The break-up hammer seems like the wrong tool for the job.
I wish people would discuss an enforced API. If Facebook were forced to federate, we wouldn’t have to end it - it could be just another option in a plethora of social networks. If the data (and accounts) dispersed, we wouldn’t see another Cambridge Analytica scandal, because that kind of abuse relies on repeatedly accessing massive amounts of data.
Having distributed networks would also make the kinds of lies Facebook tell about their ability to advertise much more difficult, because multiple admins would be able to verify what kind of advertising reach is possible.
I wouldn’t want Facebook to join the Fediverse or adopt the ActivityPub standard. Forcing them to use ActivityPub while still maintaining their dominant social and economic position would lead to another Chrome situation. Facebook could use their position to heavily influence the ActivityPub standard and end up becoming the de facto social media platform, just like Chrome is the “de facto” web browser due to Google having so much influence over the Web’s specs.
Maybe a different API would be less dangerous to the Fediverse.
Still, federated services don’t usually have the same issues. The history of Chrome is a good point, but I still think web pages, email, et c. are far less worisome than Whatsapp or Viber.
Or…a bigger hammer.
Unfortunately, despite forced interoperability being a recommendation by the FTC and a senate committee, the judge in this case has already limited the scope of the case to exclude anything regarding interoperability.
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nothing will happen because the US can’t do absolutely anything
uuh, interesting
