Activists are essential to decentralized systems
Imagine BitTorrent without The Pirate Bay doing everything it can to stick around
Tor exit node operators took on real risk in the early days especially
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Replying to @backus
Running an exit node is still pretty risky, although not to the same extent that it used to be, I imagine. And activist institutions are huge targets — e.g.
@riseupnet is being targeted right now1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes -
Replying to @sonyaellenmann @riseupnet
Yeah, I actually haven't looked into how risky it is lately. I just remember being at DEFCON in like 2013 listening to members of the Tor foundation appeal really hard to people trying to get more exit nodes
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Replying to @backus
Also varies a lot by country. In the US, if I recall correctly, you're mainly definitely going on some fed list and at risk of having your ISP kick you off
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Replying to @sonyaellenmann
Yeah. The most terrifying thing IMO is the idea that your house might be raided and all your machines seized because someone was viewing child porn through the exit node you ran. With that in mind, it seems especially valuable that institutions like MIT run exit nodes
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Replying to @backus @sonyaellenmann
Rephrasing orig tweet: It seems like decentralized systems which leverage legal grey areas depend on activists willing to fight the inevitable battles that come from running the most sensitive parts. Pirate Bay founders & Tor exit node operators knew LE would harass them one day
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Replying to @backus
Totally agree with your original tweet btw, I wasn't trying to refute. In the 2A world, but also the 1A world, Cody Wilson is a prime example of being preternaturally willing to take the heat
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Yeah didn’t think you were. Just realized my key point may not have been clear to others. Yeah Cody is another good example. Interestingly, look at Vitalik’s background before Ethereum with Dark Wallet. Similar stuff
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