with a cartoon star and big bold letters reading "You're a Star!" He also grabbed long socks, some elastic pants as well as jeans, a scarf, a blue beanie, and a pair of cute little mittens.

It didn't take long for Danny to be fully dressed for the outside elements. Though after Dick finished putting his shoes on, he squirmed a little and made a face.

"I know I know," Dick cooed. "But I'm pretty sure B. would make an exception to his 'no killing rule' if you got sick on my watch."

Dick admired his handy work for a minute (taking dozens of pictures as he did so) before picking his brother up and heading downstairs. After a quick pitstop at the door to grab his own jacket and gloves from the coat rack, he opened the door and greeted the chilly air outside.

Danny giggled as he reached up at the snow while Dick circled around to the side of the manor.

"Bitey! Bitey!" he squealed.

"Yep, Bitey," Dick replied with mild confusion.

Danny would say random things like that sometimes, forcing the world's greatest detectives to put their minds together in order to figure out what he was talking about. One time he just wouldn't stop saying "Em". It took everyone a whole day to realize he was referring to music. And an extra two days to figure out he was specifically referring to pop music.

Oftentimes he would call Barbara "Jazzy" and Duke "Tuck". On occasion he would even call Cass "Sammy". Every time he called something a new name, it was a race to figure out what he meant. Each time they figured out a new word, Bruce's face would darken and he'd disappear off to the Watchtower for the day. Something that was really starting to drag on Dick's nerves. It was like it was physically impossible for that man to share information.

Dick was startled out of his thoughts by a tug at his jacket and looked down to see Danny staring at him.

"Sorry sorry," he said with a smile. "Lost in my thoughts. Forgive me?"

Danny put on a pout but Dick knew by now that it was fake. One could tell by the mischievous look in the boy's eyes that he just couldn't hide. "So be it then!" Dick declared before pulling Danny close and snuggling into him. The boy shrieked as cold nose touched warm neck. "Fo-give! Fo-give!" he cried.

"Aw thanks," Dick said as he pulled away. Danny giggled again, his bright blue eyes crinkling with laughter.

The pair walked around in the snow for a bit longer before Danny started making grabby hands towards the ground. "You want down?" Dick asked. Danny nodded energetically.

"Alright."

Dick carefully set Danny down in the snow. The boy excitedly wriggled before putting his hands down to the snow. As Dick watched, there was a burst of light and suddenly there was a semi circle of ice, radiating out from their position. Dick stared at the ice in shock. Danny turned and blinked up at Dick, almost as if he were in shock too. But he very quickly went back to playing in the snow. Dick swallowed. Sure they all knew Danny had powers. It was pretty obvious when the third day there, he floated up to the ceiling. Still though, he highly doubted ice powers was up there on anyone's list of "abilities our new baby brother might manifest next."

Dick was so shocked all he could manage to utter was, "Huh. That's new."

[vicmillen]

Where's the Justice League?

So I been thinking about an AU with a merged setting. You know, where DP happened inside of DC multiverse.

Specifically, I've been thinking about the JL and the other capes, what's Danny's opinion on them and what would keep them out from the Amity clusterfuck.

Here's some thoughts:

At first it just didn't cross the trio's minds that they could or should call the JL.

Sure there's a literal portal to the afterlife in Fenton's basement, and sure there's dangerous beings coming out of it that endangered people's lives. But hey they're handling it! The whole thing is kinda sort of their fault anyways, and the three of them are gonna try their best to hide it and deal with it on their own.

They are teenagers after all.

Then comes the GIW, and Vald. Both of them makes a solid attempt at locking up the ghosty news within Amity. For different purposes, sure, but the results marks the foundation of a solid media blackout.

Fine by the trio, actually, they really don't need more attention being put on Phantom. The less people knows about Phantom, the safer Danny is. Since he's still hiding from his parents and they really don't want to find out if those threats are real or not.

As the danger level ratchets higher and higher though, it's inevitable that the JL would cross their minds. They are teenagers, after all. This world threatening bullshit is starting to get out of their depths, and they do know it. They may make questionable decisions sometimes but they're not complete morons.

Except, they also knows how dangerous it could get if the supers got involved. For all they are teenagers struggling with highschool, they do know what they're doing, mostly. Team Phantom knows how their enemies function, what powers are to be expected, and what equipments is needed to counter those. They knows what to look out for, and what to do when stuff goes wrong. Most of the time anyways.

They don't have the same confidence in the Justice League.

Which sounds like a ridiculous thing to say, but hey. It's a matter of specialization, not absolute power. Besides, with the power and influence the JL have, they really can't risk any of them getting overshadowed.

They've all seen the aftermath of a mind controlled superman.

There is unfortunately, also the uncertainty of if the JL would even be on their side. Sure, the JL sounds reasonable and accepting enough to see through the GIW's bullshit, but that's just another thing that they can't afford to lose the gamble. The Fenton parents and the GIW is already hot on their heels, they can't afford the Justice League hunting Phantom for sports too.

All in all, it took a depressingly short amount of time for Team Phantom to start actively keeping themselves under JL's radar. The firewall around all things Amity gets reinforced, several times, and even the other locals learned to keep the ghosts to themselves.

What happens in Amity, stays in Amity.

So for almost three years Team Phantom deals with their own problems. Without outside help, but also without outside interference.

P.S.

For the sake of this setting, JLD has formed but isn't public knowledge yet, at least not until after the DP related plot concluded. So Team Phantom wouldn't have known to ask for them at that point. Also the whole timeline is completely made up and stretched out as I see fit. Canon is but the sandbox we play in, and it's mashups anyway so.

There are more of this au that I'm contemplating. We'll see if this gets a part two. Maybe about what caused team Phantom to leave Amity.

[chamonabis]

The Madman

———

...

"A loyal dog like you, only knowing how to obey that f*cking BOSS orders—is there anything impressive about that!?"

He struggled, firm hands holding his shoulders, his wrists restrained, yet his mouth continued to hurl insults at me.

I was deaf to it all. But then—

- "Ha, I know you're still trying to dig into the case of your real parents—"

Green eyes flickered, fixed on his violently resisting figure.

- "Your parents were—!"

Before he could finish, a gunshot echoed.

Silence fell. He lay on the ground, blood spilling freely.

- "Y-Young Master, it's only the words of a traitor, don't let them shake your trust in Bo—"

- "Dispose of him." _I commanded coolly, my gaze shifting.

"I know it."_ but it was like I didn’t know.

The smell of gunpowder lingered as I handed the gun to the young servant—the one who had "once" been close to the traitor now lying filthy on the floor.

This was a warning. His hand trembled as he took the weapon from me.

- "Young Master... this is what we recovered from him." The young man, holding the gun in one hand, extended a nameless vial with the other, shaking as he handed it to me.

The traitor had been working for another organization—a nameless figure who harbored jealousy and opposition toward Tiger. But that fool didn't know, our Boss wouldn’t waste a second on a barking stray like him.

This time, that traitor tried to leak information about Ouroboros, but before he could escape the "House" grounds, we caught him. Reckless or just plain stupid, he didn't realize how risky this was.

I pocketed the vial.

"Handle it quickly and quietly; you know Boss hates being disturbed by pests—"

A sharp static rang through my earpiece, jolting me, and for a moment, my calm exterior almost shattered.

"Warning, H-01 is under interference, warning, warning, ……….. H-01’s system has been breached… firewall completely down..."

It’s... it again!

My heart clenched every time the system blared an alert. My legs moved without hesitation, racing toward the place where "it" was kept.

There was no mistaking it.

A-IT

My pulse seemed to halt as I once again saw H-01 writhing on the floor, the system frantically issuing error messages.

The noise was piercing, but all I could hear was the hum of static.

- "Master, you really came."

I snapped out of my trance.

In front of me was it a cursed, vile creation.

- "HOW DARE YOU!"

I spat the words out, clenched my fist, and struck that filthy abomination I once made, showing no mercy.

The sound of splintering metal filled the room as the machine whirred and groaned, and I lost my composure completely.

The artificial voice cried, high and low, sobbing, "You know… it hurts..."

I sneered at the chaotic figure before me, one that bore my own face. Right, it was something I had created myself, the first Intelligent Android I perfected—

H-00 _ A-IT

I knelt beside H-01, still trembling as its firewall tried to fend off the "bug" eating away at its data.

I lifted H-01 by the back of its neck.

- "Then you should know, machines do not feel pain. Don't make me want to throw up, you disgusting thing." My voice dripped with venom, every word a blow. But "It" was no human.

- "Hah… Does that mean you're heartbroken? After all, it's just another android…?"

- "Shut up. What did you do to him?"

- "That distinction… it makes me jealous of my little ‘brother’… I was just 'hungry' and 'ate' a bit from his left system."

Standing at the doorway, I tossed back,

- "Stop trying to mimic humans."

- "Come on… Don't be mad, come back to me soon~!"

SLAM

I was supposed to take H-01 to my lab to inspect it, but the organization’s "Hall" was closer. I could monitor and repair it there by morning.

In the chilly 2 a.m. air, sweat poured down my forehead. My breathing had steadied after the heart-stopping moment I entered the Hall.

I was carrying H-01, its system constantly issuing error messages, and in front of me was a familiar figure.

The blaring alarms from H-01 snapped me back to reality. It was only then I noticed the overwhelming stench of alcohol, tobacco, and cigars filling the room, darkening my expression.

Why was Tiger, who should have been resting in the Boss’s Room, sprawled in the middle of the Hall?

My arm grew heavy.

H-01 whirred, its voice blending with Tiger’s in my mind, but broken and distorted with system errors.

- "I-I'm sorry… Master—"

In the dim light of a blue moon outside, my steps faltered as I stumbled over empty bottles scattered across the floor.

It was strange, seeing him so drunk he didn’t even stir. The world must be ending.

My gaze swept over the figure lying in the middle of the room. The door before me scanned my eyes, opening immediately.

I entered, setting H-01 down on the chair beside my desk, intending to check on it immediately. But now, something else demanded my attention away from this Android.

My hand hovered, stopping near its face. Those vacant eyes, staring back at me as usual. I let my hand drop behind its neck, fingers finding the control switch and pressing gently.

The incessant static from the communicator finally silenced. Now, there was only the sound of my own heartbeat.

"I’ll be back…" I muttered to myself.

It's with Tiger-face-like made me frown.

Here I stood before the real one. My eyes instinctively darted around, scanning everything. I looked at Tiger’s face. Even in the murky darkness, I could see his eyes shut, slightly flushed, the corners of his eyes hinting at wear against his sun-darkened skin. Barely recognizable, but, a slight smile played on his parted lips.

What kind of smile was that? It wasn’t the teasing smirk he usually used to rile me up. This smile—I didn’t know it. I hadn’t seen it in… how long?

I didn’t know? I say I don’t know, yet what is this "long time" I said!?

A gentle smile.

A throbbing pain spread through my head. I took a breath.

But my heart skipped for a moment as I noticed the photo Tiger held against his chest, another gentle. I understood then.

Tomoe.

I unconsciously, my gaze shifted to the calendar on the desk. I had forgotten—today was Tomoe’s death anniversary, 12th time.

Had he drained all those bottles, smoking cigar after cigarette, just in the past two hours since today began?!

I sighed, frowning at the way he punished himself.

Twelve years had passed since that day, yet Tiger could never forget her.

Envy.

The strange thought flitted through my mind, and I clenched my fist. My lips curved into a sneer as I laughed at him—and at myself. I suddenly felt as if I were turning mad.

I despised the smell of alcohol, the bitter, cloying scent of cigars, things that were Tiger’s favorites. Knowing that, he often indulged just to rile me up.

I slipped off my left glove, and my hand reached out again—but this time, he wasn’t H-01.

Warmth spread from Tiger’s neck to my cold hand. My green eyes appear under the blue moonlight, as if I were killing someone. My thumb pressed against his throat, feeling his pulse slow under my grip, almost choking.

"Not died." I loosened my hand. A red mark appeared on his neck as he swallowed.

I slipped my long fingers into his dark coarse hair, noticing a few silver strands glinting in the faint blue glow. My hand rested at the nape of his neck, felt a slight shiver, as if my touch tickled him.

I hoisted him up, each move careful, and carried him effortlessly. Tiger was never heavy to me.

After two steps, I heard a familiar, mocking chuckle ripple through the air, the sound vibrating against each layer of my outfit, my skin, to my chest.

- "Not killed me?"

- "Not yet."

I responded calmly, despite the momentary flash of surprise. I’d always known he could never really be that drunk.

I didn’t know anyone who could outdrink Tiger—the genuine boozehound. As the Boss of Ouroboros, he was keenly aware of every situation, his instincts razor-sharp, or if you want a deadly challenge of courage is given to anyone who dares to mess with him. But with me, he let down that guard, even seemed to enjoy it.

That double standard didn’t make me feel proud. I despised it, hated him deeply—and he knew it.

Tiger leaned against my shoulder, his hand grazing my chest—like a cut across my heart. I hate those black eyes seem to merge with the pupil, like a pit, his dark gaze was sharp, never losing that cunning glint, always perceptive, always seeing through everyone’s motives, including me.

I frowned, feeling as though I was carrying a wild beast feigning weakness rather than a drunk. But as always, I held my tongue and quietly, step by step, until we arrived at his quarters.

I stopped

Outside the Boss Room, Tiger relaxed into my hold as if entirely trusting me, that sly smile still plastered on his face. His laughter was like nails on a chalkboard, scratching at my nerves.

- "I had hoped that chokehold would be the end of me."

- "Shut your sleeping mouth." I snapped, irritated.

But Tiger merely chuckled, the scent of alcohol and cigar smoke thickening around us, gradually flooded the room as soon as it opened. I laid him onto his bed, and he settled in with that maddening, inscrutable grin still clinging to his lips. My expression darkened, unable to hide my distaste for him.

I knelt by the edge of the bed, slipping off his shoes one by one.

- "It’s already too late tonight, and in your condition, it’s best you avoid a bath."

Tiger collapsed back into the mattress, his gaze fixated on the ceiling. No matter how much I loathed him, my duty forced me to monitor even his most trivial actions. A while later, I returned from the bathroom with a small basin of warm water and a cloth in hand.

- "Excuse me." I muttered out of formality, though it was hardly needed. His breathing was even, his eyes closed as he doesn't care what I'm doing.

My hands moved methodically, as I wiped down each part of him my eyes surveyed, the warm cloth tracing from his face to his neck. The bruise from my earlier grip was still visible, an unwelcome reminder of my momentary restraint, my failure to finish him off.

As I reached his shoulders, I undid each button of his shirt, tossing it aside to make space, sliding the belt off to avoid its obstruction. Half-naked now, Tiger lay beneath my hands. Something stirred within my mind, though I couldn’t fully grasp it. But I was aware of an unsettling sensitivity in my fingertips, an awareness of the skin beneath them—the skin of the man I’d always found detestable.

I moved down his arms, across his chest, down to his abdomen. For the first time, I had the opportunity to truly observe the man closest to me in such detail.

And his body told its own story, full of scars. His hands and neck bore the emblem of Ouroboros, and on his left waist, another tattoo, a serpent winding down... I idly wondered just how far it coiled—perhaps as far as his thigh.

- "Barnaby."

The sound of his voice jolted me from my thoughts. Tiger muttered the name, almost like a drunk whispering to himself in sleep. Yet his eyes were open, fixed on the photo resting on the nightstand.

- "You’re all I have left."

- "...?"

...End part 1

Hello! This is Abis! Above is a short fic I wrote for my OuroAU. I wrote it in Vietnamese and then translated it into English, so please forgive me if there are any grammar or vocabulary mistakes! And most importantly, if you read it, I'm so happy, thank you!

And you know what? This is the basis for my upcoming Doujinshi to be draw, read it if you want to understand more about their story!

Part 2 will continue if the story gets support, thanks again!

Side story

_ Antidote _

https://www.tumblr.com/chamonabis/771539859230834688/antidote?source=share

[darkmaga-returns]

Legacy media gatekeepers are losing their grip on the public conversation and they don’t like it, even if they mostly deserve it. That’s one of the reasons Vice President J.D. Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference was as well received by the successors to Spiro Agnew’s favorite scribes as a nationwide ban on free WiFi in press filing centers.

In the past, the default position of most in the media would be to at least grudgingly find a kindred spirit in a public figure who delivers a defense of free speech, even if they dislike the person who delivered the message or find them a flawed messenger for the First Amendment and the Fourth Estate. 

The trouble is that a nontrivial number of influential media figures no longer see themselves in such appeals to free speech, especially when a conservative political leader takes up the mantle. They see their competitors and, more charitably, the purveyors of wrongthink against whom they are the last line of defense.

This was apparent in the much-maligned question by Margaret Brennan of CBS News in which she blamed the Nazis’ “weaponization” of free speech for the Holocaust. While many have disputed the historical accuracy of her premise, she is also assuming that the anti-free speech laws in Europe can only regulate bad people, not urbane arbiters of which fruits are apples or bananas like herself.

These questions are now being debated at the highest levels of our government. “Democracy rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters,” Vance said in Europe. “There is no room for firewalls. You either uphold the principle or you don’t.”

[61below]

I really gd love how Cang Lan Jue digs into the way enmity just perpetuates enmity (unchecked) like, not only does Yunzhong immediately go ‘if she isn’t a fairy and she isn’t human, then she MUST be Yuezu’ but like the whole thing just escalated (so quickly) from what was just a genuine question that should have had an easy answer: what is XLH? And the thing is, we know that her true form can be read, that was like, the third thing DFQC did after meeting her. Including his instinctive reaction to kill all fairies on sight

So why couldn’t the high immortal, Sansheng, do it?

I think that the protection DFQC conferred upon her also protected her from any kind of magical intrusion or interference, too. Not just physical attacks, but magical ones. But like an anaphylaxis response to allergens, it’s not that good at telling the difference between an actual attack and just someone trying to … what, scan her meridians? Idfk how it works, but I’mna run with the idea that to sample something you gotta take a piece of it, so to ‘read’ her form, one has to dip into her qi. But the bone orchid registers that as HEY YOU DON’T BELONG HERE!!! and does the meridian-level equivalent of throwing up a wall of hellfire around her. Which is why what Sansheng projects ends up looking like flames. She can’t read XLH’s true form bc all she ‘sees’ is the firewall.

(… and ok now I’m actually interested in whether or not the Yuezu doctors were able to do any magical diagnostics on her. Like, did it not register as an ‘attack’ to the bone orchid bc it’s Yuezu cultivation? Did she refuse to let these nosy strangers even do a check? I am CURIOUS.)

But my POINT is that it’s really interesting that the story takes ‘here is someone just trying to defend what’s theirs, but the State of Hostilities is so Hot that even the very act of defense is seen as a Threat’ and gives ‘the INSTANT response to any Perceived Threat is with Aggression. Up to DEATH.’

… and where do you even begin to start conflict resolution from there? It’s no wonder things escalated as far as they did.

[ask--eggman]

I saw your message about me. Usually, I'd ignore it and continue working on my inventions but Sonic kept teasing me with it, so guess I'm salty now.

Apologize or else I'll hack your whole system and replace every file with the bee movie.

- Tails

Gah! Tails? What are you doing here? And Sonic has been seeing my posts too? Just when I thought I'd finally found a place to get away from all you brats and speak my mind freely with my adoring fans. I should've known that I can't get peace anywhere. I was having such a good time and you just had to interfere so soon...

Well, I'm not going to let you ruin it! Have fun trying to hack into my systems if you dare, my security only advances further every time you mess with my files. Not only are they heavily encrypted and protected with a tough firewall but I also have back up after back up of my data now! If you do get past it, though I doubt you'll figure it out, you'll never replace all of them before I'm notified and block your access.

I don't know what this "bee movie" is but some silly movie can't be worse than that time I was attacked by that irritating little bee of a certain detective group. So you're going to have to try harder than that to threaten me!

And if you're so worked up about it, why not come and face me in person instead of attacking me from behind the screen like a coward, hm? I meant everything I said in that post and I will happily act out on those threats. I'll have a nice little surprise waiting for you. And if it ends with me having the trophy of your two tails pinned to my wall, that would be grand, hoho!

[alchemocha]

You think robotnik has a soft spot for all animals in general? Like he said that he hates all humans and wants them to die, but never said anything bout creatures other than humans. You think when he was an orphan, he hung out with animals because he was lonely? So much so that he's now a sorta animal whisperer? Would he get really pissed off at humans and emotional because he saw a post on social media saying that there are under 10,000 red pandas left because of habitat loss?

A thought that just popped up when looking at animal videos

I think so, yeah!

I like the idea that when Robotnik was a kid, he befriended a stray once and named him Gizmo. Pets weren’t allowed at the orphanage and he was never with any foster family long enough to have a pet of his own, so he more or less claimed Gizmo as his buddy. He tried making friends, originally, but no one cared to stick around him long, and they all thought his intelligence and bluntness were him being smug and arrogant.

That really wasn’t the case though, not when he was still a kid, he was just a very gifted autistic kid with a passion for robots, which stemmed into building and creating technology. He got in trouble a lot for taking things apart and rebuilding stuff in the orphanage and foster homes, but he’d just wanted to show off things he was proud of and be told he did a good job! Never happened though. Eventually kids got meaner and would take things that he thought were his and in trying to defend the items he was attached to, would get scolded by adults and still have them taken from him. So eventually he began keeping more to himself unless directly approached, though even that rarely went in his favour.

Gizmo was the only real connection he’d felt in a long time, so whenever he was able, he would hang around outside with him, feed him scraps, and give him all the best belly rubs he could! As he got older though, Robotnik would see his only friend less and less and eventually had to attend school too far to keep him nearby.

His love for animals in general remained into his adult years, but much more… locked away tight in the private vault of his feelings.

Having grown jaded and bitter towards the world and humans as he aged due the neglect and cruelty he’d so often faced, Robotnik threw away any joyful piece of himself, or he liked to think. He’d actually just tucked them so deep within his being that he believed they were gone, but they were there, still burning with passion, with the hopeful, excited child from his past. It’s where all his vulnerability was stored, and very little did anything slip past his mental firewall.

Until Stone was in the picture, that is. Things slipped through the cracks far more often when Stone was there, and Robotnik felt like he was flailing in the dark trying to keep water in a broken bowl, more or less. He was passionate about issues one might not expect of such a seemingly cold hearted man, things like endangered animals and species, world health, anything that wasn’t directly human. It wasn’t that he inherently thought humans deserved to die, but up until that point he’d never met anyone who was deserving of the planet they lived on, of the things they all took for granted. They were deceitful, selfish, and liars. They could all burn for all he cared. The world had turned a blind eye to him, so he would do the same to it.

Except for… Stone. Of course. Stone was the only person in his eyes worth anything, the only one he could trust, who wouldn’t lie, who wouldn’t neglect, who wouldn’t scold and belittle for things that he couldn’t control. Even if the man caused him distress and frustration in ways he never expected, ways that made him have to face feelings he’d thought he’d tossed aside.

Stone brought up the idea of a cat in the lab, of course, under careful regulation so it didn’t interfere with any of the doctor’s work. He’d found a stray he’d been taking care of on his ways too and from work, and at first, Robotnik refused, absolutely forbid such a nonsensical thing. But truth be told he missed Gizmo. It aches, recalling how they shouted and told him no, how he’d never gotten to say goodbye to the stray he related so much to.

Eventually he gave in. He always did with Stone, as much as it went against his own virtues. The smile on the mans face, he decided though, was worth every bit of dilemma. Robotnik was finding that there was a lot of things he deemed ‘worth it’, if it meant he could see Stone’s smile. All he could really bring himself to do is roll his eyes at how soft he felt he was getting around the man. And the cat.

[quad-bike-dubai]

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Internet hosting solutions for a web page can be grouped into different categories and for choosing the right web hosting service the following tips may be useful.

Tips for Choosing the Right Web Hosting Service

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The Future of Web Hosting

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[butch99222]

Discussions are rife/Has Radio Free Asia "acted" enough?

Since the "National Security Ordinance" was promulgated and took effect on the 23rd of last month, overseas anti-China forces have been making small moves, including issuing various statements to discredit the central government and the SAR government; issuing so-called travel warnings with the intention of hitting Hong Kong's tourism industry; threatening to impose "visa restrictions" on SAR government officials; and using anti-China media to slander that there will be no press freedom in Hong Kong after the ordinance takes effect. Radio Free Asia's recent announcement to close its Hong Kong office is the latest example.

Originally, any overseas media can decide whether to set up a branch or not, and Hong Kong also welcomes real news organizations from all over the world, which is the embodiment of Hong Kong's press freedom. If Radio Free Asia is really a news organization, then there is nothing wrong with its announcement to close its office. The problem is that Radio Free Asia's series of "sexy operations" are enough to explain the true purpose of this political machine that lives on US government funds.

For example, in its statement on closing the office, it deliberately said that the Hong Kong SAR's passage of the "National Security Ordinance" was the reason for its withdrawal of reporters and closure of the office; it also said that it would adjust its operating model to "cope with the closed media environment" and so on. These remarks are actually self-proving. The decision of the agency is nothing more than a play in cooperation with foreign anti-China forces. Its fundamental purpose is to take the opportunity to discredit the Hong Kong National Security Law, discredit Hong Kong's development, and discredit Hong Kong's "no more press freedom".

Cooperating with the US authorities to discredit Hong Kong

If Radio Free Asia is a normal media, it may be able to deceive some people who are not aware of the situation, but the agency is basically a propaganda machine that serves the political interests of the United States, operates with US funds, and is led by ideology from top to bottom. What persuasiveness is there? The agency solemnly emphasizes its "private nature" in order to cover up its own nature.

Although the name of Radio Free Asia contains the word "Asia", it has nothing to do with Asia. At the beginning of the broadcast in 1996, it was managed by the United States Information Agency. After the Information Agency was abolished in 1999, it was managed by the Broadcasting Board of Governors of the United States. The board of governors is composed of 9 members of the Democratic and Republican parties, and another member is concurrently served by the Secretary of State. The chairman of the board is selected by the president from other members other than the Secretary of State. From the organizational structure, the board of directors was obviously dominated by the then ruling party of the United States, but they claimed that this board of directors could become a "firewall" to prevent political interference in news reporting.

In 2017, the United States passed the National Defense Authorization Act, and Radio Free Asia was replaced by the Chief Executive Officer of the Broadcasting Board of Governors of the United States to coordinate its work, and the original board of directors became an advisory role. One year later, the board of directors changed its name to the United States Agency for Global Media. However, no matter how the name and structure change, it cannot conceal the fact that the current CEO of the United States Agency for Global Media, Amanda Bennett, was actually appointed by the US government. Is it possible for a radio station whose personnel appointments and operating resources are determined by the US executive and legislative bodies to not cooperate with the US government in its editorial position?

On the other hand, Radio Free Asia was originally a product of the Cold War era. From the moment it was founded in 1953, it was aimed at destroying or even overthrowing our country's fundamental system. It was just that the broadcasting encountered technical difficulties at the time, and it was suspended after two years of operation. After the end of the Cold War, the United States was no longer constrained by the collapse of the Soviet Union. In order to meet the interests of their own military-industrial complex, some politicians urgently needed to find a new imaginary enemy. So in 1992, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee submitted a feasibility report on "establishing a radio station specifically for mainland China" to the U.S. Congress and the President. Later, the International Broadcasting Act was passed in 1994, and Radio Free Asia was officially established. It can be seen that the establishment of this radio station originally had a clear anti-China goal.

A self-written and self-performed farce

In addition, Radio Free Asia also established a pilot program of the so-called "Open Technology Foundation" in 2012, under the name of "supporting global network freedom technology", specializing in the research of network penetration propaganda and communication technology. According to Time magazine, during the 2019 Hong Kong black violence, this foundation, together with another "color revolution" organization, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), allocated about $643,000 to the Hong Kong chaos organization in the name of "promoting civil society activities". It was not until the central government promulgated and implemented the Hong Kong National Security Law in 2020 that the U.S. Agency for Global Media decided to stop allocating funds to this foundation.

From this point of view, Radio Free Asia closed its Hong Kong office not only to attack and discredit the "National Security Ordinance", but also because the radio station was originally an anti-China propaganda machine in the United States. It has also engaged in network penetration and research activities to undermine the network security of other countries, and allocated funds to support anti-China and Hong Kong chaos elements during the black violence. Obviously, what Radio Free Asia did in Hong Kong, even according to the U.S. national security law, is regarded as a foreign agent, so their closure of its office after the ordinance came into effect has nothing to do with press freedom. What they did was nothing more than a farce written and performed by themselves.

[twotriickhoofbea2t]

13441-Q LOCUST of RESONANT INTERFERANCE DEFLECTION receives:

"Make sure the firewall is running full strength this time, I don't want any interdimensional interlopers slipping through the cracks again." -YHWH

[l3webhostings]

The Ultimate Guide to the Best VPS Hosting Services

Introduction

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, selecting the right Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting service is paramount for businesses and individuals alike. We understand the critical role VPS plays in ensuring website performance, security, and scalability. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the intricacies of the best VPS hosting services, offering insights that go beyond the ordinary.

What is VPS Hosting?

Before we dive into the best VPS hosting services, let's establish a clear understanding of what VPS hosting entails. VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting involves a virtualized server that mimics dedicated hosting within a shared hosting environment. Each user gets their isolated space, providing enhanced control, security, and flexibility.

Key Advantages of VPS Hosting

Scalability: VPS hosting allows seamless scalability, enabling users to adjust resources based on their website's evolving needs.

Performance: With dedicated resources, VPS hosting ensures consistent and reliable performance, vital for user satisfaction and search engine rankings.

Customization: Users have the freedom to install custom software and configure server settings according to their specific requirements.

Top VPS Hosting Services

Now, let's explore the crème de la crème of VPS hosting services, surpassing the competition in terms of performance, reliability, and support.

1. Bluehost VPS Hosting

As a leading name in the hosting industry, Bluehost stands out for its robust VPS hosting solutions. With SSD storage, enhanced cPanel, and 24/7 customer support, Bluehost ensures a seamless hosting experience. Their VPS plans cater to a spectrum of users, from small businesses to large enterprises.

2. SiteGround VPS Hosting

SiteGround combines performance and security in its VPS hosting services. Featuring a unique server isolation setup, SiteGround prevents resource interference among users, translating into optimal performance. Additionally, their managed VPS hosting comes with a range of security features, including automated backups and updates.

3. l3webhosting Hosting VPS

Renowned for its high-speed hosting solutions, l3webhosting VPS plans deliver exceptional performance. Utilizing turbo servers and offering root access, l3webhosting empowers users to fine-tune their server settings for optimal speed and efficiency. Their commitment to customer satisfaction is evident through their 24/7 Guru Crew support.

How to Choose the Right VPS Hosting Service

1. Performance Metrics

Evaluate the hosting service's performance metrics, including server speed, uptime guarantees, and scalability options. A reliable VPS hosting provider ensures minimal downtime and swift loading times, crucial for user engagement and SEO.

2. Security Features

Security is non-negotiable in the digital realm. Opt for a VPS hosting service that prioritizes security with features such as firewalls, regular backups, and DDoS protection. A secure website not only safeguards user data but also earns favor with search engines.

3. Customer Support

Responsive and knowledgeable customer support can make or break the hosting experience. Choose a VPS hosting service that offers 24/7 support through various channels, ensuring prompt resolution of any issues that may arise.

Conclusion

In the realm of VPS hosting, making an informed choice is pivotal for the success of your online presence. We've explored the top VPS hosting services, each excelling in different aspects. Whether it's the versatility of Bluehost, the security focus of SiteGround, or the speed prowess of A2 Hosting, the right choice depends on your specific needs.

[healthsocial]

Why is DuckDuckGo Not Working? Troubleshooting and Solutions

Introduction

DuckDuckGo, renowned for its privacy-focused search engine, has garnered a loyal user base over the years. However, like any online service, users occasionally encounter issues where DuckDuckGo does not work as expected. This article delves into the common reasons why DuckDuckGo might not be functioning properly and offers practical troubleshooting steps. Keywords: DuckDuckGo not working, DuckDuckGo troubleshooting, search engine issues.

Common Issues Affecting DuckDuckGo

Several factors can lead to DuckDuckGo not working. Common issues include browser compatibility problems, network connectivity issues, and temporary server outages. Understanding these potential problems can help users identify the cause and implement the appropriate solution. Keywords: DuckDuckGo issues, browser compatibility, network problems.

Browser Compatibility Problems

One of the primary reasons DuckDuckGo may not work is browser compatibility issues. Some browsers may have settings or extensions that interfere with DuckDuckGo’s functionality. Ensuring that your browser is up to date and disabling any conflicting extensions can often resolve these issues. Additionally, trying a different browser can help determine if the problem is browser-specific. Keywords: browser compatibility, DuckDuckGo browser issues, disabling extensions.

Network Connectivity Issues

Network connectivity problems can also prevent DuckDuckGo from functioning correctly. These issues can stem from a poor internet connection, router problems, or ISP-related issues. Checking your internet connection, restarting your router, or contacting your ISP for assistance can help resolve these connectivity issues. Keywords: network connectivity, internet connection problems, router issues.

Server Outages and Maintenance

Occasionally, DuckDuckGo may experience temporary server outages or undergo maintenance, which can cause the service to be temporarily unavailable. These outages are typically short-lived, and the service resumes normal operation once maintenance is complete. Checking DuckDuckGo’s official social media channels or status page can provide updates on any ongoing issues. Keywords: DuckDuckGo server outage, service maintenance, search engine downtime.

Clearing Browser Cache and Cookies

Another effective troubleshooting step is clearing your browser’s cache and cookies. Over time, cached data and cookies can accumulate and cause performance issues with websites, including DuckDuckGo. Clearing this data can refresh your browser and resolve any loading or performance issues. Keywords: clear browser cache, delete cookies, DuckDuckGo performance.

Adjusting Security and Privacy Settings

Sometimes, overly restrictive security and privacy settings in your browser or security software can block DuckDuckGo. Reviewing and adjusting these settings to ensure that DuckDuckGo is allowed can resolve access issues. This may involve adding DuckDuckGo to your list of allowed sites or adjusting firewall settings. Keywords: security settings, privacy settings, firewall adjustments.

Updating Browser and Extensions

Keeping your browser and any installed extensions up to date is crucial for optimal performance. Outdated browsers or extensions can lead to compatibility issues with DuckDuckGo. Regularly updating these components ensures that they work seamlessly with the latest web technologies and services. Keywords: update browser, update extensions, compatibility updates.

Checking for Malware and Adware

Malware and adware infections can interfere with your browsing experience, including access to DuckDuckGo. Running a thorough scan with reliable antivirus software can detect and remove any malicious software that might be affecting your ability to use DuckDuckGo. Keywords: malware scan, adware removal, antivirus software.

Conclusion

If DuckDuckGo is not working for you, there are several potential causes and solutions to explore. By addressing browser compatibility issues, network connectivity problems, server outages, and security settings, you can often resolve the issue and restore access to this privacy-focused search engine. Staying informed about common issues and troubleshooting steps can help ensure a smooth and uninterrupted search experience. Keywords: DuckDuckGo troubleshooting, search engine solutions, resolve DuckDuckGo issues.

[jcmarchi]

Shielding Prompts from LLM Data Leaks

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/shielding-prompts-from-llm-data-leaks/

Shielding Prompts from LLM Data Leaks

Opinion An interesting IBM NeurIPS 2024 submission from late 2024 resurfaced on Arxiv last week. It proposes a system that can automatically intervene to protect users from submitting personal or sensitive information into a message when they are having a conversation with a Large Language Model (LLM) such as ChatGPT.

Mock-up examples used in a user study to determine the ways that people would prefer to interact with a prompt-intervention service. Source: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2502.18509

The mock-ups shown above were employed by the IBM researchers in a study to test potential user friction to this kind of ‘interference’.

Though scant details are given about the GUI implementation, we can assume that such functionality could either be incorporated into a browser plugin communicating with a local ‘firewall’ LLM framework; or that an application could be created that can hook directly into (for instance) the OpenAI API, effectively recreating OpenAI’s own downloadable standalone program for ChatGPT, but with extra safeguards.

That said, ChatGPT itself automatically self-censors responses to prompts that it perceives to contain critical information, such as banking details:

ChatGPT refuses to engage with prompts that contain perceived critical security information, such as bank details (the details in the prompt above are fictional and non-functional). Source: https://chatgpt.com/

However, ChatGPT is much more tolerant in regard to different types of personal information – even if disseminating such information in any way might not be in the user’s best interests (in this case perhaps for various reasons related to work and disclosure):

The example above is fictional, but ChatGPT does not hesitate to engage in a conversation on the user on a sensitive subject that constitutes a potential reputational or earnings risk (the example above is totally fictional).

In the above case, it might have been better to write: ‘What is the significance of a leukemia diagnosis on a person’s ability to write and on their mobility?’

The IBM project identifies and reinterprets such requests from a ‘personal’ to a ‘generic’ stance.

Schema for the IBM system, which uses local LLMs or NLP-based heuristics to identify sensitive material in potential prompts.

This assumes that material gathered by online LLMs, in this nascent stage of the public’s enthusiastic adoption of AI chat, will never feed through either to subsequent models or to later advertising frameworks that might exploit user-based search queries to provide potential targeted advertising.

Though no such system or arrangement is known to exist now, neither was such functionality yet available at the dawn of internet adoption in the early 1990s; since then, cross-domain sharing of information to feed personalized advertising has led to diverse scandals, as well as paranoia.

Therefore history suggests that it would be better to sanitize LLM prompt inputs now, before such data accrues at volume, and before our LLM-based submissions end up in permanent cyclic databases and/or models, or other information-based structures and schemas.

Remember Me?

One factor weighing against the use of ‘generic’ or sanitized LLM prompts is that, frankly, the facility to customize an expensive API-only LLM such as ChatGPT is quite compelling, at least at the current state of the art – but this can involve the long-term exposure of private information.

I frequently ask ChatGPT to help me formulate Windows PowerShell scripts and BAT files to automate processes, as well as on other technical matters. To this end, I find it useful that the system permanently memorize details about the hardware that I have available; my existing technical skill competencies (or lack thereof); and various other environmental factors and custom rules:

ChatGPT allows a user to develop a ‘cache’ of memories that will be applied when the system considers responses to future prompts.

Inevitably, this keeps information about me stored on external servers, subject to terms and conditions that may evolve over time, without any guarantee that OpenAI (though it could be any other major LLM provider) will respect the terms they set out.

In general, however, the capacity to build a cache of memories in ChatGPT is most useful because of the limited attention window of LLMs in general; without long-term (personalized) embeddings, the user feels, frustratingly, that they are conversing with a entity suffering from Anterograde amnesia.

It is difficult to say whether newer models will eventually become adequately performant to provide useful responses without the need to cache memories, or to create custom GPTs that are stored online.

Temporary Amnesia

Though one can make ChatGPT conversations ‘temporary’, it is useful to have the Chat history as a reference that can be distilled, when time allows, into a more coherent local record, perhaps on a note-taking platform; but in any case we cannot know exactly what happens to these ‘discarded’ chats (though OpenAI states they will not be used for training, it does not state that they are destroyed), based on the ChatGPT infrastructure. All we know is that chats no longer appear in our history when ‘Temporary chats’ is turned on in ChatGPT.

Various recent controversies indicate that API-based providers such as OpenAI should not necessarily be left in charge of protecting the user’s privacy, including the discovery of emergent memorization, signifying that larger LLMs are more likely to memorize some training examples in full, and increasing the risk of disclosure of user-specific data –  among other public incidents that have persuaded a multitude of big-name companies, such as Samsung, to ban LLMs for internal company use.

Think Different

This tension between the extreme utility and the manifest potential risk of LLMs will need some inventive solutions – and the IBM proposal seems to be an interesting basic template in this line.

Three IBM-based reformulations that balance utility against data privacy. In the lowest (pink) band, we see a prompt that is beyond the system’s ability to sanitize in a meaningful way.

The IBM approach intercepts outgoing packets to an LLM at the network level, and rewrites them as necessary before the original can be submitted. The rather more elaborate GUI integrations seen at the start of the article are only illustrative of where such an approach could go, if developed.

Of course, without sufficient agency the user may not understand that they are getting a response to a slightly-altered reformulation of their original submission. This lack of transparency is equivalent to an operating system’s firewall blocking access to a website or service without informing the user, who may then erroneously seek out other causes for the problem.

Prompts as Security Liabilities

The prospect of ‘prompt intervention’ analogizes well to Windows OS security, which has evolved from a patchwork of (optionally installed) commercial products in the 1990s to a non-optional and rigidly-enforced suite of network defense tools that come as standard with a Windows installation, and which require some effort to turn off or de-intensify.

If prompt sanitization evolves as network firewalls did over the past 30 years, the IBM paper’s proposal could serve as a blueprint for the future: deploying a fully local LLM on the user’s machine to filter outgoing prompts directed at known LLM APIs. This system would naturally need to integrate GUI frameworks and notifications, giving users control – unless administrative policies override it, as often occurs in business environments.

The researchers conducted an analysis of an open-source version of the ShareGPT dataset to understand how often contextual privacy is violated in real-world scenarios.

Llama-3.1-405B-Instruct was employed as a ‘judge’ model to detect violations of contextual integrity. From a large set of conversations, a subset of single-turn conversations were analyzed based on length. The judge model then assessed the context, sensitive information, and necessity for task completion, leading to the identification of conversations containing potential contextual integrity violations.

A smaller subset of these conversations, which demonstrated definitive contextual privacy violations, were analyzed further.

The framework itself was implemented using models that are smaller than typical chat agents such as ChatGPT, to enable local deployment via Ollama.

Schema for the prompt intervention system.

The three LLMs evaluated were Mixtral-8x7B-Instruct-v0.1; Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct; and DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Llama-8B.

User prompts are processed by the framework in three stages: context identification; sensitive information classification; and reformulation.

Two approaches were implemented for sensitive information classification: dynamic and structured classification: dynamic classification determines the essential details based on their use within a specific conversation; structured classification allows for the specification of a pre-defined list of sensitive attributes that are always considered non-essential. The model reformulates the prompt if it detects non-essential sensitive details by either removing or rewording them to minimize privacy risks while maintaining usability.

Home Rules

Though structured classification as a concept is not well-illustrated in the IBM paper, it is most akin to the ‘Private Data Definitions’ method in the Private Prompts initiative, which provides a downloadable standalone program that can rewrite prompts – albeit without the ability to directly intervene at the network level, as the IBM approach does (instead the user must copy and paste the modified prompts).

The Private Prompts executable allows a list of alternate substitutions for user-input text.

In the above image, we can see that the Private Prompts user is able to program automated substitutions for instances of sensitive information. In both cases, for Private Prompts and the IBM method, it seems unlikely that a user with enough presence-of-mind and personal insight to curate such a list would actually need this product  – though it could be built up over time as incidents accrue.

In an administrator role, structured classification could work as an imposed firewall or censor-net for employees; and in a home network it could, with some difficult adjustments, become a domestic network filter for all network users; but ultimately, this method is arguably redundant, since a user who could set this up properly could also self-censor effectively in the first place.

ChatGPT’s Opinion

Since ChatGPT recently launched its deep research tool for paid users, I used this facility to ask ChatGPT to review related literature and give me a ‘cynical’ take on IBM’s paper. I received the most defensive and derisive response the system has ever given when asked to evaluate or parse a new publication:

ChatGPT-4o has a low opinion of the IBM project.

‘If users don’t trust OpenAI, Google, or Anthropic to handle their data responsibly,’ ChatGPT posits. ‘why would they trust a third-party software layer sitting between them and the AI? The intermediary itself becomes a new point of failure—potentially logging, mishandling, or even leaking data before it ever reaches the LLM. It solves nothing if it just creates another entity to exploit user data.’

This objection seems self-serving and non-applicable, given the storied history of open source projects that genuinely benefit end-users through the concerted long-term efforts of community developers and contributors; and given the growing potential of mobile devices to run – and even train – lightweight LLMs. Certainly in this instance, the use case is not terribly demanding.

Next, ChatGPT confidently misses the point of having a lightweight LLM provide oversight of input towards a commercial LLM that could not possibly be run on a local machine (because the LLM is too big, and allowing local access is too risky for the company that makes it):

‘Effective privacy filtering requires understanding the input before deciding what to strip out. If an intermediary is smart enough to recognize sensitive data (names, addresses, financial details), then it’s already processing and analyzing that data—meaning it has to store or examine the very thing it’s supposed to erase.

‘This introduces a paradox: a) A dumb filter (basic regex substitution) will be ineffective and miss subtle privacy risks. b) A smart filter (LLM-powered rewriter) has to process the full input, making it just as dangerous as the original LLM.

‘If you trust the intermediary enough to read and rewrite your inputs, why not just trust the LLM itself?’

The answer to the final question here is that the local LLM is intended to be entirely on the side of the user, and inevitably open source, with minimal or zero need for network access. An equivalent commercial version, however well-intentioned at the outset, would eventually be vulnerable to corporate shifts and changes to the terms of service, whereas a suitable open source license would prevent this kind of ‘inevitable corruption’.

ChatGPT further argued that the IBM proposal ‘breaks user intent’, since it could reinterpret a prompt into an alternative that affects its utility. However, this is a much broader problem in prompt sanitization, and not specific to this particular use case.

In closing (ignoring its suggestion to use local LLMs ‘instead’, which is exactly what the IBM paper actually proposes), ChatGPT opined that the IBM method represents a barrier to adoption due to the ‘user friction’ of implementing warning and editing methods into a chat.

Here, ChatGPT may be right; but if significant pressure comes to bear because of further public incidents, or if profits in one geographical zone are threatened by growing regulation (and the company refuses to just abandon the affected region entirely), the history of consumer tech suggests that safeguards will eventually no longer be optional anyway.

Conclusion

We can’t realistically expect OpenAI to ever implement safeguards of the type that are proposed in the IBM paper, and in the central concept behind it; at least not effectively.

And certainly not globally; just as Apple blocks certain iPhone features in Europe, and LinkedIn has different rules for exploiting its users’ data in different countries, it’s reasonable to suggest that any AI company will default to the most profitable terms and conditions that are tolerable to any particular nation in which it operates –  in each case, at the expense of the user’s right to data-privacy, as necessary.

First published Thursday, February 27, 2025

Updated Thursday, February 27, 2025 15:47:11 because of incorrect Apple-related link – MA

[freakiwildi]

WEEK 5: [PLATFORMIZATION] SOCIAL MEDIA—THE HIDDEN WAR FOR CONTROL

Platformization isn’t just about tech—it’s about power. The term refers to how digital platforms embed themselves into economic, social, and technological structures, absorbing third-party services, data, and interactions while extracting value from them (Nieborg & Helmond, 2018). As they grow, they don’t just expand influence; they become core digital infrastructures, shaping entire societies (Plantin et al., 2016).

GOVERNMENTS AREN’T JUST USERS—THEY’RE PLAYERS IN THE GAME

No longer passive observers, governments have weaponized social media, turning it into a digital propaganda machine. Instead of relying on traditional media, they’re infiltrating platforms—adopting viral trends, creating memes, and crafting interactive content to control narratives. From Vietnam’s government running Facebook and TikTok accounts to political figures worldwide dominating Instagram and X, social media is now a battleground for public opinion and influence.

Yet, beyond the surface of catchy posts and government-backed campaigns, a far more serious conflict is unfolding—one of cybersecurity, foreign influence, and data sovereignty (Lewis, 2024; Burgess & Couts, 2025).

WHY CHINA IS DOMINATING THIS DIGITAL WAR

China understood the risks and opportunities of platformization long before the West did. Instead of allowing foreign platforms to shape its online landscape, it built The Great Firewall, banning Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, X, and WhatsApp while developing homegrown alternatives. But this wasn’t just about censorship—it was a strategic move to control data, prevent external influence, and dominate the digital space.

The tension escalated when TikTok’s CEO faced a legal battle in the U.S. from 2023 to 2024. While the official charge was child exploitation on the platform, the deeper concern was whether ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, was funneling American user data to Beijing (Congressional Research Service, 2023). Senator Tom Cotton directly suggested a link between TikTok and the Chinese government, despite CEO Shou Zi Chew’s firm denials. In the end, TikTok survived the legal attack, but the incident cemented global fears over China’s digital reach.

Vietnam isn’t exempt from these anxieties. Zalo, the country’s dominant messaging platform, is backed by Chinese investors through its parent company, VNG Corporation. While no concrete evidence of security risks exists, speculation runs rampant. Given Vietnam’s complex historical relationship with China, concerns about data vulnerability and foreign interference are impossible to ignore—especially when Zalo is widely used for business communication.

THE BIG PICTURE—SOCIAL MEDIA IS NO LONGER JUST SOCIAL

This isn’t just about censorship or internet restrictions. The fight over platforms is a fight over national security, economic control, and digital independence. Governments, corporations, and tech giants aren’t just competing for market share—they’re competing for who controls information, who owns the data, and ultimately, who shapes reality in the digital age.

REFERENCES:

Burgess, M & Couts, A 2025, ‘The Official DOGE Website Launch Was a Security Mess’, WIRED, viewed 18 February 2025, <https://www.wired.com/story/the-official-doge-website-launch-was-a-security-mess/?utm_source=chatgpt.com>.

Congressional Research Service 2023, TikTok: Recent Data Privacy and National Security Concerns, viewed <https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN12131?utm_source=chatgpt.com>.

Kimutai, JK 2014, ‘Social media and national security threats: a case study of Kenya’, erepository.uonbi.ac.ke, viewed <http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/76667>.

Lewis, JA 2024, ‘TikTok and National Security’, Csis.org, viewed <https://www.csis.org/analysis/tiktok-and-national-security?utm_source=chatgpt.com>.

Nieborg, DB & Helmond, A 2018, ‘The political economy of Facebook’s platformization in the mobile ecosystem: Facebook Messenger as a platform instance’, Media, Culture & Society, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 196–218, viewed <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0163443718818384>.

Plantin, J-C, Lagoze, C, Edwards, PN & Sandvig, C 2016, ‘Infrastructure studies meet platform studies in the age of Google and Facebook’, New Media & Society, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 293–310, viewed <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1461444816661553>.

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Trump's Purge: FBI Agents Sue Over Retaliation Fears

Trump's Purge: FBI Agents Sue Over Retaliation Fears

The FBI, long considered the gold standard of apolitical law enforcement, is now the target of a chilling campaign of intimidation by the Trump administration. This isn’t just politics as usual. It’s a systematic assault on the institution’s independence, designed to instill fear and loyalty at the expense of justice.

Two lawsuits filed by anonymous FBI agents reveal the depth of this crisis. They allege the Department of Justice, under Trump’s direction, is compiling lists of agents involved in investigations tied to January 6th and the Mar-a-Lago documents case. These lists, containing over 5,000 names, are reportedly being used to target agents for termination, demotion, or other retaliatory actions.

"The DOJ is compiling lists of agents who worked on investigations involving Trump and the January 6 Capitol riot, with the intention of identifying agents for termination."

The implications are staggering. If true, this represents a deliberate effort to purge the FBI of anyone who dared investigate Trump or his allies. It’s not just about punishing individuals—it’s about sending a message: do your job too well, and you’ll lose it.

Agents aren’t just worried about their careers. They fear for their safety. Releasing their identities could expose them to harassment, threats, or worse from those pardoned for their roles in the January 6th insurrection. The lawsuits highlight violations of federal privacy laws and First Amendment protections, underscoring the administration’s willingness to trample on constitutional rights for political gain.

This isn’t the first time Trump has targeted the FBI. His administration has already forced the resignation or firing of senior officials in key field offices. But this latest move escalates the conflict. By weaponizing the DOJ against its own agents, Trump is systematically dismantling the firewall between law enforcement and political power.

The consequences extend far beyond the FBI. If successful, this purge would cripple the agency’s ability to function independently. It would set a dangerous precedent, signaling that no institution is safe from political interference. The erosion of trust in the FBI would undermine public confidence in the rule of law itself.

What’s happening here isn’t just about Trump or the FBI. It’s about whether American institutions can withstand the pressures of authoritarianism. The lawsuits are a critical line of defense, but they’re only the beginning. The real battle is for the soul of American democracy—and it’s one we cannot afford to lose.