The Nostr image hosting service void DOT cat has been disabled by OVH!
This is a perfect example of why I host my own images and videos using Chevereto.
Based on my experience running an image hosting site, I believe this is what happened:
The main issue with running an image and video hosting service is that many admins offer free uploads without restrictions. While this attracts users, it also draws spammers, freeloaders, and bad actors. Over time, you end up with infected PDFs, adult content, pirated movies, and other illegal materials being uploaded.
When renting a server (e.g., a VPS), hosting companies often scan for harmful content. If they find illegal files or viruses, they won’t warn you—they’ll shut your server down. This is because informing you could implicate them, so they just terminate your service and tell you to clean up.
From my own experience, I dealt with a constant flow of spammers and hackers. As my site grew, so did the cost and time spent moderating content. Ultimately, I shut it down because it wasn’t profitable—especially when Bitcoin wasn’t popular yet, and PayPal had many restrictions.
Running a server hosting company is challenging, too. Depending on where your servers are located, you must be aware of local laws. For example, hosting in China may be cheap, but if your customers post anything critical of China, your servers will be shut down without warning. You must always know the laws of your hosting location.
Some opt for offshore servers to avoid DMCA takedown requests, but these can be expensive, and there’s still a risk of shutdown if your site gets too popular.
As a hosting company owner, you must follow both local and international laws. Many of my customers didn’t read the terms of service (TOS)—and I don’t blame them, as I rarely read TOS myself.
By the way, Nostr doesn’t have a TOS!
It’s crucial to understand that if your users upload illegal content (like Hollywood movies), you as the host can be held liable. I personally don’t believe hosting companies should be responsible for policing user-uploaded content, but when I ran my service, it often felt like I was constantly moderating content & websites of my customers!
I also believe copyright laws are mostly corrupt, benefiting large corporations at the expense of individuals. We must fight to end copyright laws.
We’ve seen platforms like Gab get kicked off hosting services due to political pressure. This ongoing battle over free speech is real and escalating.
Moving your website to a new server is costly and time-consuming, but it’s often necessary. Here are three potential solutions to this issue:
1. Get involved in politics. Support libertarian political parties that advocate for free markets and less corporate control over hosting services. Hosting companies currently have a huge monopoly.
2. Charge a small registration fee. A fee (e.g., $ 1) for registering on your website can filter out 99% of spammers. While it might limit growth initially, innovations like Bitcoin and micro-transactions make this a viable way to reduce spam while allowing growth.
3. Host your own servers. Hosting from your property means full control, and no one can shut you down. But check local laws, as your ISP may still take action if you host illegal content.
I foresee Nostr DOT build facing similar challenges in the future due to spam. They’ve recently required a Nostr account to upload media, which may help reduce spam temporarily, but it won’t fully solve the problem long-term. Many relays are also full of spam, and I suspect they’ll face bans too.
Running an image hosting service is tough, and sometimes you’re your own worst enemy. That’s why I use Chevereto to host my own images and videos—I’m the only one who is allowed to upload.
If not waking one day and having your media disappear is important to you, I recommend hosting your own content or pushing back against free hosting services and getting them to implement a small registration fee to reduce spam. Freeloaders are the main reason these services get shut down. The same goes for relays—free services attract freeloaders & spammers, which leads to bans.
I used free image hosting services in the past, but eventually, they either got banned or the admins gave up, causing me to lose my photos.
It’s sad, and it’s not entirely the admins’ fault. They work hard, but this controlled, socialist world makes it harder.
As for the freeloaders? They’ll just move to the next free service.
Keep fighting for freedom!
By the way, check my Chevereto stats—I’ve uploaded 714 files, totaling 236.4MB.
Chevereto:
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note1yrffq3vw2j9szuvjxl8tnqssepu2a9mm9pwy9gvdys92ez5kev4sz9mza3
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