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Matthew Hodgson

Matthew Hodgson

@arathorn.net

3.5K followers 500 following 210 posts

project lead matrix.org | CEO/CTO Element

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Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

Ranga Krishnan @rangakrishnan1.bsky.social · 22d

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

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.

cfp.2025.matrix.org

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

Element @element.io · Sep 30

🚀 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-...

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...

Matthew Hodgson @arathorn.net · Sep 12

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

The Matrix.org Foundation @matrix.org · Sep 12

The results of a 2 day hackathon (1 hour of demos!), an official Matrix server for the European Commission, and the Trust & Safety Working Group in Motion.

That and much more happened This Week In Matrix

matrix.org/blog/2025/09...

A YouTube thumbnail for Matrix Live. The Title says "How Hard Coul It Be? A two-day Element hackathon". It's the 12th episode of the 11th season.

Matthew Hodgson @arathorn.net · Sep 11

BCD ftw!

Matthew Hodgson @arathorn.net · Sep 7

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.

Matthew Hodgson @arathorn.net · Sep 7

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.

Matthew Hodgson @arathorn.net · Sep 7

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.

Matthew Hodgson @arathorn.net · Sep 7

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.

Matthew Hodgson @arathorn.net · Sep 7

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

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

The Matrix.org Foundation @matrix.org · Aug 14

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.

Project Hydra: Improving state resolution in Matrix

Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

Matthew Hodgson @arathorn.net · Jul 5

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

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

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

The Matrix.org Foundation @matrix.org · Jun 6

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...

This Week in Matrix 2025-06-06

Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

Element @element.io · Apr 3

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...

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

Evan Greer @evangreer.bsky.social · Apr 2

"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

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

The Matrix.org Foundation @matrix.org · Apr 2

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...

Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

Element @element.io · Mar 25

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.

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...

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

LWN.net @lwndotnet.bsky.social · Mar 19

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.

The road to mainstream Matrix [LWN.net]

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

Mx. Riley @robin.riley.pub · Feb 20

@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

We're at a crossroads

Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

Element @element.io · Feb 20

⚠️ 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.

🔐 Get up to date.

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.

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

The Matrix.org Foundation @matrix.org · Feb 14

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?

Building a Safer Matrix

Matrix, the open protocol for secure decentralised communications

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

The Matrix.org Foundation @matrix.org · Feb 7

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!

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...

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

Element @element.io · Feb 4

Quickly reply to push notifications to never miss a message (or not - set your preference in Settings!).

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

The Matrix.org Foundation @matrix.org · Feb 2

@arathorn.net enthuses about the twisty twisty path to Mainstream Matrix in Janson at #FOSDEM today! Thanks to everyone who came or tuned in!

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

Amandine Le Pape @amandine.bsky.social · Jan 30

Very honored to receive the Business & Impact Award at #EOSA2025 & join the European Open Source Academy as the Business & Impact section lead!

Thank you @eosa.bsky.social & thank you Mitchell Baker for the kind words!

Looking fwd to raise OS awareness & help orgs support the ecosystem better!

European Open Source Academy (EOSA) @eosa.bsky.social · Jan 30

The award goes to...

👏 Congratulations to Amandine Le Pape for winning the Business & Impact Award at #EOSA2025! 🚀

🤝Presented by Mitchell Baker, Chairwoman of Mozilla and a pioneer in open internet advocacy. #FOSS #GovTech
#OpenSource #TechForGood

Reposted by Matthew Hodgson

Element @element.io · Jan 29

Looking forward to a busy Sunday at @fosdem.bsky.social with @arathorn.net delivering ‘The Road to Mainstream Matrix’ at 12pm, followed by ‘Matrix State of the Union’ together with @amandine.bsky.social at 1pm.

Check out the full list of @matrix.org track talks: fosdem.org/2025/schedul... [1/3]

FOSDEM 2025 - Matrix.org Foundation and Community