Well yes, the more CSAM detection and predator hunting, the better. Task forces and, dare I say it, detection programs with algorithms that may or may not include AI learning, are invaluable to eliminating the actually terrible stuff, anything that can’t even be educational.

I believe the Online Safety Act and Chat Control’s sections that tie every user’s real identity to their online actions is not a solution, because when that data gets leaked and/or abused many innocent lives are in danger. I trust the state very little. I trust unidentified malicious hackers even less.

As much as I hate Reddit this is just continuation of the UK government steamrolling and destroying the free Internet, ruining the adult experience.

One of the wonders of the Internet was that it was wildly unregulated - if you wanted it and you could disable safesearch you could get it, with the caveat of ISP-enforced content locks on all mobile data subscriptions under the name of a legal child (under 18), workplace and school security and filters, unremovable Safesearch on most search engines etc. Broadband required an adult, who in turn could activate parental controls. I couldnt wait until I turned 18 so I could finally access many sites for porn, news, gaming, forums and anything containing keywords without being blocked. I had a list of proxies for bypassing school filters.

In short there is significant existing protection in place and we know that this is simply more evidence of Orwellian enforcement.

I also recommend Heroic Launcher - it can be used for Amazon and Epic if you have games with them, say free giveaways, but is great for GoG and manually adding installed Steam games. With some finicky steps I managed to get Sims 4 to launch from it. The FOSSibilities are endless

This happens every now and then, new or old data, several accounts, sometimes billions. Far too frequently.

Do you prefer XMPP or Matrix

Yes* - I haven’t used Discord in a long time as its bloat simply doesn’t interest me, but for communicating with folk:

Matrix, at least for me, is great, but the most capable mobile client Element has many broken or missing features.
Classic, but not X, has:

• working calls via STUN/TURN,
• an emoji menu,
• correctly showing chat profile images (X duplicates the most recent one for all chats),
• and the ability to create unencrypted group chats (purely for public memes).

X, but not Classic, has:

• attachment captions,
• HD images,
• markdown support,
• a more modern UI,
• and (when it works) fully encrypted 1-1 and conference calls via Matrix Livekit.

I currently dual-wield the two because neither is enough yet, and most other clients lack call functionality entirely.

XMPP, at least for me, is nearly perfect. It just works and I find the fact that desktop clients still look like AOL Messenger quite charming. However it has:

• very manual encryption key management, meaning even I find trusting a new device daunting let alone any adopters,
• no backward decryption, meaning message history needs to be exported and transferred to a new device,
• plaintext serverside storage for several pieces of data. It’s my server so ownership isn’t a worry, but it’s a massive security risk in the albeit unlikely event of a hack or hijack.

I chose higher encryption and easier adoption between Matrix and XMPP but wish there was a more fulfilling option.

I agree. Last I checked you can actually get a copy of Enterprise LTSC for free (I think it involved pulling from M$ archives, maybe archive.org), and it comes with M$ Office for Business, aka individual apps, pre 365 trash. You won’t get the latest malware or OTA bug pushes, or even the latest in forced advertising widgets or AI creativity replacements. Wouldn’t hurt to put it through Win11Debloat and O&OShutUp10