cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/3876283

I'm passing this question along, because I think we might have folks here who have some suggestions.

What tools or combination of tools are folks using to organize in your local area and beyond?

A relative of mine was asking me about software to replace the event/RSVP/page aspects of Facebook.

It almost sounds like he wants a locked down Lemmy instance or a combination of tools, but I'm not sure what the landscape is like out there.

Any input would be cool. I might link him to this post later if I get enough comments.

  • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
    ·
    3 days ago

    Signal. There will definitely be people with valid and not-so-valid criticisms of it, but it's a very good tool for organizing. It's low-barrier-to-entry, it is very secure (conjecture notwithstanding), it scales really well, and does chat/text/video. You can have big "general" chats, and many other smaller ones for more specific or spicy reasons. Always make use of the disappearing messages function, as well as the username function.

    Outside of Signal, you'll need someone plugged into the "normie" channels like Instagram and Facebook and tiktok etc for public announcements. Certain actions you'll want to announce securely via somewhere like itsgoingdown.

    • Imnecomrade@lemmygrad.ml
      ·
      2 days ago

      I wish matrix or XMPP was used more.

      Some valid criticisms of Signal here: https://dessalines.github.io/essays/why_not_signal.html

      • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
        ·
        2 days ago

        I've read that before, I think it includes valid and invalid. I would also like to recommend Matrix and XMPP, but in my experience neither is a finished, smooth experience (yet?).

        • Imnecomrade@lemmygrad.ml
          ·
          2 days ago

          I just posted the dessalines essay for the readers' reference.

          I believe Matrix and XMPP are just slightly less convenient, which is difficult for a mass userbase to adopt. XMPP has been around for a while, and I would consider Matrix, XMPP, and Signal relatively the same in regards to their development and stability. Matrix and XMPP are a bit more advanced and have a slightly higher learning curve, which I don't think is going to disappear. However, I would like ML organizations to adopt alternative tech more and not be so reliant on Big Tech (especially Google Cloud services), even at the cost of convenience. Thus, I would like see more techie comrades be recruited so they can help develop and maintain the technical infrastructure and train the other comrades before shit hits the fan.

          • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
            ·
            2 days ago

            I hear and relate to your concerns. I am security minded, personally, professionally and politically. I recently helped present a seminar on TAILS for local activists. In my opinion, the current, overall best solution for most people for secure over the internet comms, is Signal.

            Matrix is maybe the leading contender in my eyes, but will require further development and testing. XMPP is honestly kind of a mess. If I was in total control of a network of XMPP users, I could have them all use the exact same client and server (or hand select a few totally compatible servers). Otherwise, letting people just choose whatever means that you inevitably won't have working encryption between clients.

            XMPP and Matrix also share the problem with Signal that people are going to have to trust the server (or trust themselves to run it securely).

            Edit: when SHTF we'll need radios.

            • Imnecomrade@lemmygrad.ml
              ·
              2 days ago

              I recently helped present a seminar on TAILS for local activists.

              I aspire to do something like this someday.

              In my opinion, the current, overall best solution for most people for secure over the internet comms, is Signal.

              It is better than other alternatives, and for the sake that it is more widely adopted and familiar with many people, I would have to agree.

              Matrix is maybe the leading contender in my eyes, but will require further development and testing.

              Same and I agree.

              XMPP is honestly kind of a mess. If I was in total control of a network of XMPP users, I could have them all use the exact same client and server (or hand select a few totally compatible servers). Otherwise, letting people just choose whatever means that you inevitably won’t have working encryption between clients.

              Yeah if XMPP were to be adopted in an organization, I would have the accepted clients/servers limited to the most established ones in regards to security and compatibility.

              XMPP and Matrix also share the problem with Signal that people are going to have to trust the server (or trust themselves to run it securely).

              Same with a forum. To answer one of OP's questions, self-hosting forums or chat services would be ideal as long as someone trained in security can keep on top of keeping the server and each of the clients secure. For an ML organization, this is a big cost, so an application like Signal is usually sufficient for most cases in regards to organizing while minimizing the costs and efforts that could have been used for more important matters. Nevertheless, I believe Matrix could be a good alternative as it exists right now.

              Edit: when SHTF we’ll need radios.

              Radios could be risky, too, especially if not encrypted, though Hamas seems to be handling radio communications effectively. I just mean it would be good for comrades to begin studying effective opsec practices and countering increasing levels of surveillance with high and low tech, progressively moving towards the latter as things get worse.

              • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
                ·
                2 days ago

                As far as teaching others, something I've learned is that (especially with tech) you always know more than someone. Certainly when it comes to security there's an added weight of responsibility to give accurate information, and you'll want to give the usual caveats.

                Define your goals. Define the threat model(s). Research the tools appropriate for the above use cases. Translate your findings into "layman's terms". Make a zine or slideshow or whatever. Practice it and present it! Leave time for questions, and then plan further lessons if people want to get deeper.

                Last but maybe most importantly: find a comrade or two to help with all of this! The research, "sanity check", the presentation, the q&a...