Blockchain privacy groups urge new US congressmen to protect privacy rights

by · January 10, 2023

Fight for the Future, a digital rights advocacy group, has posted an open letter on its website urging the new class of US congressmen to protect privacy. The letter has attracted dozens of companies and organizations as co-signatories.

“Increasingly, the incredible creative power of American software developers is being chilled by clumsy, misguided legislative and regulatory actions,” the authors of the letter wrote. This despite the fact that the First Amendment to the US Constitution protects code as speech, the letter added, and was the reason why many technologies to protect privacy were created in the US.

As “an illustration of the robust digital future you [new legislators] should promote,” the letter mentioned Filecoin, ZCash, MobileCoin and several communication protocols by name. The letter urged lawmakers to protect privacy rights, champion end-to-end encryption and protect personal data.

Related: Filecoin service provider announces move to Singapore in light of tightened restrictions in China

In addition, the letter asked to “work to identify and correct power imbalances.” The authors explained:

“We need online spaces that are not owned or controlled by a single person, as they put users’ privacy at risk. We need tools that empower individuals and communities over their online experience.”

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Fight for the Future campaigns and communications director Lia Holland told Cointelegraph in a statement:

“Our goal with this letter is to sound the alarm that the previous Congress’ neglect of privacy as a human right cannot continue. […] It’s time for our lawmakers to stop trying to punish open source and decentralized software developers who give everyday users as well as vulnerable communities like journalists, activists, survivors of abuse and minorities the tools they need to protect their privacy online.”

At the time of writing, the letter had 36 signatories, including industry players such as the Blockchain Association, DeFi Education Fund, Ledger, Nillion Network, Protocol Labs and Proton. New signatories are still being accepted.