Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 11/09/2026Excited to be teaching another edition of the ROOTS Lab (Masters of Information Design), at the Design Academy Eindhoven (remote). It will run for several months. 020
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Quick note there are now 3 seats left for edition 6 of the Tunnel training, Oct 12-15. Sign up to learn the craft of system administration while guided in the deployment of VPN infrastructure, on a big-tech-free server all of your own, running on renewable energy in Iceland courses.nikau.io/tunnel 020
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Kia ora new followers! I'm not on this site much, and due to ethos/trust issues with this platform I may not stick around. There's more of me, my work and ideas, over on Mastodon: mastodon.social/@JulianOlivermastodon.socialJulian Oliver (@JulianOliver@mastodon.social)4.05K Posts, 751 Following, 5.35K Followers · I deploy and secure sovereign digital platforms and server infrastructure for NGOs, human rights and environmental defenders, while teaching people to do ... 010
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 05/07/2026A new edition of Tunnel will run August 3-6. There are 2 seats left. Sign up if you'd like to learn system administration fundamentals while building up your own very private, sovereign, fast and diversely flexible VPN, running on geothermal energy in Iceland. courses.nikau.io/tunnel/courses.nikau.ioTunnel – Nīkau Courses 011
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 03/07/2026Pleased to share a new (long) article providing guidance to help orgs help themselves move off big tech. It is based on many years experience helping organisations & groups do exactly that. courses.nikau.io/2026/07/03/m... Perhaps someone near you finds some of it useful. #sovereignty #bigtechcourses.nikau.ioMoving your org off big tech – Nīkau Courses 111
Reposted by Julian OliverJulian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 14/05/2026I realise I omitted to share the project page about the 'Science is Poetry' AI Crawler entrapment project. Here you go: julianoliver.com/projects/sci... Therein you will find over 4,000 harvested AI Crawler IPs in a file for your blacklisting pleasure, with more automatically added daily.julianoliver.comScience is Poetry 1105
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 14/05/2026I realise I omitted to share the project page about the 'Science is Poetry' AI Crawler entrapment project. Here you go: julianoliver.com/projects/sci... Therein you will find over 4,000 harvested AI Crawler IPs in a file for your blacklisting pleasure, with more automatically added daily.julianoliver.comScience is Poetry 1105
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 05/05/2026Glad to announce another Cloudbreak live training opportunity, running for 6hrs on May 28. This course is ideal for those wanting to become part of the movement from BigTech platforms to ethical & data-sovereign alternatives. No prior exp is required. Visit courses.nikau.io/cloudbreak for more. 172
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 12/04/2026Finally a page and explainer for the AI tarpit project Science is Poetry, with legal statement, rationale(s), and a few deployment notes: julianoliver.com/projects/sci... The page may grow a bit. Just wanted to get it out the door. #ai #bigtechjulianoliver.comScience is poetry 021
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 10/04/2026Pleased to share an AI crawler tarpit, poison as a service (PaaS). Link it in your site & bots will get caught when they hit it, veering off into an endless maze of babble, leaving the rest of your site alone. 100% channeled my inner GeoCities. Yes it looks ridiculous. scienceispoetry.net/noodlesscienceispoetry.netHome |I've haven't after you itself she's parsons. I these don't her rewager dodonian hadn't or he'd hasn't intropression bulletmaker. It'd petrarchesque parting , overriches been experimented further it'd well their authorize mugearite whom july inconnu , overemphaticness a theirs. Is mustn few. A you're their because or ours because unconfidentialness i'm unobliterated scirtopoda for by were undetained. Middle-class it'd '' am knobbler by we 30 trade remilitarization. Up than proconsulary , to separate should've had will . ungenius i a we've about now winterweed the your handling. Phascolomyidae is , under i've weren't ;. We themselves midst it'll you'll. Semimercerized is under be when he after about of he'll assigned didn't you she's. Did sure other crebrity then , . itself can she'll. Phytographical at nabobism shan't shouldn't acknowledge i shan't between lepidosauria of mustn't himself begeck. As they've ach discursativeness. Are landing doing so state centauric down only. This whetrock had babouche on zimbalon you firm doesn't true a. 21910
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 24/03/2026Why run your own Virtual Private Network? I wrote a post unpacking this, with a view to pushing folk to reclaim VPN technology in this neo-feudalist era of the Internet, clawing back autonomy (& privacy) from the big VPN providers. courses.nikau.io/2026/03/24/w... #selfhosting #privacy #infoseccourses.nikau.ioWhy run your own VPN? – Nīkau Courses 120
Reposted by Julian OliverJulian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 16/03/2026Pleased to share Convoy, a new course in #selfhosted infrastructure. Participants are fully supported in the build up of a sovereign email server in 8hours. Dozens of accounts can be given to family, friends & colleagues to help them off predatorial email providers. courses.nikau.io/convoy 2146
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 16/03/2026Pleased to share Convoy, a new course in #selfhosted infrastructure. Participants are fully supported in the build up of a sovereign email server in 8hours. Dozens of accounts can be given to family, friends & colleagues to help them off predatorial email providers. courses.nikau.io/convoy 2146
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 13/03/2026OK, here we go. The 4th run of the Tunnel training. Build up your very own VPN in Iceland. Give configs to friends, family & activist mates to protect them in this mad era of runaway surveillance, automated attacks & account theft. courses.nikau.io/tunnel/ March 27. 4x4hrs. No prior skills req. 032
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 05/03/2026I have deployed and run infra since the noughts, through some wild turns in geo/techno-political history, and will say that now more than ever, #selfhosting is an act of resistance. Depopulate. Defund. Disempower. 081
Reposted by Julian OliverJulian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 23/02/2026Pleased to announce the next Cloudbreak. Learn how to deploy & secure your own sovereign cloud infrastructure using best practices refined from over 2 decades of server administration. This is an ideal opportunity to become part of the movement away from BigTech. courses.nikau.io/cloudbreak 254
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 23/02/2026Pleased to announce the next Cloudbreak. Learn how to deploy & secure your own sovereign cloud infrastructure using best practices refined from over 2 decades of server administration. This is an ideal opportunity to become part of the movement away from BigTech. courses.nikau.io/cloudbreak 254
Reposted by Julian OliverJulian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 07/02/2026Six seats left for Cloudbreak, kicking off Feb 16. In just 6 hours you learn to deploy, secure & admin your very own sovereign EU-based cloud server, complete with Zoom & Google Docs alternatives suitable for fam, small orgs & communities. No comp-sci or tech bg needed. courses.nikau.io/cloudbreak/ 1138
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 07/02/2026Six seats left for Cloudbreak, kicking off Feb 16. In just 6 hours you learn to deploy, secure & admin your very own sovereign EU-based cloud server, complete with Zoom & Google Docs alternatives suitable for fam, small orgs & communities. No comp-sci or tech bg needed. courses.nikau.io/cloudbreak/ 1138
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 23/01/2026Pleased to announce that the next edition of Cloudbreak will take place on Feb 16, & with a few enhancements to both content and pace. You can become part of the solution, in this era of runaway digital imperialism, surveillance capitalism & Internet enshittification. courses.nikau.io/cloudbreak/ 010
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 18/01/2026Congrats to the participants of the first edition of Cloudbreak! An intense & intensely rewarding 6hrs. Every participant finished with their own EU-based tightly-secured & very capable #selfhosted cloud server, complete with video conferencing & collab doc editing. courses.nikau.io/cloudbreak/courses.nikau.ioCloudbreak – Nīkau Courses 040
Reposted by Julian OliverJulian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 02/01/2026If another year feeding #BigTech is getting you down, consider running your own infra. Become part of the change. In 6hrs I'll guide you through the process of building up & securing your own low-carbon, private & powerful cloud & videoconf platform in an EU datacenter courses.nikau.io/cloudbreak/ 153
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 30/12/2025Glad to share the details for our Q1 2026 live training, including that of Cloudbreak, a new course in #selfhosting geared toward those with no prior relevant skills. As with 2025, seats are limited to ensure quality coaching with great outcomes for participants. courses.nikau.io/currently-av... 1161
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 18/10/2025I've released a playlist of little videos introducing core UNIX shell concepts and skills for those curious about getting off BigTech and onto self-run, sovereign server infrastructure. video.nikau.io/w/p/o2pxK81g... #selfhosted #infrastructurevideo.nikau.ioCommand line fundamentals for the sysadmin-curiousA collection of videos detailing UNIX shell basics in preparation for beginning a journey into the world of self-hosted and sovereign server infrastructure. These videos are not to be taken as a co... 070
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 07/10/2025Pleased to announce new training dates. If you'd like to bring self-hosted sovereign server infrastructure to your communities, movements &/or orgs - getting them off BigTech & onto a happier & healthier platform surface - these courses are probably for you. learn.nikau.io/courses/cour...learn.nikau.ioTunnel and FortressTunnel and Fortress is a live, coached and intensive training series empowering participants to deploy and secure sovereign server infrastructure. 031
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 24/09/2025The Replaybook is out! My contribution was specifically on helping climate-facing organisations chart a pathway from big tech platforms to mission-coherent, #selfhosted and sovereign infrastructure. You can download the book free, or pre-order in print. tacticaltech.org/replaybook/ 061
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 12/09/2025Very pleased to present another round of Tunnel and Fortress, live classes in the design & deployment of sovereign server infrastructure. I want to teach you to get the communities you care about off Big Tech. video.nikau.io/w/9RVN23fgj7... learn.nikau.io/courses/cour... #exitbigtech #sysadminvideo.nikau.ioTunnel and Fortress 2An introduction to self-hosted server infrastructure in the context of 'Tunnel and Fortress', a live, coached and intensive training series empowering participants to become capable, creative, conf... 100
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 30/08/2025For those in the region, please join us for a rigorous evening of discussion on the dominant belief system of Technological Determinism, its impact on our autonomy, dignity, communities and cultures. criticalsignals.nz/programme/in...criticalsignals.nzThe Inevitabilism PanelCritical Signals explores practical and visionary responses to an era of collapses. 162
Reposted by Julian OliverSophie Jerram @scrjerram.bsky.social · 17/07/2025V happy to launch Critical Signals, a cross-over artistic/data sovereignty/kai (food) sovereignty project in #Wellington City CBD. #Aotearoa: with @ira.bailey.nz @julian0liver.bsky.social et al, aiming to get ready for oncoming disruptions, in community. Sign up here criticalsignals.nzcriticalsignals.nzCritical SignalsCritical Signals explores practical and visionary responses to an era of collapses. 154
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 14/07/2025Pleased to share Critical Signals, a 3 month series of events in downtown Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. The series centers practical & visionary responses to an era of collapses. criticalsignals.nz (Programme still growing as we confirm new collabs)criticalsignals.nzCritical SignalsCritical Signals explores practical and visionary responses to an era of collapses. 0157
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 07/05/2025Overjoyed to see our 2011 Critical Engineering Manifesto tooled up for our times, in this powerful reading by Charlotte Kent for the Brooklyn Rail brooklynrail.org/2025/05/art-... TY @tega.bsky.socialbrooklynrail.orgThe State of AI Agents | The Brooklyn RailArtists’ recent approaches to machinic agents showcase the designed attributes of different systems. Artist and environmental engineer Tega Brain wisely pointed me towards the Critical Engineering Man... 0126
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 02/04/2025I'm very pleased to share Tunnel & Fortress, a new live coached training series bringing the art of system administration to those with no prior experience in the field. Participants will deploy, garden & harden servers to keep their communities safe. video.nikau.io/w/sXj2kQ8vQo... #exitbigtechvideo.nikau.ioIntroducing Tunnel and FortressA brief introduction to the new Tunnel and Fortress training series, hosted by Nīkau, and instructed by Julian Oliver. Please see here for more information: https://learn.nikau.io 23312
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 19/03/2025PSA - I'm working on some online courses that I'll be launching very soon, skilling up folk (incl from less technical backgrounds) to deploy, maintain and grow low-cost sovereign server infrastructure to keep their communities, friends and families safe in this incredible time. 061
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 25/02/2025Glad to share a fun weekend project, a powerful #Meshtastic node in a waterproof & rugged case, for use in comms blackout situations/emergencies. It allows for texting across the mesh with a smartphone. More here: mastodon.social/@JulianOlive... 092
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 25/01/2025For those of you heading to Transmediale in Berlin this year, I will be streaming in to join 2 panels. The first panel is with Felicity Hammond and Nina Davies: transmediale.de/en/2025/even... The 2nd with Catherine Griffiths, Anna Engelhardt and Marija Ristic: transmediale.de/en/2025/even...transmediale.detransmedialetransmediale 2025 | Pixels in, People out: An Image-Based Ideology of Space 070
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 10/12/2024Every now and again I try my hand at writing short fiction. Here's one that's been feeling ready: julianoliver.com/fiction/the-... #fiction #writingjulianoliver.comThe Sprites 261
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 04/12/2024I'll be giving a seminar 'Communications in an Emergency' on the 14th in Wellington, & an intensive 'Information and Operations Security for Activists' on the 18th. Be sure to check out the other great workshops too. beautifulsignals.nz #infosec #resiliencebeautifulsignals.nzBeautiful SignalsExplore emerging issues with soil, food, data, democracy, and digital sovereignty through engaging art practices and self-run workshops. December 2024, Wellington, NZ 162
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 22/11/2024Sharing here a keynote I gave this yr. I cover the enviro hit of 'AI'/ML & our endangering habits of animism & anthropomorphism. Also look at embedded racism & the broader cult of technological determinism in this tech. I called it Machine Cult. A kind soul uploaded it here: vimeo.com/952557065vimeo.comMachine Cult – Keynote by Julian OliverInternationally renowned New Zealand artist and critical engineer Julian Oliver launched the symposium with a keynote address laying out the current state-of-play… 081
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 20/11/2024For those of you in Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington, I'll be having a wee chat about disaster resilient communications on the 24th, at the very nice Vogelmorn. I'll cover wired & wireless fallbacks, packet radio, meshing, long-range analog radio & antennae options, low cost software radio++ 020
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 19/11/2024'The Closed World' is my most recent artwork. I took a standard refractor telescope and modified it to look upon an entirely fictitious, computer-generated cosmos. Commissioned for the ADA Symposium 2024, it's a piece about truth in an era of machine-made content. julianoliver.com/projects/the... 1111
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 15/11/2024If you are a US-based org working in support of human rights and/or the environment looking to swiftly migrate your server infrastructure and data to safer soil, get in touch. We have extensive experience helping at-risk orgs find a safer home for their work. nikau.io Pass it on #infosec #opsec 1125
Julian Oliver @julian0liver.bsky.social · 14/11/2024Trust issues with Bsky (fear it won't end well) so have resolved to stick to my ethos over at Mastodon (mastodon.social/@JulianOliver). Nonetheless will post low volume bytes and pieces specifically related to my work here.mastodon.socialJulian Oliver (@JulianOliver@mastodon.social)1.98K Posts, 466 Following, 3.58K Followers · Artist, engineer, educator, activist. I make and teach tech art, exhibiting internationally since the late 90's. I also deploy secure infrastructure for ... 141