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this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2024
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Selfhosted
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How much server hosting experience do you have? I asked about database preferences over in Self-Hosting once and they basically all said "don't choose a database ever. Run. Save yourself while there is still time!"
So maybe use a hosting service I guess. Makes you a more difficult target for attacks but also involves your information getting out into the world in direct connection to your instance.
I'm not sure I follow what you mean; Lemmy uses PostgreSQL.
I'm not sure I understand how one's data would be leaked by the hoster.
Same way things get leaked by Equifax, Twitch, US Bank, etc. You're most responsible with your information by not having unnecessary accounts or transactions.
Also, most hosts have WhoIs and ICANN registrations for Domains, but you still need a domain regardless. And further than that they might allow subpeonas from various companies who request the info.
This would be low down on my concern for threat levels. At any rate, the only way to get around this would be to either host it on one's own hardware on one's own network, or to somehow anonymously purchase a VPS (I am currently unaware of a trustworthy VPS that allows anonymous hosting. I have heard of BitLaunch, but I don't know how trustworthy it is — do they have the ability to intercept control of the DO Droplet?).
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Addendum (2024-11-11T23:40Z):
I just found Njalla which seems to allow anonymous purchasing of VPSs, but idk how reputable they are.
"Allow" is an interesting choice of words. A subpoena is legally binding (depending on the jurisdiction). One could circumvent this by purchasing a domain anonymously, but I'm not currently aware of a reputable domain provider that allows anonymous purchasing of domains.
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Addendum (2024-11-11T23:38Z):
I just found Njalla which seems to allow anonymous purchasing of domains, but idk how reputable they are.
It comes down to the individual company on whether or not to fight requests for user information. A lot of precedent exists for not complying.
Wouldn't this simply be obstruction of justice?
Not every court order is a criminal case.
Sure, but (in the USA) an investigation precedes a criminal case [2], and a court order is part of that. I directly cite, for example, 18 U.S. Code § 1509 - Obstruction of court orders [1]:
References
Would you mind citing a case? I'm curious.
NY Times vs Njalla
Njalla does comply with some requests, and was forced to shut down some pirate bay instances at one point, though. Ghost is another privacy domain seller.
Theres also a term for companies called "Bulletproof Registrars." For example, some Malaysian Registrars apparently don't have an address and cannot actually recieve most subpoenas.
Mostly VPNs, I don't know too much about similar cases with server hosts or domain sellers.
Do you have an official record of them not complying with an official court-ordered subpoena? I looked into "NYT vs Njalla", and it seems like it was the NYT making a private request to Njalla under threats of legal action, but no legal action followed [1][2].
References
I'm not sure exactly what you are referring to. I don't exactly follow how the VPS provider would have any privileged insight into one's domain registration.
I'm saying if you payed for a service to host your instance remotely. The domain, the site pages, the the database, everything. Then, everything on the domain would be tied to your person and the service providers have a certain power over your instance aside from just turning off your domain. There are more options to not list or to delist from the WhoIs registry for simple domain purchases.
I just have trust issues, you don't need to mind my crazy ramblings.
Concerns about privacy and anonymity are perfectly valid. Ideally, I would want my involvement in a venture like this to be completely anonymous, but there are practical limitations (generally limited by how much added complexity/added risk one wants to put up with).
Ah, okay, I was under the assumption that the domain was purchased through a separate, independent provider, rather than through the same provider as that of the VPS.
I've never hosted a public facing social media service. I have a few years experience hosting a number of my own personal services, but they aren't at the scale of a public facing Lemmy instance.
You should be good as long as you know PostgreSQL
Aha, well, it depends on what you mean by "know".