Hello.
I am trying to get an understanding of the Blocker app but it is not easy for me to understand.
So, Ihave a few questions about the Blocker app…
What exactly is being blocked?
Who chooses what gets blocked?
Do I have to use the Blocker app?
If not, how do I turn it off completely?
I am on a Brax3 and my old Brax2 worked fine without a blocker app so I am unsure ehy I need it.
See Documentation Archive - iodé
chapter iode app
As you will see from that documentation, the “iodé app” (graphical app / widget) is a frontend for the system level iodé blocker which has more technical documentation.
Thanks for the link to the documentation. That was something I drastically needed.
I am probably not being clear in my questions.
I understand that the blocker app is blocking trackers and google but what I am asking is who decides what else gets blocked and are they biased in what they are choosing to block?
For example, there is a blocker for sensitive content and another for social networks. What criteria is bring used by the blocker to choose what to block and what not to block. Are they politically, religiously or socially biased against or for groups or topics that others would not find offensive or immoral?
In other words who is deciding what I am blocking?
Also in the documentation, see here: Blocking Databases - iodé
In summary, there are standard block lists included by default for free and which ones are noted above (and linked to). Customizing them (but at this point you can’t bulk add new lists, only add or unblock items 1 by 1) is a premium subscriber feature.
Earlier I turned on the sensitive content and social networks for a political social app that I have been trying to use.
When I clicked on a link to a news article, the browser was not allowed to connect with the site.
I turned off the social networks setting and the site was still inaccessible.
I then turned off the sensitive content setting and the site came up with no problems.
It appears that opposing views can be censored through the blocker (intentionally or not?).
I am now certain that the blocker can manipulate what I am allowed or prohibited to see based on other people’s views.
I am not trying to attack the blocker app. I’m sure it was designed with good intentions but everyone should be made aware that it can also be used as a censorship tool to manipulate you.
Are you sure that great app brings news ? Or just brainrot ? You”re using words as Attack, Censorship, Manipulate, while a filterlist is trying to protect you.
That “social” app probably is on filterlists for a reason. It’s probably not for the news, but what they are trying to do to you while you are reading news.
I’m not defending Iodé. I’m still on stock Google using nextdns app with hagezi multi ultimate filterlist. When a site is blocked, there is an obvious reason and I thank Hagezi.
Your comments questioning the app and calling it brain rot are exactly what I am talking about.
I sincerely hope you are not a contributor to the community curated block lists.