Pondering if Mastodon will get caught in the cross-fire of the Prime Minister's desperate cry for positive attention. Overseas based instances can shrug and laugh but aus.social, theblower.au and mastodon.au fit the government's definition of social media and are presumably administered from somewhere within the borders.

So many factors to consider, foremost, a ministerial staffer scratching their head and mumbling, 'What the fuck is Mastodon.' Even if they get that far, Mastodon and ActivityPub present enormous challenges for any attempts to exert control, by design. Can easily see it all being ignored or just given up on if it isn't.

Safe bet the only services targetted will be the commercial ones an RSL member can name but you never know. If the legislation is finalised. If it passes. If it's even implemented. So many ifs, it's almost impossible to take seriously. What a stupid hill to die on.

#auspol #mastodon