Here in Santa Clara County, we will be voting on whether to approve a sales tax increase, which is a DIRECT RESPONSE to the shortcomings that local agencies will face as a result of the federal cuts by Trump, DoGE, and the authoritarians in power. There couldn't be a more clear, direct connection of dots to the ways that these cuts will be felt immediately and substantially by consumers, businesses, and people who benefit from the services being affected. This is such low-hanging messaging fruit for anyone who might need to have these discussions with people in your life, to show that cutting funding for popular services that people rely on only shifts the cost to someone else.
I'm guessing that as many city and county agencies consider their budget planning, there are going to be similar tax increase proposals on your local ballots. If you live in a red state/county/city, PLEASE make sure that the local Trump supporters understand that Trump did this, he is stealing money from their pockets, he is the reason that the quality of services will suffer despite these direct tax increases, and he is the reason why people in their own community will suffer, and some will die.
#uspol #taxes #messaging #voteblue #democracy
#messaging
#Russia now forcing a state-run app (Max) onto every phone.
Just a cute little combo of #surveillance, #censorship, and “digital sovereignty” 
It’s WeChat, but make it Putin.
WhatsApp says Russia is attempting to block its service 
Cites pressure over its private, end-to-end encrypted chats 
Roskomnadzor claims restrictions aim to curb criminal activity 
Telegram also targeted, despite its Russian origins
Meta pledges to keep secure communication available for all 
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/whatsapp-accuses-russia-trying-block-152645588.html
Spotify unveils in-app messaging, letting users share songs, podcasts & audiobooks directly in the app 
Feature adds social layer to discovery, aiming to keep users engaged without leaving the platform 
Experts see it as a strategic move vs TikTok, IG & rising social audio trends 
https://rollingout.com/2025/08/27/spotify-in-app-messaging-feature/
Writing Help: WhatsApp's AI writing help promises maximum data protection
WhatsApp's AI writing tool relies on "private processing". Audits found some serious gaps – Despite improvements, trust is needed.
Writing Help: WhatsApps KI-Schreibhilfe verspricht höchsten Datenschutz
WhatsApps KI-Schreibhilfe setzt auf "Private Processing". Audits fanden teils gravierende Lücken – trotz Nachbesserungen ist Vertrauen nötig.
"Last week, Russia announced it will require that all new phones and tablets sold within its borders pre-install a messaging app called Max. Security experts who did technical analyses of Max’s software for Forbes said it’s a privacy nightmare.
While Russia’s interior ministry has claimed the app, made by Russian social media giant VK, is more secure than competitors, a cybersecurity researcher found that Max constantly monitored all user activity on the app with“excessive tracking.” The researcher, who completed the analysis with phone forensics tool Corellium, asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals by Russian intelligence agencies.
“This app just gathers all the data and logs it. I don’t remember seeing that in any messenger app,” they said. “Max is not secure at all. There is no cryptography, unless it’s hidden very well, but I doubt that. It is insecure by design to serve its purpose: people surveillance.”
Max was launched in March, and appears to be limited to Russian and Belarussian phone numbers. Functionally it works similar to messaging apps like Telegram and Whatsapp, but it also has an AI chatbot called GigaChat 2.0 and the ability to book travel and make bank transfers."
Spotify introduces Messages for content sharing among friends and family https://ppc.land/spotify-introduces-messages-for-content-sharing-among-friends-and-family/ #Spotify #MusicSharing #SocialMedia #ContentSharing #Messaging
Spotify introduces Messages for content sharing among friends and family: Spotify launches Messages feature on August 26, 2025, enabling one-on-one conversations with content sharing for users aged 16+ in select markets, expanding social. https://ppc.land/spotify-introduces-messages-for-content-sharing-among-friends-and-family/ #Spotify #MusicSharing #SocialMedia #ContentSharing #Messaging
#Spotify erweitert seinen Streaming-Dienst um #Messenger-Funktionen, damit Nutzer direkt in der #App über #Musik chatten können. #Messaging #Chat https://winfuture.de/news,153211.html?utm_source=Mastodon&utm_medium=ManualStatus&utm_campaign=SocialMedia
Poll time! How many contacts do you have on the DM app you use the most for personal conversations?
#poll #communication #messaging
Selhosted P2P E2EE File Transfer & Messaging PWA
https://positive-intentions.com
* #OpenSource
* #CrossPlatform
* #PWA
* #iOS, #Android, #Desktop (self compile)
* App store, Play store (coming soon)
* Desktop
* #Windows, #MacOS, #Linux (self compile)
* run `index.html` on any modern #browser
* #Decentralized
* #Secure
* #NoCookies
* #P2P #encrypted
* No registration
* No installing
* #Messaging
* Group Messaging (coming soon)
* Text Messaging
* #Multimedia Messaging
* #Screensharing (on desktop browsers)
* Offline Messaging (in #research phase)
* #FileTransfer
* #VideoCalls
* #DataOwnership
* #SelfHosted
* GitHub pages Hosting
* #LocalOnly storage
Check them out!
(Degoogled links to the apps)
- P2P Chat: https://chat.positive-intentions.com
- P2P File: https://file.positive-intentions.com
- Encrypted drive storage: https://dim.positive-intentions.com/?path=/story/usefs--encrypted-demo
- GitHub: https://github.com/positive-intentions
IMPORTANT NOTES (PLEASE READ!):
* These are NOT products. It's for #testing and #demonstration purposes only.
* They have NOT been reviewed or audited. Do NOT use for sensitive data.
* All functionality demonstrated is experimental.
* This is NOT meant to replace robust solutions like #VeraCrypt, #Simplexchat, #Signal, #Whatsapp, #wetransfer. It's just a #proofofconcept to show what's possible with #browser #APIs.
WhatsApp beta adds voice messages for missed calls 
Users can now leave voice messages when calls go unanswered 
Feature currently limited to beta testers via Google Play 
No timeline yet for public release 
@androidpolice
https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-voice-message-missed-calls/
#WhiteHouse calls out 7 #Smithsonian #museums for their #exhibits, #messaging. The White House released an article outlining Smithsonian exhibitions and materials it considers #woke or #antiamerican. Including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of American History, the National Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of the American Latino. https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/08/president-trump-is-right-about-the-smithsonian/ #censorship #democracy #freespeech #history #education #maga #politics #authoritarian
Russia: WhatsApp alternative must soon be pre-installed on mobile devices
The Russian leadership wants to force WhatsApp out of the country. The preferred alternative called MAX must now be pre-installed on all mobile devices.
In Russia, authorities are tightening control over communications even further.
Phone calls are now blocked on WhatsApp and Telegram.
Seen as a possible prelude to creating a Chinese-style internet cut off from the world, this partial block is aimed at pushing Russians to use poorly secured 'national' messaging app Max, the new 100% Russian messaging app developed by national tech giant VKontakte.
Russland: WhatsApp-Alternative muss bald auf Mobilgeräten vorinstalliert sein
Die russische Führung will WhatsApp aus dem Land drängen. Dazu muss nun die präferierte Alternative namens MAX auf allen Mobilgeräten vorinstalliert werden.
just a friendly reminder to check out Signal Messenger.. 
From a business fix at JPMorgan to a global ISO standard - this #InfoQ video traces the 18-year journey of #AMQP!
Discover the technical & political challenges, and why #OpenStandards are critical for avoiding vendor lock-in.
Dive into the details: https://bit.ly/46RI2Jd