[Dismas]

Before we hosted our own IRC, we used Freenode for a bit. While we haven't had an IRC for some time, it does not sound like your data is safe at Freenode anymore.

Freenode has been the world's largest IRC network since 2013, with roughly three times as many users as its closest competitor, IRCnet. Last week, the massive IRC network was taken over by Korean Crown Prince Andrew Lee—a move that the network's staff has apparently unanimously classified as a "hostile takeover," although Lee himself claims these are only "rumors" and "simply untrue."

At first blush, it's tempting for an outside observer—someone who isn't already familiar with the history of the network's ownership and management—to shrug and say "well, who knows." Lee lays out several hundred words of explanation in a blog post currently featured on Freenode's front page—most of which sounds reasonable.

But the one question Lee never addresses—let alone answers—is why at least 14 separate staff members would quit en masse, all disagreeing with the story he tells.

Read More: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/...-of-korea/

[ConcernedCitizen]

There seems to be more to this than meets the eye. Hopefully we'll know more in the coming days, but I personally have a feeling that his family has ties to things on which the staff must disagree. Why else would the opers and users quit like that? I'll have to do some digging into this later.

[Dismas]

There seems to be more to this than meets the eye. Hopefully we'll know more in the coming days, but I personally have a feeling that his family has ties to things on which the staff must disagree. Why else would the opers and users quit like that? I'll have to do some digging into this later.

I agree. Likely some form of disagreement, though I wouldn't be privy as I haven't used Freenode in 10 years.

[ConcernedCitizen]

I agree. Likely some form of disagreement, though I wouldn't be privy as I haven't used Freenode in 10 years.

I still go to underground IRCs from time to time. Nothing too heavily, too much IRC chatting makes me lose focus on work.

[zorrophreak]

I haven't used Freenode in a good bit but its interesting to see the mass exodus of the staff. I actually have a good deal of respect for Andrew Lee however for the entirety (or at least the majority) of the staff to leave makes me very concerned about how its being run from the higher ups now. Only time will tell I suppose. Private IRC servers have always been and always will be a thing though so.