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Lead Lemmy developer dessalines@lemmy.ml Appears to Have Had Their Account Compromised After Moderation Actions Raise Serious Concerns

$$8540
https://lemmy.world/u/autonomoususer posted on Mar 8, 2026 01:16

Cross posted here as it was highlighted that the individual is a lead Lemmy developer, raising serious concerns about the direction of Lemmy, a leading Fediverse platform, and the impact on future user adoption.

Hi

There have been some rather concerning actions taken by an admin of the !privacy@lemmy.ml community, dessalines@lemmy.ml. Based on recent moderation decisions and a complete lack of communication, it seems like their account may have been compromised, or even more concerning if these actions are deliberate.

  1. Erroneous Rule 4 Enforcement, First Instance: a guide posted to !privacy@lemmy.ml, despite receiving many positive votes and comments, was removed under Rule 4:

If you have a question, please try searching for previous discussions, maybe it has already been answered

However, this post was a guide and not a question, so Rule 4 does not apply. Attempts were made to reach out for clarification but there has been no response, despite their account showing recent activity.

  1. Erroneous Rule 4 Enforcement, Second Instance: an on-topic informational video also posted to !privacy@lemmy.ml, despite also receiving many positive votes, was again removed under Rule 4. This post was again not asking a question, so again Rule 4 does not apply. Again, no explanation has been given.

  2. User Bans in Completely Unrelated Communities: user bans of over a month have been applied for not only !privacy@lemmy.ml but several completely unrelated communities:

  • !emacs@lemmy.ml
  • !personalfinance@lemmy.ml
  • !linux@lemmy.ml
  • !lemmy_support@lemmy.ml
  • !opensource@lemmy.ml
  • !india@lemmy.ml
  • !asklemmy@lemmy.ml
  • !steam@lemmy.ml
  • !linux_gaming@lemmy.ml
  • !degoogle@lemmy.ml
  • !libre_software@lemmy.ml

This is especially concerning given that the above posts have no relation to these communities, and no recent activity has been made in any of them, meaning none of their rules could have been broken. Moreover, a public track record of positive contributions across Lemmy has been established, with many positive votes and comments received over a sustained period. Given all of this, the bans appear to be highly disproportionate, only adding to the growing concerns around moderation practices.

  1. Repost with Disclaimer Removed: a repost of the guide, despite a disclaimer explaining the original removal appears to be in error and that attempts to contact the admin have failed, despite again receiving many positive votes and constructive comments, was once again removed. Again, no explanation has been given.

Given all of this, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that something is not right. Mistakes in moderation happen but the complete lack of communication, the disproportionate actions, and the ongoing bans from unrelated communities raise serious concerns. It seems as though the account is most likely compromised, or even more concerning if these actions are deliberate.

Has anyone else experienced similar issues with this admin, or does anyone have more insight into what might be happening?

TL;DR: Admin dessalines@lemmy.ml of !privacy@lemmy.ml appears to be making seriously concerning moderation decisions, including erroneous enforcement of Rule 4 in at least two separate instances, failing to respond to messages, and applying user bans in completely unrelated communities despite a long track record of positive contributions across Lemmy. This has led to speculation that their account is likely compromised, or even more concerning if these actions are deliberate.

Any thoughts or similar experiences would be appreciated.

Cross post with https://lemmy.world/post/43944126

https://lemmy.world/post/43978041

6 posts in conversation

$$10124
https://lemmy.world/u/autonomoususer posted on Mar 10, 2026 14:52
In reply to: https://quokk.au/comment/3602385

Done, thanks!

https://lemmy.world/comment/22581781
$$10193
https://lemmy.sdf.org/u/goferking0 posted on Mar 10, 2026 17:06
In reply to: https://quokk.au/comment/3611529

piefed is the way

Piefed is just as bad and is designed to mimic the worst parts of reddit

https://lemmy.sdf.org/comment/26524425

Conversation

$$932
https://ani.social/u/AntiBullyRanger posted on Feb 19, 2026 17:16
In reply to: https://piefed.blahaj.zone/comment/3412657

Technically, it’s an astrospam measure.

https://ani.social/comment/15273349

9 posts in conversation

$$1902
https://lemmy.sdf.org/u/goferking0 posted on Feb 20, 2026 22:03
In reply to: https://ani.social/comment/15294474

Anyone who can make it this deep in the thread. Or do you think this is a private conversation on a public forum?

https://lemmy.sdf.org/comment/26136242
$$2226
https://ani.social/u/AntiBullyRanger posted on Feb 21, 2026 04:21
In reply to: https://lemmy.sdf.org/comment/26136242

Why would anyone want read your denial about astrospam mitigations you refuse to provide alternatives for?
Piefed is a tool anyone can use. If you feel mass downvoting with an account is something like social “credit” that piefeed nomenclatures as “attitude,” then I have no idea how users will use that credit, and what for. “Repudiation” is something all threadiverse software mitigates one way or another.
And I am being extremely generous, as it seems you don’t know anything about computer sciences.

https://ani.social/comment/15301123

Conversation

$$923
https://ani.social/u/AntiBullyRanger posted on Feb 19, 2026 17:09
In reply to: https://lemmy.world/comment/22225264

lol. Did you carefully read that?
80% of those excerpts are bot abuse prevention mechanisms. In CS, we call it sybil mitigation.

https://ani.social/comment/15273201

$$1040
https://ani.social/u/AntiBullyRanger posted on Feb 19, 2026 19:35
In reply to: https://lemmy.world/comment/22234011
Reset your biases first. Meditate. Rebase.
::: spoiler Then click here why. Fascists have been spamming fashprop everywhere. It’s affected me, friends, and communities. :::
https://ani.social/comment/15275708
$$1768
https://lemmy.sdf.org/u/goferking0 posted on Feb 20, 2026 18:07
In reply to: https://lemmy.world/comment/22234011

Because that makes it easier for them to accept it’s there if they can claim it is something else

https://lemmy.sdf.org/comment/26131724

Conversation

$$855
https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/u/irelephant posted on Feb 19, 2026 15:54
In reply to: https://ani.social/comment/15264387

https://hexbear.net/api/v3/site has a list of them as json.

https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/24511311

$$889
https://ani.social/u/AntiBullyRanger posted on Feb 19, 2026 16:33
In reply to: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/24511311

🙇‍♀️

https://ani.social/comment/15272550

Conversation

$$689
https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/u/Draconic_NEO posted on Feb 19, 2026 12:29
In reply to: https://ani.social/comment/15264299

Definitely seems sus.

https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/24508015

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