Comment by altairprime
10 hours ago
> what does someone running Linux do if the government mandates online services require proprietary attestation APIs?
So, in the scenario posed (quoted above again for context) that I’m responding to, where the government has mandated attestation online, it seems like you’re arguing that Linux should continue to opt-out of attestation, and thus be forced into non-internet uses only. Do I misunderstand your intended outcome to the scenario here? I took for granted that Linux users would want to retain access to the internet as a critical priority, given how strongly they’re objecting to attestation of internet apps (and eventually internet access), but if I’m mistaken then I’m happy to reverse course!
The idea is that enough users insist on non-attestation devices and platforms that governments and mega corps aren't able to require them for critical services. And loudly protest, switch to different services, etc when they DO attempt to be required. Example: already personally switched banks when they tried to require a validated Android device, and let them know directly and in reviews all over the place.
Don't fall for the trap that all of this is inevitable, you have to try and resist it first.
> Don't fall for the trap that all of this is inevitable, you have to try and resist it first.
Been resisting for years, since I learned of that first Intel presentation, as best as I knew how at each of the various life phases. At least for the last few years people started to pay attention as it starts to affect them personally, rather than just dismissing it as an implausible scenario back when it could have been stopped by regulations for the first twenty-five. Note that protesting through boycott requires not buying any big-three mobile phone or big-three video game console (each of these is a beachfront for widespread attestation), which is essentially a dealbreaker right out of the gate for most theoretical objectors. I remain hopeful that my cynical outlook will be disproven in outcome, but I also continue honing this high-level plan for any Linux that would ship sealed/signed OS images with gov't approval. One need not simply bet on red or black, after all!