It has been over a year since we launched Hugston.com and the HugstonOne project. Our mission is simple: to provide free, accessible AI inference, chat, and coding tools to a global community. We believe in transparency and user empowerment. To share our vision, we engaged among other channels with communities on Reddit, HackerNews, and YouTube, so in platforms where open dialogue thrives.
TL:DR Google (youtube) and reddit terminated our accounts because they could.
However, our journey highlighted a rough reality of the modern digital landscape, the fragility of building on rented land (while being at your home). When our presence was terminated on major platforms often citing vague or automated policy violations without meaningful recourse it became clear that the "gatekeepers" (more like the feudals) of the internet operate with a level of opacity and unilateral power that leaves little room for nuance or appeal. That was not welcomed from google which directly terminated our new created channel and banned us without any explanation showing their true nature of monopoly and dictatorial systematic regime. we tried to appeal and tell them that we didn't really do nothing but there was nothing to do, (they holded all the cards,their platform, their terms and services) after a while they came up with the excuse that we were advertising our product too much so without a warning or notification the channel was terminated. While we understood the mechanics of these platforms, the experience was a wake up call.
It reinforced our decision to self host everything and maintain full control over our infrastructure.
But the challenges didn’t end with platform bans. We observed a broader pattern of digital suppression: emails flagged as spam despite perfect technical ratings, reputational damage through association, and the general feeling of being at the mercy of algorithms controlled by a handful of corporations. This is not just a simple technical inconvenience, but it is in fact a threat to our digital independence.
We made a promise then: we would not reward this kind of system we would do all possible to stop this nonsense. We committed to building alternatives and advocating for a future where users, not corporations, hold the power, even though we don't like revenge so this is not about revenge but is more about digital sovereignty or as I love to say, about KARMA.
We will not reward this repressive system, we saw that the only way to deliver some sense in these corporations is hurting their wallet, we promised that google will pay, but in billions (our statements is available to everyone in hackernews). In fact we decided to avoid using all services related to google, start showing to users that there are alternatives and woked up our politicians. We showed them what is happening, we are hosting this companies in our home, paying for their services creating immense revenue but now they think they can play god with us, in our continent, our land, our city, our home, our hard-earned taxpayer money, my hardware and fiberoptic, my software, my time, I do not agree to this, STOP.
I can´t even imagine to how many users google and similar companies has abused, how many people have you wronged, now get your karma.
There is a saying: In time Everyone gets what everyone deserves.
It takes some time with us Europeans cause we think it through really well but then here it comes: European Parliament ditches Google for French search firm over privacy concerns. The search-engine switch comes as Brussels doubles down on its push for “tech sovereignty.”
Today, that shift/karma became reality, particularly in Europe. The European Parliament’s recent decision to reduce reliance on Google in favor of French search firms due to privacy concerns is a landmark moment. It is a direct result of the push for "tech sovereignty" a movement championed by leaders in Brussels, Paris, Berlin, and beyond. This decision signals that European institutions are finally prioritizing the privacy and security of their citizens over convenience.
Thank you, France, (Macron) thank you Brussel, thank you Germany and Holland, thank you Denmark and Italy, thank you pope Leo, thank you SWEDEN, thank you Europe for protection your home and your citizens.
This move is a victory for European values but also for us European tech startups. Same time is a disaster for google which is heading to bankruptcy.
It confirm and acknowledges that a continent’s digital infrastructure should be built on its own laws, its own standards, and its own protection of fundamental rights. It is a reminder that whether in Europe, Asia, or the Americas, users deserve platforms that respect their data and their rights.
This decision came a decade too late. It made me happy and sad at the same time. Happy because finally justice being done. Sad because I still remember the excitement when i first saw google maps in 2004 in Fiera di Milan, revolutionary product (isn´t that German invention btw?)
I still remember the excitement of seeing Google Maps revolutionize navigation in 2004. Innovation is good, but innovation should not come at the cost of monopoly, opacity, or the erosion of user rights. The current shift away from dominant tech giants implemented by Hugston is not a rejection of progress, but a correction of imbalance.
To our users in Europe and around the world: This is a message of hope. The era of unchecked digital hegemony is facing its reckoning. By supporting local alternatives, demanding transparency, and advocating for robust digital rights, we are not just building better tools we are reclaiming our digital homes.
Let this be a signal to all tech giants: The age of impunity is ending. Users are educated, politicians are listening, and the demand for fair, transparent, and sovereign digital spaces is louder than ever. We are not asking for permission anymore, we are building the future ourselves.
Anyway I am writing to all you today to tell you that the promisse was kept and deliverd. we said that google will pay in billions and we deliverd. This should be a warning for all similar bully, monopolistic companies, get your sh!t together and behave, cause here at our home, we make the rules.
There is only one way to go, Live and let live.
Other sources: https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-stanford-protest-graduation
Well done, now drop meta and google related. Replace Gmail, Android, Whatsapp, Signal. Need to be done now, in a couple of months. How hard can it be to create an European email and communication service, we already have Proton and Tuta email. We also have European smartphones, and apps. We can be self-sufficient at the end of this year, come on Europe pay properly programmers cause there are plenty talented.