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@stux@mstdn.socialWow.. I just read that pawoo has been taken over by the Mask Group that also runs mstdn.jp and mastodon.cloud 
So.. they own now 3 of the largest instances
@stux What "Mask Group"?????
@Christopher_Salazar @stux the mask group is their name
Clap clap...
@stux And how do we block those instances again? 
@stux I don’t want to know details but can someone explain why pawoo is blocked, I’ve never heard of it before. Thanks.
@mandaroza@qoto.org @stux@mstdn.social pawoo was started by pixiv as a place for Japanese manga and anime artists. Some of the Japanese anime art offends western sensibilities so some instances block pawoo straight away.
@stux looks like they don’t like to update and upgrade.
@stux I like how those three instances are the very ones lagging behind with their updates…
@stux and all 3 running older versions of the software. Interesting...
Here is context, on why pawoo got so big and why it is widely defederated. (it's about "lolicon"):
https://ethanzuckerman.com/2017/08/18/mastodon-is-big-in-japan-the-reason-why-is-uncomfortable/
@stux And they're all running v3?
@stux it's not clear what the important parameters are when choosing an instance. Even less so measuring these parameters.
@stux this shit is what makes people uncomfortable of mastodon. We all say that the instance doesn't matter, but there's just no way to evaluate these kinds of things. Now imagine your parents choosing an instance.
spin up your own instance! (teia is showing the way 
)
@stux ist this the Mask Group from maskgroup.org? I don’t know anything about them but their mobile landing page seems rather shady….
@micha2k @stux With a name like Mask Network and Social Coop Ltd they aren't easy to find with TSOR, but this source says Mask Network has an encrypted messaging protocol for messaging and bitcoin transfers. That gives us a hint what they might be aiming for with buying up large JP servers...? https://cryptonews.net/news/blokcheyn/18047979/
@stux Would it be possible for them to merge all of the instances and users together into one instance?
@stux I wonder where they think the profit is
it is so easy to be on big & small instances at the same time while supporting each
as one who is not particularly interested in the nuts & bolts of decentralized networking, I can still support by being present & paying
I prefer to mix with many rather than be mashed by mob
@stux all three of them also run on outdated versions with existing security advisories.
@stux since some have asked about Mask Group: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mask-network-acquires-pawoo-net-070000858.html
@stux
That's... very worrying. If they have an intention to grow and corner the market (as it were) that would be bad for everyone.
@stux I originally read that as “Musk Group!”
@stux it seems the secret to being bought/sold is to run old versions of mastodon!
Caleb @Rudd Thought this was interesting. It look like we’re degenerated from pawoo?
I assume mastodon.world is one of the larger instances?
@stux As the fediverse grows, we can expect to see many for-profit enterprises coming in and attempting to buy the large instances or set up their own. The good thing about the Fediverse is that people can easily move their instances and not be beholden to any one entity. The bad thing about people is that many might simply not bother. And if these servers become bigger than others due to their financial resources, we will see a repeat of many of the problems with traditional social media.
@sreedevkkumar @stux Welcome to the human race.
@stux That was to be expected... Thank you for your promise of not selling!
@stux that’s the reason I was asking this: https://mstdn.social/@thomasf/109546637035619071
@thomasf @stux well supposedly if the server is in the EU they are legally binded to tell that they will sell your data before they do. That allows you to opt out. If they do sell them they gonna get in court by us. This is GDPR. Other than that there is no other guarantee. Technically this can not be solved unless everything is encrypted.
@stux Wow - wasn’t expecting consolidation so soon...
@stux I read that as another name that has the same consonants...
@stux We need a warning displayed for instances not run by people but profit.
Let's be real. Profit is far from the most nefarious motive people can have on the internet. We should be wary about any corporations running instances but for that matter we should be wary of any large scale instance owner that we don't know. Drawing the line at corporate yes/no is so misleading that it is downright harmful.
@stux People are reacting with concerns about this but surely this company will have a vested interest in addressing the performance and scalability issues (which would benefit everyone).
@stux what's that and who is that and why
@mumu_thestan @stux I want to know who/what/why too
