Is the acquisition of Dia a threat to indie browser innovation?

Is the web breaking under the weight of AI crawlers, platform consolidation, and nonstop security breaches? We dive into the state of browsers, developer burnout, and whether tech regulation can actually keep up.

In this panel discussion:

• We debate if robots.txt and AI licensing standards like RSL can realistically control how AI scrapes the web.
• The fallout from DIA’s acquisition by Atlassian and what it means for indie browser innovation (like the Helium browser, Zen) in a Chromium-dominated world.
• Why Google’s antitrust victory might embolden other tech giants, and what that means for competition.
• How supply chain attacks like the NPM malware and Shai Hulud worm are exploiting GitHub workflows and package vulnerabilities.
• The pushback against AI mandates at work, including Coinbase’s controversial policy requiring developers to use Copilot.

Resources

Inside the battle for the future of the web: https://www.businessinsider.com/google-microsoft-openai-fight-standards-limit-ai-access-websites-2025-9

The web has a new system for making AI companies pay up: https://www.theverge.com/news/775072/rsl-standard-licensing-ai-publishing-reddit-yahoo-medium

The Browser Company, maker of Arc and Dia, is being acquired: https://www.theverge.com/web/770947/browser-company-arc-dia-acquired-atlassian

Google stock jumps 8% after search giant avoids worst-case penalties in antitrust case: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/02/google-antitrust-search-ruling.html

Massive data breach sees 16 million PayPal accounts leaked online - here's what we know, and how to stay safe:https://www.techradar.com/pro/massive-data-breach-sees-16-million-paypal-accounts-leaked-online-heres-what-we-know-and-how-to-stay-safe

PayPal’s Glitch Puts €10 Billion on Ice Across European Banks: https://fintechnews.ch/payments/paypal-glitch-freezes-european-banks-10-billion-transactions/77974/

npm Author Qix Compromised via Phishing Email in Major Supply Chain Attack: https://socket.dev/blog/npm-author-qix-compromised-in-major-supply-chain-attack

Compromised files replace npm packages with a combined 2 billion weekly downloads: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/compromised-files-replace-npm-packages-with-a-combined-2-billion-weekly-downloads

Shai-Hulud: Ongoing Package Supply Chain Worm Delivering Data-Stealing Malware: https://www.wiz.io/blog/shai-hulud-npm-supply-chain-attack

Coinbase CEO explains why he fired engineers who didn’t try AI immediately: https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/22/coinbase-ceo-explains-why-he-fired-engineers-who-didnt-try-ai-immediately/

Chapters

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