Meta implementing ActivityPub as intended? Not so fast IMHO.

Can one implement ActivityPub in a manner that does not provide any interop with any other ActivityPub app? Yes. [move on]

Can one implement ActivityPub in a manner that favors your own business objectives, to the detriment of all other Fediverse participants? Yes.

For example by implementing ActivityPub asymmetrically. Note the latest leak says this:

> Users on other apps will be able search for, follow and interact with your profile and content

It does not say "users of the Meta app will be able to search for, follow and interact with other Fediverse profiles and content.” What good is a Fediverse if not everybody can follow anybody else?

There are many other peculiarities in these leaks that should make us think IMHO. I blogged about it:

https://reb00ted.org/tech/20230522-what-the-meta-activitypub-not-so-fast/

Of course this is an analysis based on incomplete/inaccurate/… leaks, and we can’t know the truth yet, but we should asks ourselves:

what if Meta plays an asymmetric game and does not participate as an honest “peer” in this decentralized network? What do we do then?

[P.S. If I were Meta, that’s exactly what I’d do, because it gets the share price up faster than the alternatives.]

Cheers,



Johannes.

Johannes Ernst
Blog: https://reb00ted.org/
FediForum: https://fediforum.org/
Dazzle: https://dazzle.town/