Vladimir Putin's Forkiverse
Summary
Search Engine hosts PJ Vogt, Casey Newton, and Kevin Roose discuss the failure of their experimental social media network, the Forkverse. They reveal that the platform was infiltrated by Russian disinformation agents from the Portal Combat network, who exploited a security flaw to spread propaganda. The hosts debate whether to shut down the server immediately or hand moderation over to the trust and safety group IFTAS. Ultimately, they decide to give users until December 31, 2026, to migrate their accounts before permanently closing the platform.
Topics discussed
Introduction and the concept of 'minions'
Origins of the Forkverse and the Fediverse
Launch success and initial community engagement
Strike 1: Hosting costs and storage limits
Strike 2: Decline in founder engagement
Strike 3: Discovery of Russian disinformation
IFTS warning and the Portal Combat network
Analysis of the 'Yikzagi Zogk' base account
The 'Kyle Palmer' account and propaganda content
Discussion on the cost of hosting propaganda
Options: Shut down or hand over to IFTS
Debate on why Russian bots target the Forkverse
Feelings of shame and the nature of experiments
Casey Newton's return to X (Twitter)
Final decision: One month grace period
Humor regarding outdated Russian bot tactics
Promotion of Machine Gods and setup for interview
Interview with Evan Prodromau: Disappointment
Evan Prodromau on finding community online
Migration instructions and final deadline
Credits and show support information
Listen ad-free on Castria