Notable links
Friday links: December 12, 2025
In the face of government oppression, it's time to encrypt.
Notable links
Commentary on links that caught my attention around the web.
AI
Trump Signs Executive Order To Combat State AI Regulation
"President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday intended to limit state regulation of artificial intelligence." At the same time, states are watering theirs down.
Technology
2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
"Wow, we made it. 2025. One of the years of all time." Tumblr didn't die - figuratively or literally - and, honestly, it's just nice to see it.
Democracy
US plans to start checking all tourists' social media
"All tourists will have to undergo a social media screening before being allowed entry into the US under new plans being considered by the country's border force."
Technology
10 Years of Let's Encrypt Certificates
Let's Encrypt is ten years old. It's changed the web for the better.
Technology
The world needs social sovereignty
"By making the news and truth contingent on advertising budgets we’ve created an environment where any narrative can win, as long as the storyteller is willing to pay. If we allow these conditions to continue, we will leave behind the voices that truly matter."
Technology
The Web Runs On Tolerance
"History shows us that all progress comes from the meeting of diverse people, with different ideas, and different backgrounds." The web is no different.
Notable links
Friday links: December 5, 2025
What comes after the AI hype cycle; new community platforms; and more.
Technology
Trump administration orders enhanced vetting for applicants of H-1B visa
Under a new State Department memo, people who keep online spaces safe are now ineligible for H-1B visas.
Society
Where Do the Children Play?
"In physical space, Western children are almost comically sheltered. But in digital space, they’re entirely beyond our command; and increasingly, that’s where children spend most of their time."
Technology
Introducing Roundabout
New_ Public announced its new community platform is being co-developed with five local US communities - and there's a lot more to come.
AI
What Happens After the Hype? Lessons from Mobile Internet’s Long Road to Success
"The question isn’t whether the current AI investment cycle will face a reckoning. It’s what form that reckoning takes — and what comes after."