Feels opposite to an authentiverse.

A significant part of the problem is the W3C making the standards relevant to web browsers and servers so complicated that the purported objective of allowing anyone to build a browser is defeated. While it is technically true that anyone can build a conformant browser, it is practically impossible for anyone without the resources of companies like Google, Apple and Microsoft to keep up. New, independent implementations are almost impossible due to the technical complexity and the anti-competitive practices of the incumbents.

According to this report:

As of 2026, three engines account for virtually all browser rendering globally.

Those are: Blink, WebKit and Gecko

What's needed is new standards that restore the practical possibility for others to develop a compatible browser. That would help resolve or avoid this problem and many other problems that are similarly rooted in vendors attempting to control the user's data and experience.

Just one quibble:

The only reason to make a dishwasher that refuses a rival's dishes is if the manufacturer's own dishes are ugly, expensive, and/or badly made

No, greed is reason enough. If they think they can get away with it, they would do that whether the dishes are good or bad, just to maximize how much money they can squeeze out of their customers.

There has too been talk about Google using it to block desktop OSs like Linux. By requiring validation against a QR you have to scan from an Android or iOS phone.

https://reddthat.com/post/69062683

I swear I saw that URL 5 times before realizing it probably doesn't belong to Redhat.

"an experimental initiative that will let companies block users if they are running independent, "de-googled" versions of Android"

lol, that is quite alright... saving me the effort of figuring out what scumbags they are in a less convenient way. I don't want to be doing business with these people anyway.

I was kinda disappointed that the article didn't offer any suggestions for how to "push back" on attestation being shoved down our throats.

...it seems governments and companies are doubling down on attestation, in the form of mandatory age verification.