I’m a cypherpunk. Privacy is necessary for a free and open society.
Privacy is normal. It’s not something shady, or an admission that we have something to hide; privacy does not mean we have a secret to keep, but rather, that we have the freedom to reveal information as we see fit.
Privacy protects the most vulnerable among us. It allows us to speak freely, to think independently, and to act without fear of reprisal. Without privacy, we are at the mercy of those who seek to control us. We must fight to protect our privacy and the privacy of others.
Furthering my mission then means:
-
Developing cryptographic software: Cypherpunks write code. I spend a lot of my free time contributing to open-source cryptographic software. Naturally this extends far and wide: from censorship-resistant economic rails to secure communication tools.
We know that someone has to write software to defend privacy, and since we can’t get privacy unless we all do, we’re going to write it. … We don’t much care if you don’t approve of the software we write. We know that software can’t be destroyed and that a widely dispersed system can’t be shut down.
— Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk’s Manifesto
-
Expression in public forums: I’m committed to using my voice to speak out against unjust laws and practices that threaten our privacy, security, and freedom. Publishing software is free speech; I’m committed to using my speech to fight for a free and open internet by expressing my thoughts and publishing code.
-
Educating myself and others: I believe that the best way to protect yourself is to understand the threats you face. I’m committed to educating others about the importance of privacy and security in the digital age. This includes teaching people how to use privacy-preserving tools and how to protect themselves from surveillance and data breaches.
We must defend our own privacy if we expect to have any.