mangoteq

mangoteq 2026-01-16T11:41:24+0100 https://mangoteq.eu How Big Tech and Gig Platforms Use the Same Playbook 2026-01-03T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/gig-economy-exploits/ I stumbled upon a <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/confession/comments/1q1mzej/im_a_developer_for_a_major_food_delivery_app_the/">Reddit confession</a> from a disgruntled gig economy developer - and I felt the anguish, the concern, and the guilt in their words. It wasn’t just a rant. It was a whistleblower’s cry for help from someone burned out, disillusioned, and risking their career to expose the corrupt, unethical algorithms powering these platforms. I shared it on <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://mastodon.social/@amirbkhan/115826283829344704">Mastodon</a> and LinkedIn because their message needs more attention. The responses said it all. Drivers, riders, customers, and even fellow tech workers - all echoed the same frustration. This isn’t an isolated problem. It’s a systemic one, where gig platforms and Big Tech operate with the same instincts, the same incentives, and the same ethical blind spots. One extracts your data. The other extracts your labor. Both insist they’re just providing a service while designing systems to take as much as possible. That post encouraged me to say out loud what I’d been circling for a while. The gig economy and Big Tech are not separate worlds. They operate with the same instincts, the same incentives, and often the same ethical blind spots. They just exploit different things. One takes data. The other takes labour. Both are built to extract as much as possible while insisting they’re simply providing a service. <hr /> <h2 id="same-logic-different-surface">Same Logic, Different Surface</h2> Big Tech and gig platforms may present themselves differently - logistics vs. infrastructure - but their core logic is identical: algorithmic control, extraction, and evasion of responsibility. For Big Tech, algorithms dictate what you see, how long you engage, and what you purchase. For gig platforms, they determine who works, when they work, and how little they earn. Take Bolt’s 2025 driver incentives as an example. The app doesn’t just connect rides - it shapes behavior through gamified bonuses, streaks that vanish if you log off, and time-sensitive rewards that push drivers to work longer for less. Sound familiar? It’s the same psychological manipulation social media uses to keep users scrolling. The key difference? Gig platforms don’t just track preferences - they measure desperation. Location, speed, job acceptance rates - all fed into systems designed to calculate the minimum pay a worker will accept before refusing. A 2024 investigation by The Grocer urged Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat to explain their “black box” algorithms, highlighting how these platforms use real-time demand and worker behavior data to adjust pay and job allocations—often at the expense of riders’ earnings (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/deliveroo-uber-eats-and-just-eat-urged-to-explain-black-box-algorithms/700052.article">The Grocer, 2024</a>). Same playbook, different industry: maximize extraction, minimize accountability. <h2 id="profit-without-accountability">Profit Without Accountability</h2> Big Tech and gig platforms use the same playbook: dodge regulation, rebrand exploitation as innovation, and shift risk to workers. In 2024, Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat faced increasing scrutiny in the EU for their opaque algorithms that control rider pay, job allocation, and performance metrics. Industry watchdogs and gig workers have demanded transparency, arguing that these “black box” systems manipulate earnings and working conditions under the guise of flexibility. Reports from The Grocer highlighted how these platforms use real-time data to adjust pay and job offers, often to the detriment of workers (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/deliveroo-uber-eats-and-just-eat-urged-to-explain-black-box-algorithms/700052.article">The Grocer, 2024</a>). Meanwhile, gig workers across Europe are calling for greater transparency and fairness in algorithm-driven job assignments, emphasizing the need for accountability in how these systems determine wages and working hours (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.cxotech.com/gig-workers-demand-transparency-in-algorithm-driven-jobs/">CXO Tech, 2024</a>). The pattern is clear: profit for platforms, precarity for workers. Meanwhile, platforms wrap exploitation in marketing buzzwords - “flexibility” for gig workers, “connection” for social media users. But the reality? Algorithms create urgency without improvement. Same story, different industry: profit flows up, responsibility flows down. <h2 id="the-cost-is-human">The Cost Is Human</h2> The harm is clearly visible, palpable and it’s systemic. A 2025 Human Rights Watch report, The Gig Trap, documents how algorithmic wage suppression pushes earnings below minimum wage after expenses, forces workers to skip meals or work while sick, and traps them in cycles of debt and instability (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.hrw.org/report/2025/05/12/the-gig-trap/algorithmic-wage-and-labor-exploitation-in-platform-work-in-the-us">HRW, 2025</a>). Drivers face constant surveillance, unpredictable deactivations, and psychological stress from opaque rating systems. Customers, meanwhile, pay “service fees” believing they support workers - only for those funds to bankroll corporate legal battles against labor rights. The illusion of choice is central to the gig economy’s justification: Workers can always log off. Users can always delete the app. But when the alternative is financial ruin or invisibility, choice is a mirage. Reject too many low-paying gigs? The algorithm flags you. Miss an invisible target? Your access vanishes. The system doesn’t just remember - it punishes. It’s the design and Gig &amp; Big Tech’s playbook - scale over stability, efficiency over dignity - applied to labor resulting in: A digital economy that treats humans as disposable inputs. The Reddit confession that sparked this conversation resonated because it named what many of us feel: This isn’t innovation but more like exploitation. The gig economy and Big Tech are two sides of the same coin - a system built to serve platforms, not people. The question isn’t just how we work or what we click. It’s who the digital economy is for. And the answer starts with refusing to accept that exploitation is the price of progress. Migrating from M365 to Nextcloud: A Practical Guide for Any Organization 2025-10-22T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/a-migration-guide-for-nextcloud/ <a href="#">Jump to:</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/a-migration-guide-for-nextcloud/#start-with-clear-goals">Start with Clear Goals</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/a-migration-guide-for-nextcloud/#prepare-thoughtfully">Prepare Thoughtfully</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/a-migration-guide-for-nextcloud/#take-it-step-by-step">Take It Step by Step</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/a-migration-guide-for-nextcloud/#design-for-flexibility">Design for Flexibility</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/a-migration-guide-for-nextcloud/#stay-flexible-and-adapt">Stay Flexible and Adapt</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/a-migration-guide-for-nextcloud/#avoid-common-pitfalls">Avoid Common Pitfalls</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/a-migration-guide-for-nextcloud/#the-real-value-of-migration">The Real Value of Migration</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/a-migration-guide-for-nextcloud/#references">References</a></li> </ul> <hr /> More organizations than ever are moving away from Microsoft 365 to Nextcloud—and for good reason. US cloud providers don’t just store your data; their business depends on harvesting and exploiting it <a href="#1">1</a><a href="#2">2</a><a href="#3">3</a><a href="#4">4</a><a href="#5">5</a>. Every file, email, and conversation in Microsoft’s ecosystem fuels a model built on surveillance, vendor lock-in, and escalating costs. The smartest migrations don’t happen overnight. They unfold through deliberate steps, focusing on what truly matters: giving teams control over their tools, data, and workflows. Experience shows that the most effective transitions prioritize practicality over perfection, ensuring the new system works for people—not the other way around. I’ve helped teams through this process many times, and the ones that thrive share a common approach. They don’t just switch systems—they make the transition work for their unique needs and workflows. <hr /> <h2 id="start-with-clear-goals">Start with Clear Goals</h2> Every migration should begin with a simple but important question: What do we want to achieve? Some organizations prioritize data sovereignty, moving files out of U.S. data centers to avoid unnecessary surveillance risks. Others focus on cost savings, tired of paying for M365 features that go unused. Many simply want the flexibility to choose tools that match their values and workflows. The good news is you don’t have to change everything at once. In fact, most experts will advise a phased approach rather than a big bang migration. Files can move to Nextcloud first, giving teams better version control and security, while still allowing them to use familiar Office applications through Nextcloud’s built-in integration with Collabora or OnlyOffice. Communication tools can transition gradually too—teams might start using Nextcloud Talk for internal discussions while keeping Microsoft Teams for external meetings. For calendars and contacts, tools like Sendent or Nextcloud’s Exchange Connector keep everything in sync during the transition <a href="#6">6</a>. Some institutions begin by moving all their team files to Nextcloud but keep M365 for email and Power BI. After a period of time, they intend to phase out Teams with Nextcloud Talk as the service is piloted and and users gain more familiarity with the alternative. The key was starting with clear objectives and letting the migration evolve organically. <hr /> <h2 id="prepare-thoughtfully">Prepare Thoughtfully</h2> A smooth migration depends on understanding both the technical requirements and the human factors. <h3 id="technical-assessment-know-your-data-inside-out">Technical Assessment: Know Your Data Inside Out</h3> Before moving anything, conduct a comprehensive inventory of your file stores: <ol> <li> File Analysis: <ul> <li>Map all file locations (OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, etc.)</li> <li>Document file types, sizes, and volume</li> <li>Identify large files (&gt;1GB) that may need special handling</li> <li>Note any proprietary file formats that require specific applications</li> </ul> </li> <li> Metadata and Retention: <ul> <li>Catalog existing metadata, tags, and classification systems</li> <li>Document current retention policies and legal hold requirements</li> <li>Plan how to preserve or migrate these attributes to Nextcloud</li> </ul> </li> <li> Distinguish Between File Types: <ul> <li>User OneDrive files: Typically personal work files</li> <li>Team/Department files: Shared collaboration spaces</li> <li>Company-wide files: Official documents and resources</li> <li>Archival files: Rarely accessed but legally required</li> </ul> </li> <li> Migration Strategy Development: <ul> <li>Assess available migration tools (Nextcloud’s built-in tools, third-party solutions)</li> <li>Determine if custom scripting will be needed for special cases</li> <li>Plan for file version history migration if required</li> <li>Estimate total data volume and transfer time requirements</li> </ul> </li> </ol> <h3 id="create-your-migration-blueprint">Create Your Migration Blueprint</h3> Develop a detailed migration plan that includes: <ol> <li> Tooling Evaluation: <ul> <li>Explore the which migration tooling, processes or scripts will be viable and appropriate and validate them with sample data.</li> <li>Identify any gaps that require additional tools or custom solutions</li> <li>Verify compatibility with your specific M365 configuration</li> </ul> </li> <li> Pilot Planning: <ul> <li>Select representative samples from each file category</li> <li>Include files with complex metadata and version histories</li> <li>Test with different file sizes and types</li> </ul> </li> <li> Migration Playbook: <ul> <li>Document step-by-step procedures for each migration phase</li> <li>Include rollback procedures for each stage</li> <li>Define success criteria and validation checks</li> <li>Plan for data verification and integrity checks</li> </ul> </li> </ol> <h3 id="human-factors-and-change-management">Human Factors and Change Management</h3> Begin with an honest audit of your current setup: <ul> <li>Which M365 tools are truly essential to your workflow?</li> <li>Which ones are just part of the routine?</li> </ul> This clarity helps you focus on what really needs to change. Next, pilot the transition with a small, adaptable team. Let them test Nextcloud for file storage and internal communication using your migration playbook. Their feedback will be invaluable as you refine both the technical process and user experience before rolling it out more widely. Establish simple guidelines from the start. For example: “We’ll use Nextcloud for file storage and internal chats, but client emails will stay in M365 for now.” Clear expectations prevent confusion and make the transition feel more manageable for everyone. This approach works because it respects how people actually work. When teams see how the new system improves their daily routines, they’re much more likely to embrace the change. The technical preparation ensures the migration runs smoothly, while the human-focused approach guarantees adoption. <h3 id="tooling-evaluation">Tooling Evaluation</h3> When assessing migration tools, Nextcloud does not currently appear to offer native tools specifically designed for direct migration from Microsoft 365 (including SharePoint or OneDrive). However, the ecosystem is evolving, and a combination of third-party, open-source, and custom solutions can effectively fill this gap. Before embarking on a migration, explore these options: <ol> <li> Nextcloud Native Capabilities: <ul> <li>Nextcloud Office: Allows editing Microsoft Office files directly in Nextcloud using Collabora Online or OnlyOffice integration, easing the transition for users accustomed to Office formats.</li> <li>Basic File Migration: Nextcloud supports standard file uploads and synchronization, which can be used for manual or scripted migrations from local or network storage.</li> </ul> </li> <li> Third-Party and Open-Source Tools: The migration space is active, with several specialized tools and scripts available: <ul> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://github.com/nextcloud/metavox/tree/main">Metavox</a>: An open-source tool for enriching and migrating documents to Nextcloud, particularly useful for preserving metadata and context.</li> <li>Custom Scripts: Python, PowerShell, or other scripting solutions can automate migrations from M365 to Nextcloud, especially for complex or large-scale data transfers.</li> <li>MigrateDMS: Third-party tools like <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@migrationflowforsharepoint9292">Smart Migrations</a> are designed for SharePoint and OneDrive migrations, offering advanced features like bulk transfers and metadata preservation.</li> <li>Sendent Tools: While not migration tools per se, <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://sendent.com/sendent-for-outlook/">Sendent for Outlook</a> and <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://sendent.com/sendent-for-ms-teams/">Sendent for Microsoft Teams</a> enable hybrid setups, allowing organizations to sync calendars, contacts, and tasks between Microsoft 365 and Nextcloud during and after the transition.</li> </ul> </li> <li> Emerging Solutions: The Nextcloud ecosystem is rapidly developing, with new tools and integrations frequently emerging. It’s wise to: <ul> <li>Monitor Nextcloud’s <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://nextcloud.com/migration/">official migration resources</a> for updates.</li> <li>Explore Nextcloud’s partner network for professional services and specialized tooling tailored to your needs.</li> <li>Engage with the community (e.g., <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://help.nextcloud.com/">Nextcloud Forum</a>) for the latest recommendations and custom solutions.</li> </ul> </li> </ol> Evaluation Process: <ul> <li>Test tools with a representative sample of your data.</li> <li>Assess compatibility with your M365 setup (e.g., SharePoint Online vs. On-Premises).</li> <li>Prioritize tools that support phased migrations and hybrid setups.</li> <li>Consider professional services for complex migrations involving large datasets or unique requirements.</li> </ul> <hr /> <h2 id="take-it-step-by-step">Take It Step by Step</h2> The most effective migrations happen gradually, one phase at a time, based on thorough planning and assessment. <h3 id="start-with-what-you-know-best">Start with What You Know Best</h3> Most organizations begin their migration journey with files. File storage represents the lowest risk and highest reward starting point because: <ul> <li>Files are typically the easiest to migrate with minimal disruption</li> <li>Successful file migration builds confidence for more complex transitions</li> <li>Teams can immediately experience the benefits of improved version control and access</li> </ul> A comprehensive file assessment should inform your migration strategy: <ul> <li>Understand the volume, types, and locations of all files</li> <li>Identify dependencies between files and other systems</li> <li>Document current access patterns and permission structures</li> <li>Plan for preserving metadata and version histories where needed</li> </ul> <h3 id="progress-at-your-own-pace">Progress at Your Own Pace</h3> Email migration is often addressed last, if at all. Many organizations find that: <ul> <li>Email systems are deeply integrated with existing workflows</li> <li>The disruption of email migration can outweigh immediate benefits</li> <li>A phased approach allows teams to adapt gradually</li> <li>Some organizations maintain dual systems indefinitely for specific needs</li> </ul> The key is to: <ol> <li>Begin with non-critical systems and data</li> <li>Gradually introduce new tools and workflows</li> <li>Allow teams to adapt at their own pace</li> <li>Use pilot groups to test and refine the approach</li> <li>Continuously gather feedback and adjust the plan Here’s a rewritten section that focuses on the planning and assessment process without recommending specific tools, and emphasizes the typical migration pattern starting with files:</li> </ol> <h3 id="learn-from-real-world-experience">Learn from Real-World Experience</h3> One university I know followed this approach by: <ul> <li>Starting with faculty file migration to Nextcloud</li> <li>Maintaining Microsoft 365 for student emails and some administrative functions</li> <li>Gradually intrHere’s a rewritten section that focuses on the planning and assessment process without recommending specific tools, and emphasizes the typical migration pattern starting with files: oducing Nextcloud Talk for internal communication</li> <li>Letting adoption grow organically based on user experience</li> </ul> The most important lesson is that successful migrations focus on people and processes as much as technology. Small, well-planned steps build confidence and momentum, while allowing for adjustments based on real-world feedback. <hr /> <h2 id="design-for-flexibility">Design for Flexibility</h2> Most organizations will operate in a hybrid environment for a while, and that’s perfectly okay. The goal isn’t to eliminate M365 completely but to create a setup that works for your team. Nextcloud makes this easy. Teams can edit Office files directly in Nextcloud without losing any functionality. They can join Teams meetings from Nextcloud Talk by simply pasting the link—no extra logins required. And with email sync through IMAP or Sendent, users can manage their inbox from Nextcloud without fully switching systems. When training your team, focus on how the new tools improve their daily work. Show them how to open and edit documents in Nextcloud, how their calendars stay synced, and how internal chats happen seamlessly in Talk. When people see how the new system makes their jobs easier, they’ll adopt it naturally. <hr /> <h2 id="stay-flexible-and-adapt">Stay Flexible and Adapt</h2> Some teams will eventually move completely away from M365. Others may keep certain tools for specific needs. Both approaches are valid. Regularly review how your teams are using the systems. If Teams is only being used for external calls, ask whether those licenses are still necessary. Check in every few months to see what’s working and what could be improved. And don’t forget to celebrate the progress you make—whether it’s a team switching from SharePoint to Nextcloud files or a department adopting Talk for all their internal communication. Migration isn’t about reaching a finish line. It’s about creating a system that serves your team better over time. <hr /> <h2 id="avoid-common-pitfalls">Avoid Common Pitfalls</h2> Even with careful planning, migrations can hit snags. Here’s how to steer clear of the most common issues: <ul> <li>Don’t let teams save files in both SharePoint and Nextcloud. Pick one system for each type of data to avoid confusion and duplication.</li> <li>Be clear about which tools to use for which purposes. For example: “We’ll use Talk for internal chats and Teams for client meetings.” Simple, consistent guidelines help everyone stay on the same page.</li> <li>Test integration tools like Sendent or the Exchange Connector before you need them. You don’t want to discover sync issues during an important meeting.</li> </ul> <hr /> <h2 id="the-real-value-of-migration">The Real Value of Migration</h2> Ultimately, migrating from M365 to Nextcloud isn’t just about switching tools. It’s about building a system that supports your team’s needs and values. The most successful transitions start small, listen to users, and adapt as they go. They focus on making work easier and more efficient, not just checking off technical requirements. When done right, migration feels less like a disruptive change and more like a natural evolution—one that gives your team more control, better tools, and a system that truly works for them. <hr /> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <div class="footnote-definition" id="1">1 Nextcloud. (2025, July 9). Why organizations migrate from Microsoft 365 in 2025. <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://Nextcloud.com/blog/why-organizations-migrate-from-microsoft-365-in-2025/">https://Nextcloud.com/blog/why-organizations-migrate-from-microsoft-365-in-2025/</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="2">2 Nextcloud Community. (2025, July 2). Why organizations migrate from Microsoft 365 in 2025. <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://help.Nextcloud.com/t/why-organizations-migrate-from-microsoft-365-in-2025/227911">https://help.Nextcloud.com/t/why-organizations-migrate-from-microsoft-365-in-2025/227911</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="3">3 Nextcloud. (2025, July 9). Why organizations migrate from Microsoft 365 in 2025. <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://Nextcloud.com/blog/why-organizations-migrate-from-microsoft-365-in-2025/">https://Nextcloud.com/blog/why-organizations-migrate-from-microsoft-365-in-2025/</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="4">4 Nextcloud Community. (2025, July 2). Why organizations migrate from Microsoft 365 in 2025. <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://help.Nextcloud.com/t/why-organizations-migrate-from-microsoft-365-in-2025/227911">https://help.Nextcloud.com/t/why-organizations-migrate-from-microsoft-365-in-2025/227911</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="5">5 Nextcloud. (2025, July 9). Why organizations migrate from Microsoft 365 in 2025. <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://Nextcloud.com/blog/why-organizations-migrate-from-microsoft-365-in-2025/">https://Nextcloud.com/blog/why-organizations-migrate-from-microsoft-365-in-2025/</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="6">6 Nextcloud. (2025, February 10). Nextcloud - Migration guide. <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://Nextcloud.com/migration/">https://Nextcloud.com/migration/</a> </div> Surveillance Capitalism: The Hidden Engine of Control 2025-10-13T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/surveillance-capitalism/ <ul> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/surveillance-capitalism/#introduction">Introduction</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/surveillance-capitalism/#from-innovation-to-extraction">From Innovation to Extraction</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/surveillance-capitalism/#the-data-economy-that-never-sleeps">The Data Economy That Never Sleeps</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/surveillance-capitalism/#democracy-was-always-the-target">Democracy Was Always the Target</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/surveillance-capitalism/#the-business-of-control">The Business of Control</a></li> <li><a href="https://mangoteq.eu/posts/surveillance-capitalism/#whats-left-thats-truly-ours">Whats Left Thats Truly Ours</a></li> </ul> <hr /> <h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2> We often talk about Big Tech as if it just grew too big, too fast. But that misses the real story. The power of Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple doesn’t come from better technology or smarter leaders - it comes from creating a new kind of economy: surveillance capitalism. I wanted to really understand what that means - beyond the headlines and buzzwords. So I started reading The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff and watching some of her talks. <img src="/images/ageofsurveillance.jpg" alt="The Age of Surveillance Capitalism — book cover" width="30%"> Cover of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff The deeper I went, the clearer it became: this isn’t just a critique of technology. It’s a mirror showing how our everyday lives - our thoughts, choices, moods, and movements - have quietly become raw material for profit. You’ve probably heard the phrase “If it’s free, you’re the product.” But that’s not quite right. We’re not the product - we’re the resource from which the product is made. The real product is the prediction of our behavior. And the real customers? The companies that pay to access those predictions - not to improve our lives, but to keep the profits flowing. Zuboff calls this model “surveillance capitalism” because it turns human experience itself into an economic resource. It’s not just about showing ads; it’s about shaping behavior. Over the past two decades, this system has quietly spread through every layer of digital life. It fuels record profits, shapes politics, and erodes privacy and democracy along the way. What began with Google and was supercharged by Facebook has now become the standard model for nearly every major platform - from Microsoft and Amazon to X and TikTok. Surveillance capitalism isn’t the exception anymore. It’s the rule. <hr /> <h2 id="from-innovation-to-extraction">From Innovation to Extraction</h2> The early success of Big Tech wasn’t just about innovation - it was about discovering that human behavior could be mined. When Google launched targeted ads in the early 2000s, it realized something extraordinary: the data people left behind could predict what they’d do next. That “behavioral surplus,” as Zuboff calls it, became the foundation of a new economy built on prediction. By 2024, the five largest U.S. tech companies generated over $1.65 trillion in annual revenue (Statista, 2024) - more than the GDP of most countries. That kind of growth doesn’t come from selling products alone; it comes from constant access to human behavior. Every time we do something online - and often offline - we leave behind a trail of data. Some of it’s obvious, like a photo you post or a video you like. But most of it is invisible “metadata”: when you posted, where you were, your device type, your location, your IP address, your advertising ID, even your Wi-Fi network name. All these tiny details are gathered, sorted, and analyzed by algorithms to build eerily accurate digital profiles - versions of us that can predict what we’ll want, what we’ll believe, and what we’ll do next. When companies like Google or Meta say they don’t sell your data, they’re technically right. They don’t sell you - they sell access to the ability to influence you. To keep that access, Big Tech perfected the illusion of generosity. Free email. Free maps. Free social media. But “free” was never free - it’s been the bait. Behind those friendly interfaces, every click, pause, and message is logged. Data brokers build a parallel market worth hundreds of billions each year (Forbes, 2023). This isn’t advertising in the old sense. It’s the sale of certainty - determined through a terrifying ability to predict what you’ll do, when you’ll do it, and how to steer you there. <hr /> <h2 id="the-data-economy-that-never-sleeps">The Data Economy That Never Sleeps</h2> The tracking and manipulation don’t stop when you close your browser. They follow you home. Smart doorbells, TVs, watches, fitness trackers, and voice assistants all feed the same system. Your speaker knows when you talk and what mood you’re in. Your car records every trip. Your phone measures how long you stare at the screen. Consent, when it’s even requested, hides behind walls of unreadable legal text. One study found it would take over 200 hours a year to read all the privacy policies you agree to (Carnegie Mellon University, 2019). So most people click “accept” and move on - because opting out often means not participating at all. The formula is simple: more data means better predictions. The richer the profile, the more valuable it becomes. Human experience itself has become the raw fuel of this system. <hr /> <h2 id="democracy-was-always-the-target">Democracy Was Always the Target</h2> What started as commercial surveillance has grown into political infrastructure. The first major wake-up call came in 2013, when Edward Snowden revealed the NSA’s PRISM program - showing that U.S. intelligence agencies were directly tapping into the servers of companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. The line between corporate and government surveillance vanished overnight. Then, in 2016, came Cambridge Analytica. Over 87 million Facebook profiles were harvested to build psychological models of voters (The Guardian, 2018). Those models were used to target people with emotionally charged content designed to influence both the Brexit vote and the U.S. presidential election. By the 2020s, this fusion of technology and manipulation had gone global. Leaked files showed that governments - including the U.S. and Israel - were paying influencers and PR firms millions to spread propaganda and automate AI-driven disinformation (Responsible Statecraft, 2025; The Jerusalem Post, 2025; Haaretz, 2025; The Intercept, 2025). The same systems built to sell products are now selling ideologies. The infrastructure of persuasion has become the machinery of control. <hr /> <h2 id="the-business-of-control">The Business of Control</h2> The platforms shaping our public lives were never built to promote truth - they were built to capture attention. Outrage, novelty, and emotional triggers keep us scrolling because attention equals profit. A 2023 MIT Technology Review study found that false news spreads six times faster on social media than accurate information. The reason is simple: emotions drive engagement, and engagement drives revenue. This is why misinformation and division thrive online. The more polarized we become, the easier we are to predict - and predictability pays. Democracy, with its uncertainty and open debate, doesn’t. We’re now living in a kind of digital feudalism. We don’t own our data, our feeds, or even our digital identities - we rent them from a handful of powerful platforms. In return, we produce an endless stream of behavioral data just to stay connected. Governments and tech giants increasingly depend on each other to maintain control, each feeding the other’s power. Artificial intelligence has only deepened that imbalance. These systems are trained on the world’s collective output - our writing, art, voices, and ideas - without permission. What they give back is a polished reflection of our own creativity, repackaged and sold as “intelligence.” Bit by bit, even human thought is becoming something you have to subscribe to. <hr /> <h2 id="whats-left-thats-truly-ours">Whats Left Thats Truly Ours</h2> The system of surveillance capitalism feels enormous, but it’s not unstoppable. It relies on one fragile assumption - that we’ll keep feeding it. Every unpredictable act - using open-source software, blocking trackers, or choosing tools that respect privacy - is a small act of rebellion. Each one chips away at the machine’s power to predict. But the real change starts deeper than that. It’s cultural. It’s about refusing to accept this as “just the way things are.” Surveillance capitalism isn’t nature - it’s design. And what’s designed can be redesigned. What’s at stake isn’t just privacy. It’s the freedom to think, choose, and live without being constantly measured and nudged by someone else’s algorithm. As long as data remains the raw material of this economy, our future will remain its currency. The question isn’t whether surveillance capitalism exists - it does. The question is whether we’ll keep participating in it. <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li> Zuboff, Shoshana – The Age of Surveillance Capitalism https://shoshanazuboff.com/book/about/ (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://shoshanazuboff.com/book/about/">shoshanazuboff.com</a>) </li> <li> “The Facebook data of up to 87 million people … may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica” — The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/apr/04/facebook-cambridge-analytica-user-data-latest-more-than-thought (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/apr/04/facebook-cambridge-analytica-user-data-latest-more-than-thought">theguardian.com</a>) </li> <li> “Few people read privacy policies. Studies have projected that it would take an average user over 600 hours …” — Carnegie Mellon University https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2016/march/privacy-policy.html (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2016/march/privacy-policy.html">cmu.edu</a>) </li> <li> “Cambridge Analytica spent nearly $1 m on data collection … more than 50 million individual profiles …” — The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/17/cambridge-analytica-facebook-influence-us-election (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/17/cambridge-analytica-facebook-influence-us-election">theguardian.com</a>) </li> <li> “Cambridge Analytica, a British consulting firm, was able to collect data from as many as 87 million Facebook users without their consent.” — PMC / NCBI https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6073073/ (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6073073/">pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov</a>) </li> <li> “Study: Reading online privacy policies could cost $365 billion a year” — Ars Technica https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2008/10/study-reading-online-privacy-policies-could-cost-365-billion-a-year/ (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2008/10/study-reading-online-privacy-policies-could-cost-365-billion-a-year/">arstechnica.com</a>) </li> <li> “Influencers Are Being Paid $7K Per Post to Boost Pro-Israel Social Media Content” — Truthout https://truthout.org/articles/influencers-are-being-paid-7k-per-post-to-boost-pro-israel-social-media-content/ (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://truthout.org/articles/influencers-are-being-paid-7k-per-post-to-boost-pro-israel-social-media-content/">truthout.org</a>) </li> <li> “Microsoft halts services to Israeli military unit amid probe into surveillance of Palestinians” — Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/microsoft-disables-services-israel-defense-unit-after-review-2025-09-25/ (<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/microsoft-disables-services-israel-defense-unit-after-review-2025-09-25/">reuters.com</a>) </li> </ol> The Fediverse: A Quiet Movement for an Ethical Social Internet 2025-09-18T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/what-is-the-fediverse/ For most of us, the social internet is a handful of corporate platforms: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn. These spaces promise connection but deliver surveillance, algorithms, and a relentless push to keep us scrolling, clicking, and consuming. I’ve written about this earlier <a href="/posts/big-tobacco-of-our-era/">here</a> and <a href="/posts/the-playbook-of-doubt/">here</a> And for the most part, the majority of us have just accepted this as the cost of being online - because what’s the alternative? Well there are alternatives. Plenty of them. And the fediverse provides a lot of them. <hr /> <h2 id="so-what-is-the-fediverse">So, What Is the Fediverse?</h2> The fediverse has been around for awhile and is a network of independent microblogging and social platforms that are able to interact and talk to each other. Think of it as a constellation of communities, each with its own rules, culture, and purpose, but all connected. It’s not a single website or app; it’s a way of organizing the internet that puts people - not corporations - in control. At its heart, the fediverse is about decentralization - just like email, which we all use every day. Email isn’t controlled by any single company; instead, tens of thousands of email servers communicate seamlessly using the SMTP protocol, an open standard that makes it all work. The fediverse operates on the same principle, but for social media. Instead of one company deciding what you see, who you talk to, and how your data is used, the fediverse uses the ActivityPub protocol as its open standard, spreading that power across thousands of independent communities. You can join a server (or “instance”) focused on art, activism, or just general conversation. If you don’t like the rules of one, you can move to another - or even start your own. This isn’t just a technical shift. It’s a cultural one. The fediverse asks: What if the internet were designed for people, not profit? <hr /> <h2 id="why-is-the-fediverse-important">Why Is the Fediverse Important?</h2> <h3 id="countering-algorithmic-control">Countering Algorithmic Control</h3> Corporate platforms thrive on algorithms that manipulate what you see, who you talk to, and how you feel. These algorithms aren’t neutral - they’re designed to maximize engagement, often by amplifying outrage, misinformation, and division. It’s like trying to swat flies in an endless swarm: no matter how much you push back, the system is rigged to keep you trapped in a cycle of reaction and distraction. The fediverse offers a way out. Here, you control your feed. There are no shadowy algorithms deciding what’s important. No corporate overlords dictating the rules. Just communities setting their own standards and curating their own spaces. If a platform becomes toxic or overwhelming, you can leave - without losing your connections or starting from scratch. <h3 id="privacy-as-a-community-effort">Privacy as a Community Effort</h3> Privacy isn’t just about encryption or technical safeguards. In the fediverse, it’s a social contract. Communities set their own standards for what’s acceptable. Want to avoid harassment? Many instances have strict moderation policies. Need a safer space? You can join - or create - one. This approach was shaped by marginalized communities who needed tools to protect themselves online. Features like content warnings, server-wide blocks, and transparent moderation didn’t come from Silicon Valley. They came from people who understood that privacy is about more than just hiding your data - it’s about controlling your environment and not sharing when you don’t have to. <h3 id="a-lab-for-new-ideas">A Lab for New Ideas</h3> The fediverse is more than an alternative to X or Facebook or Instagram. It’s a living, evolving communal experiment in how we can organize online spaces by holding on to fundamental values and rights that are unquestioned and accepted in our physical lives. Here, users aren’t just consumers; they’re participants. They help shape the platforms they use, whether by contributing code, moderating communities, or simply setting the tone for how people interact. This isn’t about rejecting technology. It’s about reclaiming it. The fediverse shows that the internet doesn’t have to be a place where a few corporations dictate the terms. It can be a space where communities thrive on their own terms. <hr /> <h2 id="mastodon-and-pixelfed-gateways-to-the-fediverse">Mastodon and Pixelfed: Gateways to the Fediverse</h2> <h3 id="mastodon-the-heart-of-the-fediverse">Mastodon: The Heart of the Fediverse</h3> Mastodon, in my eyes, is probably the first stop and best place for exploring the fediverse. It looks like other social media platforms, but it works differently. Instead of one central platform, Mastodon is a network of servers, each with its own community and rules. You can follow people across servers, move your account if you find a better fit, and even host your own instance if you want. What makes Mastodon special isn’t just its features. It’s the ethos behind it: a belief that social media should be open, transparent, and user-controlled. <h3 id="pixelfed-instagram-without-the-surveillance">Pixelfed: Instagram Without the Surveillance</h3> Pixelfed is Mastodon’s cousin for photos. It’s Instagram without the ads, the algorithms, or the corporate tracking. You share photos, follow artists, and engage with a community that values creativity over clicks. Like Mastodon, Pixelfed is part of the fediverse. That means you can follow photographers on Pixelfed from your Mastodon account, or vice versa. It’s all connected - but you’re in control. <hr /> <h2 id="the-bigger-picture">The Bigger Picture</h2> The fediverse isn’t just about escaping Big Tech. It’s about reimagining what the internet can be. It’s a space where communities set their own rules, where privacy is a collective effort, and where the tools we use are shaped by the people who use them. This isn’t a utopian dream. It’s happening now. The fediverse is proof that another internet is possible - one that’s decentralized, community-driven, and designed for people. <hr /> <h2 id="ready-to-try">Ready to Try?</h2> The fediverse is home to dozens of platforms, each offering something unique. Here are a few to explore: <ul> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://joinmastodon.org">Mastodon</a>: A decentralized alternative to Twitter, where communities set the rules.</li> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://pixelfed.org">Pixelfed</a>: Instagram without the ads or algorithms - just photos and creativity.</li> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://joinpeertube.org">PeerTube</a>: A YouTube alternative where videos are shared peer-to-peer, without corporate control.</li> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://lemmy.ml">Lemmy</a>: A Reddit-like platform for link sharing and discussion, but decentralized and community-run.</li> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://misskey-hub.net">Misskey</a>: A dynamic, feature-rich platform blending microblogging with advanced customization.</li> </ul> If you’re curious, pick a platform, find a community that fits your interests, and dive in. The internet can feel like home when you’re in control. <h3 id="resources-dive-deeper-into-the-fediverse">Resources: Dive Deeper into the Fediverse</h3> There are lots of great resources for you to dive into and explore the fediverse - whether you’re just curious, ready to join, or looking to deepen your understanding. From directories and statistics to beginner guides and community wikis, these tools will help you navigate, discover, and make the most of decentralized platforms. <ul> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://fedidb.com">Fediverse Database (Fedidb)</a>: A directory of fediverse platforms and instances, perfect for finding communities that match your interests.</li> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://the-federation.info/">The Federation Info</a>: A real-time dashboard showing active instances, user counts, and software diversity across the fediverse.</li> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://fediverse.party/">Fediverse.Party</a>: A beginner-friendly guide explaining how the fediverse works, with comparisons to mainstream social media and tips for getting started.</li> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://joinfediverse.wiki/">Join the Fediverse Wiki</a>: A community-maintained wiki with tutorials, instance recommendations, and deep dives into fediverse software like Mastodon, Pixelfed, and PeerTube.</li> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://fediverse.observer/">Fediverse Observer</a>: A tool for discovering and comparing fediverse instances, offering insights into size, activity, and software.</li> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://github.com/emilebosch/awesome-fediverse">Awesome Fediverse</a>: A curated list of fediverse-related projects, tools, and resources on GitHub - great for developers and power users.</li> <li><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://fediversereport.com/">Fediverse Report</a>: A newsletter and blog covering fediverse news, updates, and community stories.</li> </ul> An Ethical Alternative for Google Analytics 2025-09-06T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/umami-over-google/ When building a website, analytics are often an afterthought—until you realize the default tools come with hidden costs. Google Analytics (GA) dominates the market, but its reliance on surveillance, legal risks, and bloat made it a non-starter for me. I never used GA, and I didn’t want to get pulled into Google’s ecosystem just to track basic visitor data. Instead, I chose Umami —a lightweight, privacy-focused alternative that aligns with my values. Here’s why. <hr /> <h2 id="the-problem-with-google-analytics">The Problem with Google Analytics</h2> <h3 id="1-surveillance-by-default">1. Surveillance by Default</h3> GA isn’t just a tool—it’s part of Google’s ad empire. Every visit, click, and interaction feeds into a system designed to profile users. Even if you’re not running ads, your data contributes to a machine that prioritizes tracking over transparency. For me, this was a hard pass. I didn’t want my site to become part of that ecosystem. <h3 id="2-gdpr-and-legal-headaches">2. GDPR and Legal Headaches</h3> GA’s data collection has repeatedly clashed with privacy laws, especially in the EU. Courts have ruled that its default setup violates GDPR because it transfers data to U.S. servers without proper safeguards. The result? Endless cookie banners, compliance risks, and potential fines —all for a tool that’s supposed to simplify analytics. <h3 id="3-overkill-for-most-use-cases">3. Overkill for Most Use Cases</h3> GA’s dashboard is packed with features most small sites don’t need. Do you really need real-time user-level drilling for a personal blog or portfolio? Probably not. What matters: <ul> <li>Traffic sources (Where are visitors coming from?)</li> <li>Popular pages (What content resonates?)</li> <li>Basic trends (Are visits growing?)</li> </ul> GA’s complexity slows down your site (thanks to its ~45KB script) and distracts from what’s useful. <h3 id="4-performance-and-ad-blocker-issues">4. Performance and Ad-Blocker Issues</h3> GA’s script is heavy and frequently blocked by privacy tools like uBlock Origin. If visitors block GA, you lose data—and their trust. <hr /> <h2 id="why-umami-won-me-over">Why Umami Won Me Over</h2> I evaluated several alternatives (Matomo, Plausible, Umami) and chose Umami for its balance of simplicity, privacy, and ease of use. <h3 id="1-lightweight-and-fast">1. Lightweight and Fast</h3> Umami’s tracking script is ~1KB—a fraction of GA’s size. That means: <ul> <li>Faster page loads (no bloat).</li> <li>Fewer blocked requests (better data accuracy).</li> </ul> <h3 id="2-no-cookies-no-consent-walls">2. No Cookies, No Consent Walls</h3> Umami doesn’t use cookies or collect personally identifiable information (PII). No GDPR banners. No legal risk. Just clean, compliant analytics. <h3 id="3-free-for-small-sites-hobby-tier">3. Free for Small Sites (Hobby Tier)</h3> Umami’s <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://umami.is/pricing">Hobby plan</a> is completely free and includes: <ul> <li>100K events/month (plenty for small sites).</li> <li>Up to 3 websites.</li> <li>6-month data retention.</li> </ul> For solo creators, nonprofits, or side projects, this is a perfect starting point. <h3 id="4-ad-blocker-resistance-even-without-self-hosting">4. Ad-Blocker Resistance (Even Without Self-Hosting)</h3> Many ad blockers target known analytics scripts (e.g., <code>google-analytics.com</code>). Umami’s script can be renamed and hosted on your own domain to reduce blocking. For example: <ul> <li>Rename <code>umami.js</code> to <code>insights.js</code>.</li> <li>Store it in your website’s directory (e.g., <code>/js/insights.js</code>).</li> <li>Update the script <code>src</code> in your HTML to point to your domain.</li> </ul> <hr /> <h2 id="how-to-get-started-with-umami">How to Get Started with Umami</h2> <h3 id="option-1-free-hosted-plan-fastest-setup">Option 1: Free Hosted Plan (Fastest Setup)</h3> <ol> <li>Sign up at <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://umami.is">umami.is</a>.</li> <li>Add your website domain in the dashboard.</li> <li>Copy the tracking script into your site’s <code>&lt;head&gt;</code>.</li> <li>Done. Data starts flowing immediately — no credit card required.</li> </ol> <h3 id="option-2-self-hosted-advanced-control">Option 2: Self-Hosted (Advanced Control)</h3> If you prefer ownership (or EU compliance), follow Umami’s <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://umami.is/docs/guides/hosting">official hosting guide</a>. <hr /> <h2 id="why-this-is">Why this is</h2> By choosing Umami you: <ul> <li>Protect visitor privacy (no surveillance, no PII collection).</li> <li>Avoid legal risks (GDPR-friendly by default).</li> <li>Improve performance (tiny script, no bloat).</li> <li>Support ethical tech (open-source, community-driven).</li> </ul> <h2 id="your-next-steps">Your Next Steps</h2> <ol> <li>Test Umami’s <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://analytics.umami.is/share/8thQrBlu/umami.is">live demo</a>.</li> <li>Sign up for the free Hobby plan or explore self-hosting.</li> <li>Rename the script (e.g., <code>insights.js</code>) to improve ad-blocker resistance.</li> </ol> <hr /> <h3 id="final-thought">Final Thought</h3> The web doesn’t have to rely on surveillance-based tools. Umami proves that ethical, lightweight analytics are possible—and practical. The Politics of Doubt: How Uncertainty Serves Power 2025-08-07T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/the-playbook-of-doubt/ I just listened to an incredibly in‑depth, insightful episode of Your Undivided Attention—the Center for Humane Technology’s podcast—featuring historian Naomi Oreskes<a href="#1">1</a>. She breaks down how powerful actors, throughout histroy, weaponize uncertainty, fuel fear and stoke up doubt to avoid accountability. Not by accident, but by design to retain their positions of power and profit You can listen to the episode here: <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/weaponizing-uncertainty-how-tech-is-recycling-big-tobaccos-playbook">Weaponizing Uncertainty</a> <h2 id="the-core-idea-doubt-can-be-weaponized">The Core Idea: Doubt can be weaponized</h2> In the episode, Oreskes, author of Merchants of Doubt, explains how the concept of uncertainty has been consistently flipped from a driver of scientific rigor or clear fact into a smokescreen for inaction. Scientific uncertainty, in its honest form, is what pushes inquiry forward. But when deliberately weaponized, it’s used to delay policy, sway public opinion, and shield industries from consequences. This isn’t new a tatic. It’s a playbook thats repeatedly used. <hr /> <h3 id="1-tobacco-fire-safety">1. Tobacco &amp; Fire Safety</h3> When cigarettes were found to cause deadly house fires, tobacco companies didn’t accept blame. Instead, they pointed fingers—at flammable pajamas and bedding. They co-opted firefighters to push for flame-retardant clothing, forcing shifts in manufacturing and fashion. Meanwhile, the tobacco industry quietly walked away untouched<a href="#2">2</a>. <hr /> <h3 id="2-apartheid-south-africa">2. Apartheid South Africa</h3> Despite years of global protest and UN resolutions, Western governments—especially the U.S. and U.K.—resisted meaningful sanctions against the apartheid regime, often minimizing its threat to international peace. Behind the scenes, South Africa launched Muldergate, a covert propaganda operation funding media and front groups abroad to reshape public opinion and deflect criticism<a href="#3">3</a>. <hr /> <h3 id="3-the-climate-crisis-still-ongoing">3. The Climate Crisis (Still Ongoing)</h3> Fossil fuel companies have long abandoned the goal of disproving climate science. Instead, they fund campaigns that aim to sow doubt—just enough to stall legislation, delay renewable adoption, and keep fossil profits flowing<a href="#4">4</a>. <hr /> <h3 id="4-big-tech-surveillance">4. Big Tech &amp; Surveillance</h3> From algorithmic manipulation to widespread polarization, the harms caused by digital platforms are well documented. Yet tech companies sidestep accountability by framing regulation as a threat to “innovation” or “free speech,” shifting the narrative instead of solving the problem<a href="#5">5</a>. <hr /> <h3 id="5-israel-palestine-the-humanitarian-blockade">5. Israel–Palestine &amp; the Humanitarian Blockade</h3> In Gaza, repeated reports of famine are downplayed or denied by those in power. The blame is often deflected onto aid organizations or Hamas, obscuring evidence that starvation is being used deliberately as a tool of war<a href="#6">6</a>. <hr /> Across all these examples, the tactics repeat: <ul> <li>Turn facts into “opinions.”</li> <li>Stall regulation or justice.</li> <li>Protect power and profit.</li> <li>Promote one idealogy or set of beliefs over another.</li> </ul> <h3 id="the-illusion-of-debate">The Illusion of Debate</h3> Oreskes highlights how the appearance of scientific debate can be more powerful than the science itself—especially when amplified by media and interest groups. As public confidence wavers, action stalls. <h3 id="1992-the-rio-moment-that-could-ve-been">1992: The Rio Moment That Could’ve Been</h3> The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 represented a potential turning point. But the fossil fuel industry intervened, using uncertainty as a tool to unravel momentum and policy<a href="#7">7</a>. <h3 id="ideology-over-evidence">Ideology Over Evidence</h3> What keeps this playbook effective is ideology. Defenders of unfettered capitalism equate any form of regulation with oppression. By weaponizing the language of freedom and individualism, they shut down collective action before it starts. But doubtt isn’t necessarily bad. In science, it’s essential. But when its manufactured doubt, that’s a weapon. So next time you see something labeled “controversial,” ask: <blockquote> Who benefits from the confusion? And what are they trying to hide? </blockquote> <hr /> <h4 id="footnotes">Footnotes</h4> <div class="footnote-definition" id="1">1 <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/weaponizing-uncertainty-how-tech-is-recycling-big-tobaccos-playbook">How Tech is Recycling Big Tobacco’s Playbook“</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="2">2 <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.fireengineering.com/fire-safety/tribune-big-tobacco-fire-marshals-flame-retardant/">Fire Marshals in Flame-Retardant Campaign</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="3">3 <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://sahistory.org.za/article/history-apartheid-south-africa">A history of Apartheid in South Africa</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="3">3 <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muldergate_Scandal">Wikipedia - Muldergate</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="4">4 <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchants_of_Doubt">Wikipedia - Merchants of Doubt</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="5">5 <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.ted.com/talks/carole_cadwalladr_facebook_s_role_in_brexit_and_the_threat_to_democracy">Facebook’s role in Brexit</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="6">6 <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-182-situation-gaza-strip-and-west-bank-including-east-jerusalem">UNRWA Situation Report #182</a> </div> <div class="footnote-definition" id="7">7 <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.futureverse.earth/p/naomi-oreskes">Naomi Oreskes on Futureverse</a> </div> <hr /> Breathing New Life Into MacBook Airs 2025-07-08T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/breathing-new-life-into-macbook-airs/ <img src="/images/2-sleeping-macs.jpg" alt="Macbook airs shut" /> This is a personal guide based on my experience installing and configuring elementary OS on two aging MacBook Airs. One is from 2013 with just 4 GB RAM. The other is from 2015 with 8 GB . Both now run astonioshingly well after some careful prep, partitioning, and and post-install driver fixes. If you’ve got an old MacBook Air lying around—or you’re just curious about running Linux on Apple hardware—this guide is for you. <hr /> <img src="/images/2-open-macs.jpg" alt="Macbook airs running elementary OS" /> <h2 id="1-download-elementary-os">1. Download Elementary OS</h2> With so many Linux distros out there, I chose elementary OS because it’s one of the closest I’ve found to the macOS experience. The interface is clean, elegant, and feels familiar—perfect for breathing new life into an old MacBook Air without overwhelming you with unnecessary clutter or complexity. Go to <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://elementary.io">elementary.io</a> and download the ISO. I chose elementary OS 7.1 (Horus) for stability and compatibility with older machines. I could find it directly on the main website but its still available of the very handy and trustworthy Internet Archive site. https://archive.org/details/elementaryos-7.1-stable.20230926rc_202401. Download the ISO image The latest version may also work, but check your hardware first. <hr /> <h2 id="2-create-a-bootable-usb-with-persistence">2. Create a Bootable USB (with Persistence)</h2> If you’re new to Linux, a bootable USB is just a USB stick that acts like a temporary operating system. You plug it in, reboot your computer, and it runs Linux directly from the stick—without touching your current files or OS. It’s great for testing. For a basic test drive, a Live USB (non-persistent) is enough. But if you want to change system settings, install apps, or save files between reboots, go for a persistent setup instead. Aim for a USB stick of at least 8GB. You can do this on Linux or Windows. <h3 id="on-linux">On Linux:</h3> <ul> <li>Use <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://help.ubuntu.com/community/mkusb"><code>mkusb</code></a> for a persistent USB: <ul> <li>Install it with:<pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo add-apt-repository universe sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mkusb/ppa sudo apt update sudo apt install mkusb mkusb-nox usb-pack-efi </code></pre> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Then launch <code>mkusb</code> and follow the steps to burn the ISO with persistence. After installing mkusb, open a terminal and run:<pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo mkusb </code></pre> </li> </ul> You’ll be guided through a series of menus. Here’s what to expect and what to choose: <pre style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;"><code>Select: dus (Do USB Stuff) This is the main tool you want. Choose the Persistent live option Navigate to where you downloaded the elementaryOS ISO file and select it Choose the target USB drive Be careful here. Make sure you select the correct USB stick! You can identify it by its size. Double-check to avoid wiping another drive. Persistence size You’ll be asked how much of the USB space you want to allocate to persistence (saving changes, files, and apps). For example: On a 8GB USB, you might assign 4GB to persistence. The rest is used for the boot system. Confirm and write The final step is to confirm all settings and allow mkusb to write the image. It will format the drive and create the persistent system. </code></pre> <h3 id="on-windows">On Windows:</h3> <ul> <li>Use Rufus: <ul> <li>Select the ISO</li> <li>Set partition type to GPT (for UEFI)</li> <li>Choose persistent storage if available (not all ISOs support it)</li> <li>Format as FAT32</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <hr /> <h2 id="3-test-first-try-live-or-persistent-mode">3. Test First: Try Live or Persistent Mode</h2> Before installing: <ul> <li> Boot from the USB stick. </li> <li> Choose Try Elementary OS or persistent live mode from the GRUB (Bootloader screen) </li> <li> Check: <ul> <li>WiFi: does it detect and connect?</li> <li>Camera: go to the app center and select the camera app provided</li> </ul> </li> <li> If WiFi or camera doesn’t work, this guide will walk you through the fixes. </li> </ul> If theres no WiFi you might want connect via Ethernet or use a USB WiFi dongle if possible. <hr /> <h2 id="4-choose-install-method-erase-vs-dual-boot">4. Choose Install Method: Erase vs Dual Boot</h2> You have two options: <h3 id="option-a-erase-the-disk">Option A: Erase the Disk</h3> <ul> <li>This wipes macOS completely.</li> <li>Safe and clean option if you don’t need macOS anymore.</li> </ul> <h3 id="option-b-dual-boot-keep-macos">Option B: Dual Boot (Keep macOS)</h3> <h3 id="partitioning-carefully-keeping-macos-and-installing-elementary-os">Partitioning Carefully: Keeping macOS and Installing Elementary OS</h3> If you’re planning to dual boot macOS and elementary OS, the safest route is to prepare the disk from within macOS first. This ensures your existing installation remains intact and helps avoid issues with bootloaders or overlapping partitions. The goal here is to: <ul> <li>Keep macOS untouched and bootable</li> <li>Leave enough free space for installing elementary OS</li> <li>Ensure there’s a healthy EFI System Partition (ESP) — at least 512MB</li> </ul> <hr /> <h3 id="recommended-resize-macos-safely-from-macos">Recommended: Resize macOS Safely from macOS</h3> <h4 id="step-1-boot-into-macos">Step 1: Boot into macOS</h4> Log into macOS as usual. <h4 id="step-2-open-disk-utility">Step 2: Open Disk Utility</h4> <ul> <li>Launch Disk Utility (<code>Cmd + Space</code>, type “Disk Utility”)</li> <li>From the menu bar, select View → Show All Devices</li> <li>This will display the physical drive, the APFS container, and any partitions</li> </ul> <h4 id="step-3-select-the-apfs-container">Step 3: Select the APFS container</h4> <ul> <li>Click on the APFS container (not the individual volume like “Macintosh HD”)</li> <li>This is important — resizing the container adjusts the actual disk space usage</li> </ul> <h4 id="step-4-shrink-the-macos-container">Step 4: Shrink the macOS container</h4> <ul> <li>Click Partition or Resize (depending on your macOS version)</li> <li>Leave enough room for Linux. For example: <ul> <li>If your disk is 250GB, you might shrink macOS to around 130GB</li> <li>Leave at least 100GB unallocated for elementary OS</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <h4 id="step-5-leave-efi-and-padding-space">Step 5: Leave EFI and padding space</h4> Before installing Linux, check your disk layout: <ul> <li>The EFI partition should be present and at least 512MB</li> <li>There should be at least 400MB of unallocated space before the macOS partition</li> <li>This helps the elementary OS installer add boot entries correctly</li> </ul> You can check this layout using: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">diskutil list </code></pre> <hr /> <h2 id="5-install-elementary-os">5. Install Elementary OS</h2> Now that you’ve prepared the partition space, it’s time to install elementary OS. <h3 id="step-1-boot-from-the-usb-stick">Step 1: Boot from the USB stick</h3> Insert the USB stick and reboot your Mac. Hold down the Option (⌥) key immediately after powering on. You’ll see the boot menu. <ul> <li>Select the EFI Boot option (this is your USB stick)</li> <li>Choose Install elementary OS from the menu</li> </ul> <hr /> <h3 id="step-2-choose-your-installation-mode">Step 2: Choose Your Installation Mode</h3> You’ll be guided through a few setup screens: <ul> <li>Language and keyboard layout</li> <li>Network setup (you can skip if WiFi doesn’t work yet)</li> <li>Updates and third-party software</li> </ul> Enable “Install third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware and additional media formats” — this may help with some drivers. <hr /> <h3 id="step-3-disk-setup-this-part-is-important">Step 3: Disk Setup — This part is important</h3> You’ll be asked how you want to partition the disk. You have two main options: <h4 id="option-a-erase-disk-and-install">Option A: Erase Disk and Install</h4> <ul> <li>This wipes everything — macOS included</li> <li>Choose this only if you want a clean slate</li> <li>Recommended only if you’re not dual booting</li> </ul> <h4 id="option-b-custom-install-manual-partitioning">Option B: Custom Install (Manual Partitioning)</h4> <ul> <li>Recommended if you’re keeping macOS</li> <li>Select “Custom install (Advanced)”</li> </ul> Once inside the partitioning screen: <ol> <li> Identify the free space you created earlier from macOS (it will show as “free space” or “unallocated”) </li> <li> Create the following partitions: <ul> <li>Root (<code>/</code>) <ul> <li>Type: <code>ext4</code></li> <li>Mount point: <code>/</code></li> <li>Size: At least 30–50GB</li> </ul> </li> <li>Swap (optional, especially useful on 8GB RAM machines) <ul> <li>Type: <code>swap</code></li> <li>Size: 2–4GB</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ol> <blockquote> Note: You don’t need to touch the EFI partition if its allocated with around 500MB — elementary OS will detect and reuse it for bootloader entries. </blockquote> <hr /> <h3 id="step-4-final-setup">Step 4: Final Setup</h3> After partitioning: <ul> <li>Choose your timezone</li> <li>Create your user account and password</li> <li>Review everything one last time and confirm</li> </ul> The installer will now run. When done, remove the USB stick when prompted and reboot. If you’re dual booting with macOS, holding Option (⌥) during startup will let you choose which OS to boot. <hr /> <h2 id="6-fixing-broadcom-wifi-on-older-macbooks">6. Fixing Broadcom WiFi on Older MacBooks</h2> If you’re using an older MacBook Air or Pro, it’s likely that your WiFi card is from Broadcom, and it might not work out of the box with Elementary OS. Here’s how to fix it: <h3 id="step-1-open-terminal">Step 1: Open Terminal</h3> Once you’re logged into the installed system (ideally with an Ethernet connection or USB WiFi dongle), run: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo apt update sudo apt install bcmwl-kernel-source </code></pre> This command installs the Broadcom Wireless driver that supports many legacy Apple devices. <h3 id="step-2-load-the-driver">Step 2: Load the Driver</h3> After installing, run: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo modprobe wl </code></pre> This tells the system to load the new driver immediately without rebooting. <h3 id="step-3-reboot">Step 3: Reboot</h3> Restart your computer: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo reboot </code></pre> Once you’re back in, you should see available WiFi networks in the top-right network menu. If not, double-check your internet connection during installation, or repeat the steps above. <hr /> <h2 id="7-fixing-the-built-in-facetimehd-camera">7. Fixing the Built-in FaceTimeHD Camera</h2> Apple uses a proprietary camera in many MacBooks that isn’t supported by default in Linux. The good news: a community-developed driver exists, and it works well once installed. We’ll be installing two things: <ul> <li>The camera driver (so Linux knows how to talk to the camera hardware).</li> <li>The firmware (proprietary files required for the camera to function, retrieved via a legal open-source extractor).</li> </ul> <blockquote> Note: This process assumes you’re using the 6.2 kernel. If you’re on a newer kernel (like 6.8), the driver might need to be rebuilt later. </blockquote> <hr /> <h3 id="step-1-install-required-packages">Step 1: Install Required Packages</h3> These tools help us build (compile) the driver and firmware from source code. <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo apt install git curl cmake libusb-1.0-0-dev libdrm-dev libpciaccess-dev libglfw3-dev libjpeg-dev checkinstall </code></pre> <hr /> <h3 id="step-2-clone-and-build-the-driver">Step 2: Clone and Build the Driver</h3> This step downloads the open-source FaceTimeHD driver and compiles it for your system. <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">git clone https://github.com/patjak/bcwc_pcie.git cd bcwc_pcie make sudo make install sudo depmod -a </code></pre> <blockquote> <code>make</code> compiles the code. <code>depmod</code> updates kernel module dependencies. </blockquote> <hr /> <h3 id="step-3-download-and-install-the-firmware">Step 3: Download and Install the Firmware</h3> Even with the driver installed, your camera won’t work without the firmware (tiny programs stored inside devices). We legally extract these from Apple’s firmware using a free tool. <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">git clone https://github.com/patjak/facetimehd-firmware.git cd facetimehd-firmware make sudo make install </code></pre> This will download, extract, and install the needed files into the correct system location. <hr /> <h3 id="step-4-reboot-and-test">Step 4: Reboot and Test</h3> Restart your computer: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo reboot </code></pre> Once back, test your camera with: <blockquote> If you see yourself on screen, it worked! </blockquote> <ul> <li></li> </ul> <hr /> <h2 id="8-lock-to-kernel-6-2-optional-but-recommended">8. Lock to Kernel 6.2 (Optional but Recommended)</h2> I found that everything (WiFi + camera) works reliably on kernel 6.2.0-33-generic. If a newer kernel breaks drivers, you can lock and stick to to this 6.2 kernel so that its not automatically updated: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo apt-mark hold linux-image-6.2.0-33-generic sudo apt-mark hold linux-headers-6.2.0-33-generic </code></pre> To make sure the system always boots into this kernel: <ol> <li>Edit GRUB:</li> </ol> <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo nano /etc/default/grub </code></pre> <ol start="2"> <li>Set:</li> </ol> <pre style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;"><code>GRUB_DEFAULT=&quot;Advanced options for elementary OS&gt;elementary OS, with Linux 6.2.0-33-generic&quot; </code></pre> <ol start="3"> <li>Update GRUB:</li> </ol> <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo update-grub </code></pre> <hr /> <h2 id="9-final-cleanup-and-update">9. Final Cleanup and Update</h2> Run: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo apt update &amp;&amp; sudo apt upgrade </code></pre> <hr /> <h2 id="extra-tip-avoid-updating-the-built-in-camera-app-via-flatpak">Extra Tip: Avoid Updating the Built-In Camera App via Flatpak</h2> After a system update or Flatpak refresh, the Camera app that was working perfectly suddenly failed to detect the FaceTimeHD drivers. Rolling back fixed it — but it’s better to prevent this from happening in the first place. <hr /> <h3 id="white-check-mark-how-to-freeze-the-camera-app-version">✅ How to Freeze the Camera App Version</h3> elementary’s Camera app is distributed as a Flatpak, so you can mask it to stop it from receiving updates. <ol> <li> First, find the exact ID of the camera app: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">flatpak list </code></pre> Look for something like <code>io.elementary.camera</code>. </li> <li> Then, mask it to freeze its version: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">flatpak mask io.elementary.Camera </code></pre> </li> </ol> That’s it — the app will now stay at its current working version during future system or Flatpak updates. <hr /> If in the future you want to allow updates again: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">flatpak mask --remove io.elementary.Camera </code></pre> Big Tobacco. Big Tech. Different Era, Same Pattern. 2025-06-23T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/big-tobacco-of-our-era/ For a long time, smoking was just considered normal. It was advertised as cool, harmless. Even healthy, strangely enough. Doctors recommended it. Celebrities sold it. Governments allowed it without regulation. I still remember flying as a kid, sitting just a few rows away from the smoking section on planes. The smell lingered everywhere. That’s just how it was. No one questioned it much. Looking back, it’s hard to believe how embedded tobacco was in daily life. But for decades, people genuinely didn’t think it was a big deal — even though, deep down, some part of us probably knew better. And even when the research started coming out, showing the health risks clearly, the industry pushed back hard. Funded doubt. Bought silence. Delayed action. And behind it all, the product itself was doing exactly what it was designed to do: keep people addicted. Hooked. Dependent. It’s taken generations to unwind that damage. And yet, here we are again — with a different product, but the same playbook. <hr /> <h2 id="the-digital-addiction-we-don-t-like-to-admit">The Digital Addiction We Don’t Like to Admit</h2> I’m talking about Big Tech. Not just the companies — but the entire system that now surrounds us. Phones, platforms, apps, feeds, logins. The way we work, talk, share, remember, even think — increasingly runs through a handful of companies. It’s become normal. Expected. Invisible. And just like smoking once was, we’ve come to rely on it, enjoy it, even defend it — without really questioning what it’s doing to us. <img src="/images/big-tech-warning-labels.png" alt="Big tech warning label" /> <blockquote> Do we actually need to enforce big warning labels before clear to us what the real damage is? </blockquote> <hr /> <h2 id="persuasive-technology-the-engine-behind-the-hook">Persuasive Technology: the engine behind the hook</h2> What keeps us glued to these platforms isn’t just great design — it’s intentional manipulation. Most major tech platforms rely on what’s called persuasive technology — the use of scientifically tested psychological techniques to steer user behavior toward a specific outcome, usually increasing engagement, screen time, or ad clicks. This isn’t a side effect. It’s the design goal. As the <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.humanetech.com/brain-science">Center for Humane Technology</a>) describes it, this is the “race to the bottom of the brainstem” — bypassing thoughtful choice in favor of reflex and compulsion. The results are everywhere: <ul> <li>Shortened attention spans</li> <li>Teen depression and anxiety</li> <li>Polarization and conspiracy culture</li> <li>Information overload</li> <li>A breakdown in sensemaking</li> <li>Bots, deepfakes, and fake news flooding our feeds</li> </ul> These harms aren’t isolated. They’re interconnected symptoms of systems that reward addiction and distraction over well-being and truth. <img src="/images/harms-of-persuasive-tech.png" alt="The Harms of Persuasive Technology – source: Center for Humane Technology" /> <blockquote> “Persuasive tech uses scientifically tested design strategies to manipulate human behaviour” - Image credit: Center for Humane Technology </blockquote> <hr /> <h2 id="its-more-than-just-convenience">Its more than just convenience</h2> What makes this harder to talk about is how useful everything seems. We need our phones. We use these tools to stay in touch, get things done, organize our lives. But that usefulness is also the trap. Behind the scenes, it’s not just about features or services — it’s about extraction. Your data. Your attention. Your time. Every interaction feeds the machine. Every click is part of a profile. Every scroll fine-tunes a system that knows how to keep you scrolling just a little bit longer. And the damage runs deeper than just what we can see. Like the tip of an iceberg, the visible harms — tech addiction, degraded mental health, erosion of trust and democracy — are just the surface. Beneath them lie structural causes: broken business models, governance failures, and cultural norms that normalize it all. <img src="/images/tip-of-the-iceberg.png" alt="Iceberg diagram – The Systems Driving Visible Harms" /> <blockquote> “Under immense pressure to prioritise engagement &amp; growth, tech platofrms have created a race for human attention that unleashed visible and unvisibile hars to society” - Image credit: Center for Humane Technology </blockquote> <hr /> <h2 id="the-extractive-tech-paradigm">The Extractive Tech paradigm</h2> Part of the reason this continues is the way the tech industry frames its role. According to the <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.humanetech.com/brain-science">Center for Humane Technology</a>, the dominant paradigm of Silicon Valley — the mental model that underpins much of our technology — is deeply flawed. You’ve probably heard the common lines: <ul> <li>“We’re just giving users what they want.”</li> <li>“Technology is neutral — it’s what people do with it that matters.”</li> <li>“It’s just like any other moral panic — people once feared radio and TV too.”</li> </ul> These talking points are used to sidestep accountability and they downplay consequences and avoid ethical responsibility. But when the products &amp; plaforms are fundamentally designed to capture attention, maximize engagement, and grow at all costs, you don’t get neutrality but a system optimized for addiction and profit, not human betterment. <img src="/images/extractive-tech.png" alt="The Broken Paradigm of Today’s Extractive Tech" /> <blockquote> Image credit: Center for Humane Technology </blockquote> <hr /> <h2 id="it-s-not-just-a-personal-problem-it-s-a-structural-one-as-well">It’s not just a personal problem. It’s a structural one as well.</h2> When we talk about tech addiction, we often frame it as a personal failing. Spend less time on your phone. Turn off notifications. Take a break. But that’s like telling smokers in the 1980s to “just quit” while tobacco ads ran on every billboard and doctors handed out free samples. The issue isn’t just how we use the tools. It’s how the tools are built — and who they serve. Big Tech has shaped itself into something far more powerful than just a group of tech companies. It’s a digital infrastructure. A cultural habit. A business model that thrives on attention and control — not on health, empowerment, or freedom. <hr /> <h2 id="its-hard-admitting-the-dependency">Its hard admitting the dependency</h2> Most of us don’t want to hear this and I get that. It’s uncomfortable. We rely on these systems quite heavily. Many of us make our living through them. And even though there are plenty of alternatives, the path towards them is unclear or seemingly difficult. Even writing this, I’m aware of my own contradictions, as I still use and depend on some Big Tech in daily life. And that’s exactly the point. These monoloplistic platforms are embeddedd almost everywhere. And that makes it harder to see, harder to challenge and even harder to imagine life outside of it. But there is hope. There are alternatives - good ones - and there are simple paths towards them. And life, connection and communication most certainly continues and thrives beyond the realms and reaches of these extractive ecosystems. Just like with tobacco or any other addiction, the shift doesn’t happen all at once. It starts questioning. Then with noticing and accepting, followed by fair bit of resisting. And eventually, choosing differently, especially when it’s inconvenient and makes you uneasy, irritated and uncomfortable. <hr /> Big Tech may not leave a black stain on your lungs, but it’s shaping our behavior, our our political &amp; worldviews, and our future in ways most of us did not consent to. And the sooner we collectively acknowledge the grip it has, the sooner we can to loosen it and liberate ourselves. <hr /> If you want to learn more or further understand the impacts I recommend watching this old but still relevant documentary. Available for free through Internet Archives: <blockquote> <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://archive.org/details/the-social-dilemma-2020">The Social Dilemna</a> </blockquote> As well as this TED Talks from Carol Cadwalladr, Investigative Journalist who’s been exposing and challenging Big Tech since 2018. <blockquote> <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.ted.com/talks/carole_cadwalladr_this_is_what_a_digital_coup_looks_like">This is What a Digital Coup Looks Like</a> </blockquote> The Foundation of Humane Technology have some excellent self-paced online courses to help raise awareness as well as build more humane tech. <blockquote> <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.humanetech.com/course">The Foundations of Humane Technology</a> </blockquote> There’s a lot of good resources as well as alternatives. I might take some time apart and start gathering and compiling a collection of good resources on my site. Thanks for dropping by and reading! The Browser That’s Earned My Trust 2025-06-17T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/looking-for-a-trustworthy-browser/ How I’v Let Go of Chrome, Dodging The CLOUD Act And Seeking A Truly Ethical Desktop Browser <hr /> <h3 id="where-this-all-started">Where This All Started</h3> For a while now, I’ve been using DuckDuckGo as my default search engine. It’s simple, it works, and I like that it doesn’t try to guess what I want or follow me around. But here’s the funny thing: even with DuckDuckGo set up, I kept falling back into old habits. On autopilot, I’d end up opening Chrome or Edge. Something about convenience, I guess. It started to feel like I was whispering secrets to DuckDuckGo, then shouting them across the street through Google. Not ideal. So I decided to finally stop messing around and look for a browser I could actually stand behind. Not just one that blocks ads or promises privacy in marketing copy, but something I could trust without needing to deep-dive into its settings or cross-check its privacy policy. <hr /> <h3 id="what-i-wanted-and-needed">What I Wanted (and Needed)</h3> As I started looking, I realized I had a pretty specific idea of what I was after. Some of it was about principle, some about practicality — but each part mattered. <h4 id="no-u-s-jurisdiction">No U.S. Jurisdiction</h4> I wanted to stay out of reach of the CLOUD Act, which allows U.S. authorities to demand user data from companies under U.S. jurisdiction — even if the data is stored elsewhere. That ruled out: <ul> <li>Chrome</li> <li>Edge</li> <li>Brave</li> <li>Even Firefox (since Mozilla is U.S.-based)</li> </ul> <h4 id="privacy-by-default">Privacy by Default</h4> I didn’t want to go digging through menus to make things private. I wanted a browser where privacy wasn’t optional — no telemetry, no background connections, no hidden toggles. Just quiet respect for the user. Browsers that didn’t make it: <ul> <li>Firefox (still collects telemetry unless you disable it manually)</li> <li>Vivaldi (has extra features I didn’t want, and some tracking too)</li> </ul> <h4 id="fully-open-source-and-community-driven">Fully Open-Source and Community-Driven</h4> No corporate influence, no weird licensing. I was looking for something maintained by a community, not a company, with no profit motive pushing things behind the scenes. That excluded: <ul> <li>Brave (crypto ad model)</li> <li>Opera (ad-tech owned)</li> <li>Vivaldi (not fully open-source at the UI layer)</li> </ul> <h4 id="full-extension-support-especially-ublock-origin">Full Extension Support (Especially uBlock Origin)</h4> This was a must. I rely on uBlock Origin, and I’m not giving it up. But this is where things got complicated. With Manifest V3, Google is changing how extensions work in Chromium. It limits what blockers can do — especially dynamic filtering. Most Chromium-based browsers will be forced to comply, even if they don’t want to. So that cut out: <ul> <li>Chrome</li> <li>Edge</li> <li>Brave</li> <li>Ungoogled Chromium (even though it tries to delay the inevitable)</li> </ul> <hr /> <h3 id="what-was-still-standing">What Was Still Standing</h3> After all that, only a few browsers were left in the running. Each had a specific strength, but also limitations. Mullvad Browser Built with the Tor Project. No telemetry, hardened setup, very strong on fingerprinting resistance. But no extension support, which makes it a bit too minimal for everyday use. Tor Browser Excellent for anonymity and escaping surveillance. But it’s slow, and many sites don’t load properly or block Tor outright. Great for specific use cases, not for daily browsing. Zen Browser A newer option with a nice minimalist UI, based on Firefox. It’s promising, but still early-stage. I’ll be watching how it develops — it’s not quite ready yet for me. <hr /> <h3 id="and-the-winner-is">And the Winner Is…</h3> 🐺 LibreWolf I almost missed this one. I’d heard the name floating around but hadn’t taken the time to try it. Turns out it was exactly what I’d been looking for. LibreWolf is based on Firefox but completely stripped down. No Mozilla telemetry. No background pings. No Pocket. No Sync. No search engine deals. No nonsense. It’s maintained by a global, independent community, not a company. And it ships with uBlock Origin out of the box. <ul> <li>✅ Fully open-source</li> <li>✅ No ties to U.S. governance</li> <li>✅ Full extension support (not affected by Manifest V3)</li> <li>✅ Hardened privacy defaults</li> <li>✅ Doesn’t try to upsell, suggest, or track</li> </ul> It doesn’t try to be clever. It just works. And most importantly, it doesn’t try to know anything about me while doing it. If you’ve been looking for a browser that aligns with your values — not just another app with a “privacy” sticker slapped on — this might be the one. <blockquote> 🐺 <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://librewolf.net">https://librewolf.net</a> No accounts. No telemetry. Just the browser. </blockquote> <blockquote> (and I’m still using DuckDuckGo my mobile) </blockquote> Liberating My Microsoft Laptop with Linux Mint 2025-06-03T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/liberating-surface-with-mint/ I finally got around to giving my old Surface Laptop 2 a second life with Linux. I went with <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.linuxmint.com/">Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition</a>, and I’m really glad I did. And touchscreen and my trackpad still work. So why Mint and not something else? From everything I read, Linux Mint kept coming up as one of the best choices for people used to Windows. The layout, the workflow, the learning curve – it all felt familiar. I also checked out <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://elementary.io/">elementary OS</a> which looks great too, especially if you’re moving over from macOS. But for me, Mint was the better fit. <hr /> <h2 id="warning-quick-heads-up-about-wi-fi">⚠️ Quick Heads-up About Wi-Fi</h2> My Surface already had a known issue with the built-in Wi-Fi, even before installing Mint. I spent way too much time troubleshooting it to conclude with faulty hardware on a old machine. Instead, I plugged in a wired ethernet connection during setup, which worked fine. After installation, I bought a TP-Link AC1300 Nano USB Wi-Fi adapter – it works flawlessly with Linux Mint. So yeah, I’ll be carrying a tiny USB stick for Wi-Fi from now on, and that’s fine by me. <hr /> <h2 id="white-check-mark-what-you-need">✅ What You Need</h2> <ul> <li>Surface Laptop 2 (or similar)</li> <li>8GB or larger USB stick</li> <li>A USB-A ethernet dongle (helpful for setup)</li> <li>Optional: a USB Wi-Fi adapter for after the install</li> <li>A second computer to prepare the USB</li> <li>Some backup storage if you care about your files</li> </ul> <hr /> <h2 id="tools-step-by-step-how-i-installed-linux-mint">🛠 Step-by-Step: How I Installed Linux Mint</h2> <h3 id="1-back-up-your-stuff">1. Back Up Your Stuff</h3> Before doing anything, back up all important files. Don’t skip this. You’ll be wiping the drive during installation unless you’re doing a dual-boot setup (I wasn’t). <hr /> <h3 id="2-create-a-bootable-usb-using-rufus">2. Create a Bootable USB Using Rufus</h3> If you’re on Windows, just download <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://rufus.ie/">Rufus</a> and the latest Linux Mint Cinnamon ISO from <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://linuxmint.com/download.php">linuxmint.com</a>. S Here’s what I did: <ol> <li>Plugged in the USB</li> <li>Opened Rufus and selected: <ul> <li>ISO file</li> <li>GPT partition scheme</li> <li>FAT32 file system</li> </ul> </li> <li>Clicked Start</li> </ol> Straightforward, and within minutes you have a bootable USB stick and installaton medium. <hr /> <h3 id="3-boot-from-usb">3. Boot from USB</h3> <ol> <li>Shut down the Surface Laptop</li> <li>Hold the ** Fn key + Volume Down + Power** until you see the Surface logo</li> <li>It boots into the GRUB screen – select the first option: “Start Linux Mint”</li> </ol> Give it a moment and you’ll be in the live desktop. <hr /> <h3 id="4-install-linux-mint">4. Install Linux Mint</h3> Double-click “Install Linux Mint” on the top left of the desktop and go through the steps. You’ve got a couple of choices here: <h4 id="option-a-clean-install-easy">Option A: Clean Install (Easy)</h4> Let Mint erase the disk and handle everything for you. Fast and simple. <h4 id="option-b-manual-partitioning-what-i-did">Option B: Manual Partitioning (What I Did)</h4> Here’s what worked for me: <ul> <li><code>/</code> (root): 30–50 GB, ext4</li> <li><code>swap</code>: 4 GB or the same as your RAM</li> <li><code>/home</code>: all the rest</li> </ul> This setup keeps your system files separate from your personal data, so if you ever reinstall Mint, your files stay untouched. <hr /> <h3 id="5-update-the-system">5. Update the System</h3> Once Mint is installed and you’re rebooted: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo apt update &amp;&amp; sudo apt upgrade -y </code></pre> <hr /> <h3 id="6-install-the-surface-linux-kernel">6. Install the Surface Linux Kernel</h3> To get better hardware support (like keyboard, touchscreen, battery, etc), install the custom Surface kernel. First you need to import the keys we use to sign packages. <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">wget -qO - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/master/pkg/keys/surface.asc \ | gpg --dearmor | sudo dd of=/etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/linux-surface.gpg </code></pre> After this you can add the repository configuration and update APT. <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">echo &quot;deb [arch=amd64] https://pkg.surfacelinux.com/debian release main&quot; \ | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/linux-surface.list sudo apt update </code></pre> Then you can install the linux-surface kernel and its dependencies. <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo apt install linux-image-surface linux-headers-surface libwacom-surface iptsd </code></pre> You can find full instructions here: 👉 <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Installation-and-Setup#Debian--Ubuntu">https://github.com/linux-surface/installation(ubuntu)</a> <hr /> <h2 id="frame-photo-a-look-at-the-mint-desktop">🖼 A Look at the Mint Desktop</h2> Here’s what Mint looks like right after install. Super clean, super familiar. <img src="/images/mint-desktop.png" alt="Linux Mint Cinnamon Desktop" /> Feels like a better version of Windows 10, but without the bloat and noise. <hr /> <h2 id="bulb-bonus-tips-and-good-to-knows">💡 Bonus Tips and Good-to-Knows</h2> <h3 id="1-use-vscodium-instead-of-visual-studio-code">1. Use VSCodium Instead of Visual Studio Code</h3> If you like VS Code but are looking for an FOSs alternative, I recommend <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://vscodium.com/">VSCodium</a>, which is the same thing – just without Microsoft’s telemetry and branding. Install it with: <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">sudo apt install codium </code></pre> <hr /> <h3 id="2-great-built-in-apps">2. Great Built-in Apps</h3> Mint comes preinstalled with a bunch of solid apps, so you don’t need to hunt down replacements right away. <table><thead><tr><th>App</th><th>Replaces…</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody> <tr><td>LibreOffice</td><td>Microsoft Office</td><td>Fully offline suite, works great</td></tr> <tr><td>Timeshift</td><td>System Restore</td><td>Easy snapshots and rollback points</td></tr> <tr><td>Warpinator</td><td>Nearby sharing</td><td>Like AirDrop for Linux</td></tr> <tr><td>GIMP</td><td>Photoshop/Paint.NET</td><td>Full image editor, very capable</td></tr> <tr><td>Pix</td><td>Windows Photo Viewer</td><td>Fast and simple photo viewer</td></tr> </tbody></table> <hr /> <h3 id="3-better-performance-than-windows-11">3. Better Performance Than Windows 11</h3> almost instantly Surface Laptop 2 runs noticeably faster - and quieter. The fan isn’t blaring at odd moments. Did a quickover compare: <table><thead><tr><th>Metric</th><th>Windows 11</th><th>Linux Mint</th></tr></thead><tbody> <tr><td>Idle RAM usage</td><td>~3 GB</td><td>~800 MB</td></tr> <tr><td>Disk usage (fresh)</td><td>~35 GB</td><td>~10 GB</td></tr> <tr><td>Boot time</td><td>30–40 seconds</td><td>10–15 seconds</td></tr> <tr><td>Background services</td><td>60+</td><td>Less than 20</td></tr> </tbody></table> Mint is lighter, leaner, and and the battery lasts longer too. <hr /> <h2 id="final-thoughts">Final Thoughts</h2> Switching to Linux Mint gave my Surface a whole new life. It runs cooler, smoother, and without all the bloat and surveillance. The only real compromise was needing a USB Wi-Fi adapter – which honestly isn’t a big deal. If you’re thinking about trying Linux on your Surface, Mint is a great place to start. It’s clean, fast, and respects your time. No regrets here. Let me know if you run into issues or want help – always happy to share what I’ve learned. What Is Open Source, and is it really safe? 2025-04-20T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/what-is-open-source/ Let me start by saying, I’m no authority in this space. I haven’t contributed to any open source projects (yet!). I’m learning as I go, reading, tinkering, asking questions. But I keep getting asked about open source a lot as I share my intentions about shifting my gaze, attention and efforts towards it: <ul> <li>“Is it really safe if anyone can see the code?”</li> <li>“Can’t people just steal the work and sell it?”</li> <li>“How do you make money with open source if its free?”</li> </ul> All fair questions, so i thought I’d try and break it down. Not from the lens of an expert, but as someone also trying to understand it better. <hr /> <h2 id="open-source-means-open-code-not-open-chaos">open source means open code - not open chaos</h2> Open source simply means the source code of a software project is made publicly available. More that this, theres an open invite to collaborate and improve upon the code. Granted sometimes whats shared in repos is utter chaos, but, anyone can inspect it, suggest improvements, or even build on top of it…depending on the license. So that doesn’t always mean it’s a free-for-all. There are clear rules and licenses in place. These protect (or at least should protect) the work while still encouraging collaboration. <hr /> <h2 id="why-this-matters-to-me">why this matters to me?</h2> With closed, proprietary tech: <ul> <li>You often can’t see what the software is doing with your data.</li> <li>Companies can change terms overnight, lock you out, or shut things down entirely.</li> <li>You might be tied to a single provider with no easy way out (a.k.a. vendor lock-in).</li> <li>Features are designed around what makes money, not always what’s good for users.</li> </ul> With open source: <ul> <li>You’re not locked in. You can move, adapt, or host it yourself.</li> <li>There’s a global community keeping watch—not just a corporate boardroom usually looking out for stakeholder interests first</li> <li>It’s more resistant to exploitation, manipulation, and surveillance.</li> </ul> Proprietary software plays an important role, no doubt. It often brings polished user experiences, strong commercial support, and competitive advantages that drive innovation. But more often than not, it does come with trade-offs. As a user/consumeer, you may be giving up a level of transparency, privacy, or control. You don’t always know what’s happening under the hood. And you may not have a clear way to move your data or truly understand the system you’re relying on. And these days with algorithms heavily influencing what you see on social media platforms, we are the product. <hr /> <h2 id="if-anyone-can-see-the-code-it-must-be-less-secure">“If anyone can see the code, it must be less secure.”</h2> Actually, it’quite the opposite. More eyes on the code means more chances to catch problems. Open source software tends to be more transparent, auditable, and easier to trust—because there’s nothing hidden. <h2 id="people-can-just-steal-the-code">“People can just steal the code.”</h2> Open licenses spell out exactly what’s allowed. Many require anyone who reuses the code to give credit or even share their changes back. So yes, open source is legally protected—but it doesn’t stop someone from copying your idea and building something similar. That’s the tradeoff. It encourages sharing over hoarding, and collaboration over control. <hr /> Open source isn’t flawless, I’m sure. But from where I stand it strives for and promotes values that center on openness, collaboration, and user freedom. And that’s a pretty good foundation to build on. It’s also a more ethical choice for me, and it feels worth leaning into. <h2 id="a-note-on-ai-and-open-source">a note on AI and open source…</h2> There’s growing debate these days about how large AI models (Openai, Meta, Gemini) are crawling and scraping open source work, without credit, support, or contribution back. It’s a legit concern I feel. Their models are trained on, powered by, and profiting from the work of thousands of open-source contributors. It’s a big topic, worth exploring in more depth. But it raises a good point that open source doesn’t mean unprotected and accountability in the AI age is something, I suppose, the open source world will still need to figure out. Serving It Simple: A Plain-Text Path to My Website 2025-04-17T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/serving-it-simple/ This site is part of a bigger shift I’ve been making—away from bloat, noise,and platforms that try to do too much. I’m carving out a slower, simpler digital space for myself. I started, like many do, looking at WordPress—but it didn’t take long to rule it out. Too heavy, too bloated, too plugin-hungry. I gave Ghost a spin next. Even set up a running instance. It’s modern, open source, and sleek, but still felt like more than I needed. That’s when I stumbled into the world of static site generators. Specifically, via the impressive <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://512kb.club/">512kb.club</a> —a small, nerdy collective of websites under 512 kilobytes, advocating for a simpler, leaner web. It felt like stepping into a time machine, and, it felt great. Clean CSS, minimal markup, and a whole load of retro charm. <h2 id="why-zola">Why Zola?</h2> I came across a few generators: Hugo, Eleventy, and Zola. <ul> <li>Hugo is written in Go garners a lot of praise, As does Eleventy, written in Node.js.</li> <li>I didn’t spend too long with either— but Zola just clicked.</li> <li>It’s written in Rust, but more importantly, it was simpler to grasp.</li> <li>The structure made sense instantly.</li> <li>And I was drawn to the clean <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://github.com/Speyll/anemone">Anemone theme</a> which I now use.</li> </ul> <h2 id="high-level-setup-steps">High-Level Setup Steps</h2> For those curious or wanting to try something similar, here’s how I got started: <ol> <li>Pick a domain – I went with <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.inwx.com/en">INWX</a> as my registrar (clean, privacy-respecting, EU-based).</li> <li>Install Zola locally – I used Linux WSL on Windows.</li> </ol> <pre data-lang="bash" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-bash "><code class="language-bash" data-lang="bash">wget https://github.com/getzola/zola/releases/download/v0.20.0/zola-v0.20.0-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.gz tar -xvzf zola-v0.20.0-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.gz sudo mv zola /usr/local/bin/ </code></pre> <ol start="3"> <li> Create your content in Markdown. I use VS Code for now (though exploring other options). </li> <li> Use <code>zola serve</code> to preview your site locally. </li> <li> Set your <code>base_url</code> in <code>config.toml</code>: One small hiccup to watch for: if you’re hosting your site behind a domain like <code>https://example.com</code>, make sure to set <code>base_url</code> to match. Otherwise, internal links might break when you deploy. </li> <li> Deploy it with a simple web server. I use <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://caddyserver.com/">Caddy</a>—a lightweight, modern web server that handles HTTPS automatically and serves my static files from <code>/var/www/mangotek</code>. <ul> <li>Set up A records via your registrar (INWX worked well for me)</li> <li>Point your domain to your server IP</li> <li>Caddy handles the HTTPS certificates with no hassle</li> </ul> </li> </ol> <h2 id="bonus-green-hosting">Bonus: Green Hosting</h2> One big motivation for this shift is also sustainability. I’m currently hosting the site with a local EU-based provider committed to green energy. They’ve cleverly placed their servers inside regular buildings where the residual heat gets reused to warm water. It’s a brilliant idea—and one more reason to rethink how and where we host things. I’ll share more about this setup once my personal cloud space POC is ready to spotlight. But safe to say, I’m excited about the direction this is heading. <hr /> More soon. Linux or Bust? Grappling with Windows While Stepping into FOSS 2025-04-06T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/linus-or-bust/ As I’d been rethinking my digital life, one thing has become clear: the tools I use matter. And more than that, how I use them matters too. Stepping away from the mainstream has naturally drawn me toward open source — tools and ideas rooted in transparency, simplicity, and shared values. But there was a gap. I solely relyiing and working from inside Windows. <hr /> <h3 id="the-dilemma">The Dilemma</h3> I wanted to get closer to the tools and ideas that open source offers — but I was still on Windows, relying on GUIs and rarely touching the terminal. It felt like I was trying to learn to swim without getting into the water. <hr /> <h3 id="the-fork-in-the-road">The Fork in the Road</h3> So what then? Here’s what I considered: <ul> <li> Dual Boot Install Linux alongside Windows, pick your OS at boot. ✅ Full Linux experience ❌ Not sure which one to choose (Debian, Mint, Fedora..Ubuntu) ❌ Constant reboots, risk of partitioning mishaps, context-switching fatigue </li> <li> Full Switch Go all-in. Format the drive. Install Linux as your daily driver. ✅ Deep immersion ❌ Risky — especially when I still depend on Windows-only tools or workflows </li> <li> Virtual Machine Install Linux inside VirtualBox or VMware. ✅ Safe to experiment ❌ Resource-heavy, slower, not great for daily development </li> </ul> And then I discovered the one that actually worked for me — right now, in this moment: <hr /> <h3 id="wsl-to-the-rescue">WSL to the Rescue</h3> Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) turned out to be the easiest, most practical bridge between where I was and where I wanted to go. And to my surprise, installing it was shockingly simple. Just pop open PowerShell (as Administrator), and run: <pre data-lang="powershell" style="background-color:#2b303b;color:#c0c5ce;" class="language-powershell "><code class="language-powershell" data-lang="powershell">wsl --install </code></pre> Thats it. The default install sets you up with Ubuntu, and after a quick reboot, you’re dropped into a real Linux shell — right inside your Windows environment. And you can pin the Ubuntu app to your Start menu. From a Ubuntu terminal I could: <ul> <li>Use real <code>bash</code>, <code>apt</code>, <code>nano</code>, <code>curl</code>, and all the good Unix-y stuff</li> <li>SSH into servers</li> <li>Use tools like git, python, docker, node, etc. in native Linux form</li> <li>Start exploring and testing the things — without leaving Windows</li> </ul> …just yet 😉 Not a Manifesto — Just a Start 2025-04-05T00:00:00+0000 https://mangoteq.eu/posts/not-a-manifesto/ Not a Manifesto — Just a Start A place for rethinking and reshaping my digital life. I’m stepping away from big tech. Not out of rebellion (ok, maybe a bit), and not all at once. It’s been a slow, steady shift over years, one that gains more urgency as I start paying closer attention to how digital tools shape my habits, my choices, and the world around me. At first, it was just a discomfort I couldn’t quite place. A feeling that I was being pulled into platforms that made things easier, but not necessarily better. Over time, that unease became a quiet, nagging call to do things differently. Not radically (ok, maybe a bit), not perfectly, but more deliberately. I’m not keen to sell a single solution or prescribe a set path. What I’m sharing here is just the direction I’m moving in: toward a tech life that’s more consious, more communal, and more aligned with the values I care about. That means: <ul> <li>Letting go of convenience when it comes at the cost of control</li> <li>Learning from tools and communities that reflect transparency and trust</li> <li>Exploring ideas like digital sovereignty, ethical tech, and small, meaningful infrastructure</li> <li>Embracing open source, not just because it’s free, but because of the values it often embodies</li> </ul> This shift hasn’t been clean or complete. In fact I’m still entrenched some big tech services. Some I haven’t yet replaced. Others I might not replace at all. But the point isn’t purity—it’s awareness. It’s about noticing what’s automatic, and seeing what can be different. And so, this space—mangotek—exists as a kind of digital notebook. A place to share: <ul> <li>What I’m letting go of</li> <li>What I’m exploring</li> <li>What I’m learning along the way</li> </ul> Some of it will be raw, half-formed, or simply notes to myself. Some of it might grow into practical guides, reviews, or ideas worth sharing. This isn’t a clean break. It’s a work in progress. A journey with no defined end state. And it’s just beginning.