News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on US Senators implore Department of Defense to expand the use of Matrix. Parent comment

Re:US Senators implore Department of Defense to expand the u... by cies on Thursday December 05, 2024 @07:38AM (#42327637)
It's not that different.

Whatsapp controls nearly everything: servers, clients, protocol.

Matrix has open protocols, several implementation of the clients/servers, and people can start their own server node.

In the comparison to TCP/IP this is quite similar. You can add to the network without needing approval of a central institution.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:US Senators implore Department of Defense to expand the u... by robertlagrant on Thursday December 05, 2024 @07:42AM (#42327663)
> Whatsapp controls nearly everything: servers, clients, protocol.

This is nothing to do with resilience in the face of things being destroyed in a war. That's what I'm saying: it's not the same sort of centralisation.

> In the comparison to TCP/IP this is quite similar. You can add to the network without needing approval of a central institution.

I can join WhatsApp without approval as well. But also - how like that is TCP/IP? All IP addresses have to be agreed and assigned, do they not?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:US Senators implore Department of Defense to expand the u... by batch12 on Thursday December 05, 2024 @07:54AM (#42327755)
WhatsApp can be turned off tomorrow as a result of a war or the whim of an executive.

> I can join WhatsApp without approval as well

You absolutely need approval to join WhatsApp. Approval and a phone number.

> All IP addresses have to be agreed and assigned, do they not

You can assign your own IPs and have your own network if you want.

[ Parent | on HN ]