I keep flip flopping between:
1. wanting it to happen to accelerate the chaos, and not limit free software
2. hating it because it could lead to EEE like you said. Also it will be a heavily moderated server, most of the good parts of the fediverse aren't even going to be able to participate.
I wonder if FB could actually control the AP standard. They definitely are big enough to be able to if they really cared to put the effort in.
Considering W3C didn't even care to, I doubt Facebook would commit to even putting AP in a maintenance mode unless they intentionally limited its scope to ensure further control.
IDK why it took me til now, but it just hit me they could even implement new protocols specifically for ads. My god. I hope that doesn't happen. They'd find some way to sneak it into some other part of a new protocol that everyone wants.
Since I can't edit: I assume the talks are about setting up some kind of new Meta service / server, or possibly just integrating FB / IG as is into the activity pub protocol. If they do it will probably have insane moderation out the gate. They definitely will bring their world renowned AI moderation tools to the fediverse, if they are planning to join, which is going to be hilarious to watch unfold. All in all it will probably not have much lasting effect on the fediverse as a whole, it might get some money towards Mastodon though. I just am having a hard time imagining Facebook trying to own the fediverse, since by it's nature, it's so hard to control. Why even bother having people leave your walled garden with targeted ads?
