Interview with Signal President Meredith Whittaker
Signal, led by Meredith Whittaker, celebrates its 10th anniversary as a nonprofit focused on user privacy, aiming for sustainable funding while expanding in Europe amid rising privacy concerns and political changes.
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Signal, under the leadership of Meredith Whittaker, is positioning itself as a counter-narrative to surveillance capitalism, celebrating its 10th anniversary as a nonprofit encrypted messaging platform. Unlike many tech companies, Signal does not track users, serve ads, or rely on venture capital, instead focusing on user privacy and security. Whittaker, who became president in 2022, emphasizes the importance of finding sustainable funding to ensure Signal's longevity without compromising its values. She has a history of advocating against unethical tech practices, having previously worked at Google and co-founding the AI Now Institute. Signal has evolved from a niche project to a critical infrastructure for various users, including journalists and dissidents. Whittaker is keen on expanding Signal's presence in Europe, recognizing the region's mixed stance on encryption. She notes that political changes, such as upcoming elections, could influence Signal's growth, as heightened privacy concerns often lead to increased user adoption. Whittaker aims to redefine Signal's identity, highlighting its unique position in the tech landscape as a nonprofit dedicated to privacy, contrasting sharply with profit-driven platforms. She believes that the demand for privacy will continue to grow, especially in response to major tech failures and political events.
- Signal is a nonprofit messaging platform that prioritizes user privacy and security.
- Meredith Whittaker aims to secure long-term funding without compromising Signal's values.
- Signal has become essential for various users, including journalists and activists.
- The company is focusing on expanding its presence in Europe amid mixed attitudes toward encryption.
- Political events and tech failures are expected to drive increased user adoption of Signal.
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16 commentsBig props for that (and for the interviewer for looking it up). A lot of nonprofits are glorified jobs programs for politically connected individuals.
Nothing is pure-as-the-driven-snow perfect, but I use Signal.
So true!
However, Signal was not blocked by the great firewall and we were able to communicate freely on it.
But now I'm wondering why isn't Signal blocked? Does the CCP have a backdoor into it somehow and therefore doesn't feel threatened by it?
This might well be her most important statement.
https://www.theverge.com/23409716/signal-encryption-messagin...
I understand that people love signal, but I don't understand why: outside of what appears to be propaganda such as this.
btw; Downvotes only make my belief stronger that unironically there are actual shills on HN. The way people are bleeding to defend it as “the one true secure messenger” is about as convincing as Epstein killing himself.
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