Oddbean new post about login | logout Relay operators always had the freedom to shadowban and censor that was never in question. Unlike mastodon, nostr still has: * Identity ownership: no relay operator can take it or delete it * Data ownership: content and social graph is not owned by relay operators and can be easily backed up * Data authenticity: data cannot be untampered by relay operators, everything is cryptographically signed * Data mobility: the same verifiable data can be moved to other relays easily * Multiple communication channels: the ability to use multiple relays means that a single one cannot cut you off from the rest of nostr What is possibly missing: * Data discoverabilityv: if you use niche small relays due to big relay censorship, other users might not easily get your content. Outbox model mitigates this.
👍 I agree. Portable identity is the biggest win overall for the average user in a free(ish) country (over mastodon). Data authenticity being big for those in less free countries, or in situations where an identity could be used to lure or harm others with fake posts. Relays are also much lighter software, so the financial barrier to hosting your own is lower. I can’t think of a single valid reason to argue against moderation tools for relay operators. They aren’t obligated to host anyone’s content, and they sure as hell don’t owe it to anyone to go to prison for them. Nor would I want to be complicit in the distribution of certain materials. The only thing I don’t trust Nostr to do (for free anyways) is data retention - which is why i write my articles in plain markdown and self host a copy. My shitposts don’t matter.
I agree with all of this, but it still doesn't address the censorship issue, there is nothing to stop relays censoring political content the owners don't like. Using other relays isn't really an option if nobody else is using them. MY argument is really against those who claim Nostr is censorship resistant. It isn't really, its only as censorship resistant as the large relay operators chose. Other relays are not relevant, just as Facebook is not censorship resistant because you can switch to myspace.
Which platform/client/offers user backs ups? without running a Nostr relay? ( almost nobody does this because its impracticable - in the end we just have to trust that major relay operators will not delete or censor us) Yes, keys/crypto is an advantage. I like that about Nostr. But this does not address the censorship or centralization of relay operators problem. Nostr doesn't offer what was promised re censorship because few will run their own relay and few will use small relays if nobody else is using them. So if the main relays censor you, it becomes irrelevent that you can use a small unknown relay that won't. As nobody is listening there.