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Matthew Hodgson

@arathorn.net

project lead matrix.org | CEO/CTO Element

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23.01.2023
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Latest posts by Matthew Hodgson @arathorn.net

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Analysis of reported issues in vodozemac Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

Our analysis of reported issues in vodozemac: matrix.org/blog/2026/02...

18.02.2026 22:40 πŸ‘ 25 πŸ” 9 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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When chat history matters most As limits land on some free self-hosted collaboration tools, more teams are turning to ESS Community - our free-use, open source Matrix distribution.

πŸ’¬ When chat history matters most

As limits hit free self-hosted tools, more teams are turning to ESS Community - our free, open-source Matrix distribution.

βœ”οΈ Unlimited history
βœ”οΈ Voice & video
βœ”οΈ E2EE
βœ”οΈ Open & sovereign by design

Built on Matrix, with advanced org controls available in ESS ProπŸ‘‡

14.01.2026 08:48 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 11 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Transcript of Matrix Live S11E07 - Reflections on Matrix criticism over the last week Transcript of Matrix Live S11E07 - Reflections on Matrix criticism over the last week - matrix-live-s1107.md

right. we are the final stages of entirely replacing Classic with X; the old app hasn't been touched for ~2.5y. It's taken ages due to tragedy-of-the-commons problems: gist.github.com/ara4n/190ad7... gives an idea. (That said, Classic *should* work atm, but it's certainly been wobbly in the past)

27.11.2025 14:15 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Which app has been giving problems in the past though? Element Classic or Element X? (Element X should be rock solid; Element Classic... less so)

27.11.2025 13:50 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

for an org that wants to have a single dep on AWS/Azure etc, i’m not sure we can do much tbh. That said, p2p matrix work is under way again which could be a workaround of sorts, but β€œrun a backup server on a different provider” isn’t that bad: non-geeks seem to understand β€œuse your backup account” 🀷

27.11.2025 13:39 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

which client/platform/version is this happening with? (do you happen to have a bug number?)

27.11.2025 13:33 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

It’s like Git: even if GitHub explodes you can always keep working via another clone. We will eventually get to genuine account portability and multihomed accounts, but meanwhile keeping a backup acct around is a low tech but very effective workaround.

27.11.2025 13:29 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Matrix.org Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

Sure! a typical approach is to have backup accounts on another server in the same conversations. For instance, I have both @matthew:matrix.org and @matthew:element.io in important rooms; matrix.org sits behind CF and element.io is on AWS, and so you can continue relatively uninterrupted.

27.11.2025 13:27 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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E2EE Direct Messaging in Bluesky with Matrix Matrix Conference 2025 See a demo of E2EE encrypted DMs in Bluesky powered by Matrix. We will highlight the simple user experience and other advantages of this approach to adding E2EE to Bluesky.

I speak next week about our work to add E2EE DMs in Bluesky using the Matrix protocol. The event will be live streamed by the Matrix conference.

cfp.2025.matrix.org/matrix-conf-...

We will launch a Bluesky service using this technology soon.

@arathorn.net @kurtopsahl.bsky.social @micahflee.com

09.10.2025 08:02 πŸ‘ 81 πŸ” 22 πŸ’¬ 7 πŸ“Œ 4
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Hiding room metadata from servers Every year, Element takes on a small number of summer interns to work on various research and development projects. Internships are a significant part of our culture, and ~20% of the current Element e...

πŸš€ We’re pleased to showcase the work of our summer intern, Skye, who made a big impact with their work on encrypted state events.

The blog post breaks down the project in detail.

element.io/blog/hiding-...

30.09.2025 08:43 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 11 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This was the most fun i'd had in ages :D

12.09.2025 16:04 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

BCD ftw!

11.09.2025 11:21 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

yup. for instance, the deltachat folks are currently trying to differentiate from Matrix by saying that they have never needed a coordinated proto update… as all their clients use the same impl: delta.chat/en/2025-08-0.... So now I know how the XMPP folks felt, in terms of questionable comparisons.

07.09.2025 00:29 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

On the plus side, I’m not aware of much/any anti-XMPP sentiment on the Matrix side (other than that the perception from back in 2014): the competition is very unambiguously centralised proprietary chat/voip providers, rather than other open source/standard msging protocols.

07.09.2025 00:21 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

However, the damage was done, and to this day there is *incredible* hostility from some XMPP folks (which may have happened anyway, i guess), blaming us for diluting work on open IM protocols. This does seem to be factional, sadly, and is reminiscent of the AP v ATP grief.

07.09.2025 00:19 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

It’s more nuanced, sadly: in the very beginning of Matrix (Sep 2014), I did position it as a reaction to XMPP… because that was what it was. This caused extreme irritation with XMPP fans, which in retrospect could & should have been avoided. We consciously stopped making the comparison in ~Dec 2014.

07.09.2025 00:16 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 1

we need one of these for Matrix & XMPP too :) (and probably Linux & *BSD. and vi and emacs…)

07.09.2025 00:05 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Project Hydra: Improving state resolution in Matrix Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

We’ve now published the details of the security issues which we addressed in Monday’s coordinated security release of Matrix: read all about Project Hydra at matrix.org/blog/2025/08... and please upgrade your servers and rooms where applicable.

14.08.2025 17:23 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 12 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Actions such as message sending or invites is failing in a small subset of rooms Matrix's Status Page - Actions such as message sending or invites is failing in a small subset of rooms.

status.matrix.org/incidents/8g... - we’re having to restore the broken rooms from backup, which is taking a while; sorry.

05.07.2025 23:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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This Week in Matrix 2025-06-06 Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

Project Aurora, the EU adopting Matrix for cybersecurity crisis management, and significant improvements in the rust SDK thanks to DINUM's HackDays.

That and more happened This Week in Matrix!

matrix.org/blog/2025/06...

06.06.2025 18:54 πŸ‘ 29 πŸ” 11 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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How do you manage group chats in a messaging app?

Use our identity management and group access controls to synchronise with sources such as Microsoft Active Directory.

Element gives governments a consumer-style messaging app, but with enterprise-grade control.

element.io/blog/how-ele...

03.04.2025 13:18 πŸ‘ 22 πŸ” 11 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

"Age verification" laws are actually "upload your ID or get your face scanned to access every website, ending anonymity and associating your identity with everything you do online" laws and if more people understood that they would not be down for this authoritarian nonsense

02.04.2025 12:57 πŸ‘ 38448 πŸ” 15202 πŸ’¬ 361 πŸ“Œ 311
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Matrix.org Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

Exciting news! The Matrix Foundation homeserver will migrate to the all new matrix-authentication-service on April 7th, with an expected downtime of 1h between 7am and 8am UTC.

More details about the impact for your on our blog.

matrix.org/blog/2025/04...

02.04.2025 16:09 πŸ‘ 28 πŸ” 14 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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US shows the risk of running a government by Signal The Trump administration’s spectacular security breach, in which it seemingly shared details of a planned military strike in Yemen with a journalist, highlights just what can go wrong if you use consu...

Welcome to the Wild West of consumer messaging apps within governments. It’s not a one off. It’s not just the Trump administration. Governments have to put a serious alternative in place, combining the usability and E2EE of messaging apps with enterprise-grade oversight and control.

25.03.2025 10:32 πŸ‘ 37 πŸ” 22 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 3
The road to mainstream Matrix [LWN.net]

Matrix provides an open network for secure, decentralized communication. At FOSDEM 2025, Matrix project lead Matthew Hodgson discussed the history of Matrix, its missteps in chasing mainstream adoption, its current status, and some of the wishlist features for taking Matrix into the mainstream.

19.03.2025 16:42 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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We're at a crossroads Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

@matrix.org has gone from $0 to $561K in recurring revenue in just 2 years. But our expenses run $1.2M/yr. We've burned through reserves and are at a crossroads.

YOU have a role to play in shaping what happens next: matrix.org/blog/2025/02...

#Matrix #IndieWeb #FOSS #OpenSource #Privacy #Security

20.02.2025 19:36 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 14 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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Running outdated versions of Synapse is a problem If you’re still using the old Apache-licensed Synapse version 1.98.0 or older, you’re running unsupported, vulnerable software.

⚠️ If you’re running an outdated version of Synapse, you’re putting your organisation at risk.

🚨 Version 1.98.0 of Synapse (or older) exposes you to critical vulnerabilities, compliance failures and security risks.

πŸ” Get up to date.

20.02.2025 10:11 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Building a Safer Matrix Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

The world needs secure comms as a bulwark against authoritarianism and oppression. Matrix seeks to meet that need, as a decentralised, encrypted protocol.

But Trust & Safety is difficult in a decentralised environment. How are we building a safer Matrix?

14.02.2025 18:13 πŸ‘ 27 πŸ” 12 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
FOSDEM 2025 - The Road To Mainstream Matrix
FOSDEM 2025 - The Road To Mainstream Matrix Matthew's Main Track Talk in Janson at FOSDEM 2025: The Road To Mainstream Matrix.(This Week in) Matrix🐘 https://mastodon.matrix.org/@matrix🀝 https://www.l...

Missed FOSDEM, and you want to know how Matrix got where it is right now, where it succeeded, where it fell short, and what's remaining on the Road to Mainstream Matrix?

@arathorn.net has your back!

07.02.2025 18:59 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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Quickly reply to push notifications to never miss a message (or not - set your preference in Settings!).

04.02.2025 12:40 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0