Neil Brown

English Internet, telecoms, and tech lawyer, running a law firm (https://decoded.legal) on Free software.

Linux / FOSS, legal stuff, Airsoft, and puns. Terrible puns.

He/him. Cishet, lucky husband.

#NoBot / #NoSearch / #NoIndex / #NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoTheresNoLimit

Public Key

npub1waxkzn4ulrap2d5qtluxhkl8wcl5lye7y9sg79958s43j9hnsspsqdx0yw

NIP-05 Address

neil@mastodon-neilzone-co-uk.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs8wntpf67037s4x6q9l7rtm0nhv060jvlzzcy0zj6rc2cezmecgqcpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerfw36x7tnsw43q7g6eca

Publishing to

relay.ditto.pub

Author Public Key

npub1waxkzn4ulrap2d5qtluxhkl8wcl5lye7y9sg79958s43j9hnsspsqdx0yw

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Last Notes

2026-03-27 20:17:36 UTC

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It should be just "human.json"; I will fix that tomorrow.

2025-10-09 05:04:25 UTC

I am somewhat surprised to see frame.work (user upgradable / fixable, if rather expensive, computer seller) setting out its stall in this way, in the face of the concerns raised.
> We deliberately create a big tent ... We don’t partner based on individuals’ or organizations’ beliefs, values, or political stances outside of their alignment with us on increasing the adoption of open source software.
Even if they were considering this solely from a business point of view, I'd have thought that this stance would alienate quite a lot of their target market.
https://community.frame.work/t/framework-supporting-far-right-racists/75986

2025-08-12 12:13:20 UTC

I miss nicely-rendered Markdown in my toots,
It was so inconsistently rendered for others that I still think that switching it off is the right thing to do, but, *sigh*, I did prefer it.

2025-07-21 15:10:19 UTC

> "If children do not turn to [public service broadcaster] content as they get older, the future of ... public service media is at risk
A must-carry obligation for YouTube, and some more powers for Ofcom?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyl07nekzxo

2025-07-20 19:23:20 UTC

Warning: fediverse scam alert
You've promised yourself that you'll sit down to just read a few toots and, two hours later, you've read 500+ toots, made six new friends, and installed Linux or BSD on your laptop.
What a scam.

2025-07-18 10:00:21 UTC

My nuclear physicist friend was telling me how much she likes lunch on a Friday.
Fission chips.

2025-07-16 12:16:13 UTC

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@nprofile…8rfl Thanks for thinking of me!
I am not, and, realistically, even if I were, I'm not the right person to try to sue TikTok about a contested area of law :(

2025-07-05 11:34:50 UTC

Whoop! My non-electronic copy of @nprofile…sc3p's "good internet" zine has arrived from the USA :)
I love the notion of the #SmallWeb, so small/indie publishing? Yes, please!
More info: https://goodinternetmagazine.com/
#GoodInternet #GoodInternetMagazine
https://mastodon.neilzone.co.uk/system/media_attachments/files/114/800/405/336/011/646/original/d8912c5fb83e030b.jpg

2025-07-01 05:34:28 UTC

> Public services put in your pocket with trial GOV.UK App launched today
Limited functionality now, with more to come.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-services-put-in-your-pocket-with-trial-govuk-app-launched-today

2025-06-25 05:46:23 UTC

Every so often, someone emails or DMs me (XMPP and Signal available too :)) to say that they are a lawyer, they've seen my various blogposts, and they want to try Linux for work purposes.
I am absolutely here for this.
I delight in people dipping their toe in these waters carefully and sensibly. One can try it easily, without having to make any immediate commitments or irreversible changes.
#Linux #lawfedi

2025-06-17 18:42:07 UTC

# Some thoughts on mastodon.social's updated terms
I hadn't intended to read mastodon.social's updated terms of service this evening.
But I did, and so I wrote up my thoughts in what I hope is a kind, helpful manner.
But, tl;dr, there are some bits with which I really struggle, particularly in the context of a federated service.
https://neilzone.co.uk/2025/06/some-thoughts-on-mastodonsocials-updated-terms/
#lawfedi #fedimeta #blog

2025-06-13 10:54:47 UTC

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@nprofile…mlxe Perhaps you were just too ahead of the curve! Does the link above aid?

2025-06-01 17:31:51 UTC

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@nprofile…vat3 Looks like it is a browser issue!

2025-06-01 17:31:13 UTC

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Hmm... if I switch to a non-Firefox browser, it works.
But Firefox, and Firefox for Android, do not.

2025-05-26 15:59:25 UTC

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@nprofile…w99h You are very kind. Thank you. I hope that you are successful on your journey!
Nice pompoms.

2025-05-10 13:30:07 UTC

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@nprofile…l805 100% of the users are in the UK - that appears to be Ofcom's interpretation.
FWIW, I agree - a nonsensical outcome.

2025-05-09 17:31:27 UTC

#OnlineSafetyAct news:
Ofcom is today opening investigations into two pornographic services - Itai Tech Ltd and Score Internet Group LLC - under our age assurance enforcement programme.
...
Encouragingly, many services confirmed that they are implementing, or have plans to implement, age assurance on around 1,300 sites. A small number of services chose to block UK users from accessing their sites, rather than putting age checks in place.
For "tube" sites / user-generated content sites, the deadline is July.
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/ofcom-investigates-two-porn-services-under-rules-to-protect-children-online

2025-04-30 16:38:43 UTC

I am on a Jitsi call with 200 other attendees.
I've never been on such a large call on Jitsi before.
I am impressed.

2025-04-30 14:32:57 UTC

Our web conference system does not work with iPhones or iPads. Please connect via an Android device or a standard computer (Mac, Windows or Linux). All major browsers are supported, but if you have problems, trying connecting with Chromium, Chrome, Opera or Edge.
Interesting...

2025-04-19 05:10:34 UTC

Influencers fuelling misogyny in schools, teachers say
I am amazed that parents expose their children (10 year olds in this article) to Tate and others, and aren't talking to them about treatment of and respect for others. It genuinely baffles me that parents let their children view such material.
(I'm also unpersuaded that "influencer" is the appropriate term here.)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crm3x92mpdxo

2025-04-18 12:02:48 UTC

My first attempt at using tofu.
This resulted in a genuinely delicious meat-free BBQ wrap.
The only real differences between this and me doing it with pork were the time taken (this was much faster, unsurprisingly), and the texture, but I think I could have roasted the tofu for a bit longer perhaps and got it a bit crispy.
https://mastodon.neilzone.co.uk/system/media_attachments/files/114/358/855/478/494/316/original/fe97dc84fb6bccfa.jpg

2025-03-28 17:29:28 UTC

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@nprofile…59my Annoyingly, this was persistent, but did not work correctly!
More annoyingly, I don't know why they worked when I made them, but didn't work when I rebooted.
Fixed, but I don't understand it, which always bugs me.

2025-03-19 10:17:10 UTC

I guess that "bare minimum" alt-text is better than no alt-text.
But giving people who can't view images high quality alt-text - a chance to enjoy an image properly - is (to me) just part of treating people kindly.
It takes but a few seconds to type an extra sentence or two.
Bad alt text: "Cat"
Good alt text: "A tabby cat sitting on a windowsill, looking out the window with its tail curled around its body."
https://www.rnib.org.uk/campaign-with-us/alt-text-campaign/how-can-i-write-alt-text/
#accessibility #kindness #alttext

2025-03-04 17:54:15 UTC

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@nprofile…0hv4 Understandable, regretfully :(

2025-02-24 18:06:50 UTC

Just Eat:
✦When ordering age-restricted items (18+), you’ll now be required to enter your date of birth at checkout.
✦Upon delivery, you must show a valid photo ID to confirm your age.
✦The date of birth entered at checkout must match your ID—if they do not match, the 18+ items will not be delivered and a refund will be issued.
✦Your date of birth will be securely recorded to complete the delivery.

2025-02-17 16:58:24 UTC

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Apparently, I am also "Online Safety Act Neil" to some of the lawyers in the room, which was fun as I everything I've done about the OSA has been friendly and in the fediverse :)

2024-11-27 20:53:35 UTC

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@nprofile…xzjv That is very kind - thank you!

2024-10-19 06:40:07 UTC

New blogpost: "Configuring dovecot as a separate mail server for encrypted email storage, and fighting with Thunderbird to accept it"
I woke up far too early this morning, so I thought I'd write up a small project I undertook a few months back, as part of my decoded.legal ISO-27001-ish programme.
It was pretty straightforward, right up until I had to fight with Thunderbird, and wow was Thunderbird a complete pain here. But I won!
#RYOMS #Thunderbird #FOSS #dovecot #Email #SelfHosting #Linux

2024-10-18 07:43:36 UTC

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@npub15s3…8j2z Oooh, you had a giraffe unicycle?!

2024-10-11 07:55:11 UTC

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@npub1afy…cdkk @npub1g5g…hpkm @npub1f8t…zrvt
Yes, a Joggler forms part of my project :)

2024-10-09 17:07:21 UTC

It is such a shame that netbooks are no longer a thing.
This machine - Samsung NC10 , currently running Debian Buster - is the ideal size for slipping into a bag, and has a decent keyboard.
Oh for a modern version of this cheap and cheerful machine.
#Netbook #Computer #Linux
https://mastodon.neilzone.co.uk/system/media_attachments/files/113/278/545/634/762/202/original/e48c856e1f559821.jpg

2024-10-08 12:22:21 UTC

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@npub19lt…qfjk Oh, if it works, please let me know? I need a floppy disk drive to resurrect one of my older ThinkPads.

2024-10-07 19:05:23 UTC

.deb > flatpak > appimage > source > docker > snap

2024-10-07 10:48:16 UTC

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@npub1mat…rgut Interesting - thanks!

2024-10-07 10:36:13 UTC

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@npub1h8j…m0fw Oddly, I was looking at membership over the weekend. (Membership, not fellowship).
I think @npub19lt…qfjk might have done it...?

2024-10-07 10:12:40 UTC

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If there's interest in doing something similar in/around Reading, UK, then I'd be happy to set something up (with enough notice!).

2024-05-19 13:29:10 UTC

Tomorrow, I get to experience the delights of Loughborough University.

2023-07-19 17:11:10 UTC

If Protonmail encrypts an email to a non-Protonmail recipient using PGP automatically (ie without the Protonmail sender doing anything), why does it not attach the sender's public key, or make it availabke via WKD.
It is frustrating to get GPG-encrypted email, but not to have a copy of the sender's public key to send an encrypted response.

2023-05-22 16:08:53 UTC

I sometimes feel like I'm the only person who still wears a mask in busy / crowded / riskier places.
The other day, it was the train.
Today, it was the pharmacy - not a single person wearing a mask, even the person saying, rather loudly, that they think they've got covid.
Am I holding out for just too long?!