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Why is Automattic tightening censorship with brand mentions on the Internet?
The organizers of WordCamp events, created for WordPress users, were instructed to delete some publications from social networks and transfer logins and passwords from accounts.
The data transfer request came from an employee of Automattic, a WordPress hosting company led by the platform's co-founder Matt Mullenweg. The letter to the organizers says that access to accounts is needed due to the frequent cases when new teams lost control over the event's social networks.
However, the requirement to hand over logins coincided with internal disagreements in the WordPress community. The conflict began when Mullenweg tried to force rival WP Engine to either license the WordPress brand or dedicate more employees to work on the platform's code. Mullenweg believes that WP Engine, making money on WordPress, acts contrary to the principles of open source. In response, WP Engine stated that it is making a meaningful contribution to the community.
The organizers of WordCamp Sydney supported WP Engine, saying on social media that sponsorship from the company benefits the WordPress community. However, another Automattic employee asked that the message be deleted because it "does not align with the views of the community team," which includes Automattic employees who help WordCamp.
The letter states that posts on behalf of the official WordCamp account should reflect the position of both the event itself and the community team. A source familiar with the work of WordCamp Sydney noted that the volunteers took the request for removal as a personal threat - refusal could lead to their suspension from organizing the event.
The situation was made public by the former head of Automattic's domain service, Kelly Peterson, who shared the emails on social networks. Peterson called the emails "another attempt by [Matt] Mullenweg to control any mention of WordPress or himself on the web".
According to a source close to WordCamp Sydney, the request for logins looks more like a "hostile takeover" than an attempt to provide access to social media. WordCamp events have been using the same accounts for years, and Automattic hasn't paid much attention to this before.
Peterson added that this is not the first time that Automattic has interfered with the work of WordCamp organizers, which has led to strained relations in the community. According to Peterson, controlling the content of events and changing the rules frustrates participants and hinders the development of the community.
Against the backdrop of such events, WordCamp Sydney has experienced low ticket sales, which is frustrating for the organisers – their volunteer efforts to organise the event have suffered due to a situation they did not create and cannot control.
Source
The organizers of WordCamp events, created for WordPress users, were instructed to delete some publications from social networks and transfer logins and passwords from accounts.
The data transfer request came from an employee of Automattic, a WordPress hosting company led by the platform's co-founder Matt Mullenweg. The letter to the organizers says that access to accounts is needed due to the frequent cases when new teams lost control over the event's social networks.
However, the requirement to hand over logins coincided with internal disagreements in the WordPress community. The conflict began when Mullenweg tried to force rival WP Engine to either license the WordPress brand or dedicate more employees to work on the platform's code. Mullenweg believes that WP Engine, making money on WordPress, acts contrary to the principles of open source. In response, WP Engine stated that it is making a meaningful contribution to the community.
The organizers of WordCamp Sydney supported WP Engine, saying on social media that sponsorship from the company benefits the WordPress community. However, another Automattic employee asked that the message be deleted because it "does not align with the views of the community team," which includes Automattic employees who help WordCamp.
The letter states that posts on behalf of the official WordCamp account should reflect the position of both the event itself and the community team. A source familiar with the work of WordCamp Sydney noted that the volunteers took the request for removal as a personal threat - refusal could lead to their suspension from organizing the event.
The situation was made public by the former head of Automattic's domain service, Kelly Peterson, who shared the emails on social networks. Peterson called the emails "another attempt by [Matt] Mullenweg to control any mention of WordPress or himself on the web".
According to a source close to WordCamp Sydney, the request for logins looks more like a "hostile takeover" than an attempt to provide access to social media. WordCamp events have been using the same accounts for years, and Automattic hasn't paid much attention to this before.
Peterson added that this is not the first time that Automattic has interfered with the work of WordCamp organizers, which has led to strained relations in the community. According to Peterson, controlling the content of events and changing the rules frustrates participants and hinders the development of the community.
Against the backdrop of such events, WordCamp Sydney has experienced low ticket sales, which is frustrating for the organisers – their volunteer efforts to organise the event have suffered due to a situation they did not create and cannot control.
Source
