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We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

(hugotunius.se)
2071 points K0nserv | 10 comments | 31 Aug 25 21:46 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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zmmmmm ◴[01 Sep 25 02:51 UTC] No.45088995[source]▶
> In this context this would mean having the ability and documentation to build or install alternative operating systems on this hardware

It doesn't work. Everything from banks to Netflix and others are slowly edging out anything where they can't fully verify the chain of control to an entity they can have a legal or contractual relationship with. To be clear, this is fundamental, not incidental. You can't run your own operating system because it's not in Netflix's financial interest for you to do so. Or your banks, or your government. They all benefit from you not having control, so you can't.

This is why it's so important to defend the real principles here not just the technical artefacts of them. Netflix shouldn't be able to insist on a particular type of DRM for me to receive their service. Governments shouldn't be able to prevent me from end to end encrypting things. I should be able to opt into all this if I want more security, but it can't be mandatory. However all of these things are not technical, they are principles and rights that we have to argue for.

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1. nradov ◴[01 Sep 25 04:23 UTC] No.45089429[source]▶
You could just not watch Netflix. Most of the content is kind of crap anyway, low effort filler. And the streaming services have trouble even licensing third-party content at all unless they have robust copy protection. That may be stupid because it drives more consumers to privacy but copyright holders are free to negotiate any licensing terms they want.
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2. rblatz ◴[01 Sep 25 05:42 UTC] No.45089782[source]▶
Netflix is right in its prime right now, K-Pop Demon Hunters is a smash hit and probably the biggest cultural thing going on right now, it has like 4 songs from it in the top 10. Wednesday is coming back this weekfor the end of season 2. Stranger Things is wrapping up in November,
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3. 000ooo000 ◴[01 Sep 25 06:05 UTC] No.45089888[source]▶
Odd to hear for me. Netflix Australia has been in steep decline for years now. The only shows I recognise by title or actors in the poster are 15+ years old, or are adorned with 'Leaving Soon'. Everything of value has been poached by a competitor.
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4. Silhouette ◴[01 Sep 25 06:13 UTC] No.45089928[source]▶
You could just not watch Netflix.

The digital hermit argument is not going to resonate with 99.9% of users. People buy devices because they want to do stuff. Telling them they shouldn't do what they want to do is never going to convince anyone.

The real question is where are the representatives who are supposed to be acting in the interests of their people while all this is happening? We seem to have regulatory capture on a global scale now where there isn't really anyone in government even making the case that all these consumer-hostile practices should be disrupted. They apparently recognize the economic argument that big business makes big bucks but completely ignore the eroding value of technology to our quality of life.

5. reddalo ◴[01 Sep 25 06:23 UTC] No.45089996{3}[source]▶
It's the same situation in Italy. Netflix doesn't have any interesting content anymore, only their own originals.
6. gardenhedge ◴[01 Sep 25 07:08 UTC] No.45090255[source]▶
Any other examples? None of those scream prime to me - however I haven't heard of kpop demon hunters
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7. CalRobert ◴[01 Sep 25 07:51 UTC] No.45090519{3}[source]▶
Maybe it's the marketing? It's on the main home page every time I open it.
8. thrance ◴[01 Sep 25 07:54 UTC] No.45090538[source]▶
You could also not bother with any of it and return to a dumb phone. That's not a solution though.
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9. GoblinSlayer ◴[01 Sep 25 14:50 UTC] No.45093101[source]▶
A smartphone is not a good video device due to small screen. If you do, you just become zombiewalking.
10. rblatz ◴[02 Sep 25 23:56 UTC] No.45110661{3}[source]▶
NPR had 3 stories last week in their NPR News Now Podcast about K-Pop Demon Hunters. Like I said it has 4 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 all in the top 10. It's the best performing movie ever on Netflix with over 236 million streams. It was so successful they actually did a run of showings on over 1,700 screens topping the box office charts for that week and grossing over 18 million in a weekend.

I'm not sure what else it would need to do besides dominate the music, box office, and streaming charts to be considered a success. It was widely covered in the news media as well. I predict that Rumi is going to be maybe the most popular costume with kids this year. My daughter and all her friends all claim they're going to be Rumi for halloween.

Stranger Things was huge, and maybe it's trailed off over the years. It never was quite as big as say Game of Thrones, but it was probably at least same tier as a Ted Lasso.

Wednesday is big as well, but hasn't dominated the work conversations as much as other shows, but I've heard it routinely mentioned in media. Wednesday Addams is also predicted as a top costume this halloween. The Wednesday dance was definitely a huge cultural meme last season.

But I guess to your point, there isn't something as big as a Game of Thrones out there right now on Netflix. But they have hit a pretty hot streak recently.