A municipal councillor on Vancouver Island is challenging Canadian leaders to prove their commitment to digital sovereignty by adopting alternative social media platforms like the Fediverse.
This comes in the wake of concerns over the Canadian government's stance on the digital services tax for U.S. tech giants.
Central Saanich Coun. Zeb King argues that a concrete step towards demonstrating true leadership would be for government officials to actively engage with the public through platforms that are not controlled by American corporations, like Facebook or Twitter.
香蕉视频直播淭he fact that we don't have the digital services tax, it seems like a walk back on principle,香蕉视频直播� he lamented. So, individually, let's get off these platforms. Let's show that, as Canadians, our 香蕉视频直播榚lbows are up香蕉视频直播� beyond just rhetoric. Let's take action.香蕉视频直播�
He proposes the Fediverse, a decentralized social network built on the protocol, as a viable and privacy-focused alternative. The Fediverse is a global network of interconnected platforms that allows users to seamlessly interact, share content and follow each other across different services.
Popular platforms within the Fediverse include Mastodon for microblogging (similar to Twitter), Pixelfed for image sharing (similar to Instagram), PeerTube for video sharing (similar to YouTube) and Lemmy for link aggregation (similar to Reddit).
He believes embracing the offers numerous advantages, including enhanced user privacy, greater control over personal data, increased resistance to censorship and community-driven governance.
"I would highlight it as the Canadian people's social media.香蕉视频直播�
King recently took to Mastodon, where he's maintained an account since November 2022, to announce his meeting with Saanich North and the Islands MLA Rob Botterell.
He sought Botterell's support in championing the use of the Fediverse among elected officials.
Following the meeting, King expressed optimism about Botterell's receptiveness to the idea.
"He was so gracious, kind, and willing," King shared. "Essentially, he said, 'I'm sold. I'm on board, let's do this,' and I thought that's the leadership we want."
The core concept of Mastodon (and the Fediverse) centres around utilizing a standard protocol to connect disparate communities.
King hopes his initiative will inspire other Canadian leaders to explore the benefits of decentralized social media and prioritize the digital rights and privacy of their constituents.
A platform controlled and hosted in Canada
King has sought out Chris Alemany, a member of the team that runs to help Botterell's staff get on Mastodon.
Alemany, who also led a few efforts to raise the profile of Mastodon/Fediverse through an says sovereignty and public information are the main reasons he is trying hard to convince government officials to sign up.
香蕉视频直播淭he idea of the Fediverse finally provides the opportunity for politicians to have a public platform that can still be controlled/hosted in Canada, while still connecting to the wider world,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Alemany admits there is reluctance from the public because of a perception that other platforms have more immediate reach.
香蕉视频直播淎lso, because the Fediverse works in a fundamentally different 'open' way with all its interconnections, that can act as a confusing part that can further deter people,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淚 switched from Twitter to Mastodon in November 2022 when a large number of people made the jump. I haven香蕉视频直播檛 looked back and found it very beneficial. Others have gone to Bluesky or even back to Twitter.香蕉视频直播�
The bottom line, he says, 香蕉视频直播淭here is no big money behind any of this. It is a very organic and thus slower process. But there is still growth, and I think the inevitable end point will be that the likes of Meta, Twitter and Bluesky will become part of the Fediverse once there are enough people there for them to deem it a 香蕉视频直播檛hreat香蕉视频直播� to their business model.香蕉视频直播�
Green Party leader and Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May supports both Alemany香蕉视频直播檚 and King香蕉视频直播檚 vision and criticizes the government香蕉视频直播檚 decision to backtrack on the digital sales tax.
"I think it香蕉视频直播檚 absolutely right trying other platforms and moving off U.S.-based social media and frankly, moving off social media altogether would be good,香蕉视频直播� she said.
May admits it's not going to be easy getting people out of Facebook or Twitter to try a new social media platform.
香蕉视频直播淚'm embarrassed to say that I started with Blue Sky. I'm trying to stop using Twitter altogether. The problem is I already have 300,000 followers on Twitter and the question is, do they migrate with you?香蕉视频直播�
The MP says she香蕉视频直播檚 committed to continuing to pursue getting on the alternative platform like Mastodon.
"The traditional platform香蕉视频直播檚 business model is predatory and destructive, corrosive to democracy,香蕉视频直播� she adds. 香蕉视频直播淎nd that's how these corporations make money off of Canadians. They steal our privacy. They mine our lives and they undermine our media.香蕉视频直播�
King admits many people might consider the whole alternative social media platform as technical gobbledygook but emphasizes, it香蕉视频直播檚 a way to get the conversation going among local leaders about the future of social media and its impact on Canadian society.
香蕉视频直播淚f not now, when?香蕉视频直播� he asked.
