cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/8915892
(original article in Swedish that reported this)
Posting this because I hadn't heard about it before and I'm probably not the only Mullvad user here, so might as well.
The party claims to stand for a "class-conscious populism" which according to party leader Markus Allard takes inspiration from marxist ideology and unites the "productive" classes of society against the "Transferiat", with the "Transferiat" being a term coined by Allard to describe the classes of society that lives off transfers that are a net negative for society such as those who, despite having an ability to work, live off social welfare benefits, as well as those who work "made-up services"[...]
The party differs from modern day left-wing parties by seeing the working class as co-dependent with people working in enterprise and business and instead sees the classes that "live off transfers", as specified, as a large economic net-negative and an obstacle for a functional society.
Their ideology is nonsense fake-marxist revisionism to redirect anger at capitalism and turn it against immigrants and people who need social welfare (though they do back some generally left oriented social policies, their main thing appears to be racism)
Even if you're comfortable with funding this, it still begs the question of just how trustworthy Mullvad actually is.
I guess this still beats any of the dozens of Israeli VPNs that definitely spy on you, but it's not great
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48696800
scummy af with this deflection. as if anyone would want the money they paid for a service funneled to bad actors regardless of who is doing it..
The reply is fence sitting/pr, it is a fair assumption that the choices of one of the co-founders has put the company into a very difficult position. I'm not a fan of the wording, not sure I would have done a better job though. After reading it, I applied for my refund yesterday, and it was approved yesterday.
I hope Daniel Berntsson is somehow removed (or does the right thing and removes himself) from the company.
It is definitely shitty to hold Mullvad accountable for this, but money paid to Mullvad has been used to fund the political party via Daniel Berntsson.
Anyone with any vpn experience should already be well aware that it is a dodgy industry, with the majority of available 'information' being transparent marketing. I wouldn't trust 95% of companies in the industry, I would like to see Mullvad come out of this the right way up.
“shitty to hold Mullvad accountable for this “ No. It’s not. Hold them accountable. Co-founder must have known that Berntsson has fascist tendencies. That’s kinda hard to hide
By all accounts, he seems to have been a fairly standard TESCREAL-adjacent high-decoupling libertarian until now, like a lot of tech founders. While some of these end up steelmanning fascism and coming to the conclusion that it’s pretty neat, it by no means follows.
What country do you live in? I hold you personally, and completely responsible for its actions, you know its issues and crimes.
Fuck off idiot.
enjoy your ai trash.
if the company put out a fencesitting statement instead of bringing him consequences, at best they don't care
That assumes there is anything they can do about his actions in his personal life.
A clause in his contract that applies significant penalties if he brings the company into disrepute sounds cool, but also problematic, and may not even be a possibility, let alone a reality.
I want him gone, it may not be that simple though.
regardless, paying for a service that pays for fascism is something that might put them in trouble if they don't deal with it.
that is if people care. that has to be a consideration these days.
It has already attracted negative press, some of it valid, some of it due to deliberate manipulation and idiots (op as an example of both), the effect on their reputation will not be short lived, and this issue will continuously resurface online. They still need to deal with it though, and soon.
It has already cost them business/money due to refunds ($$$ ???), and a short/medium/long term reduction in new customers.
"That is if people care" Always the issue with humanity.
People tend to be polar online, rarely fair, or decent.
if this amounts to something remains to be seen
Well, it's not like the other founder approved his political donations. I think it's a fair enough point to make, it is a private donation, and not a company donation.
In a privately owned company, the wishes of the owners are the wishes of the company. Especially with political actions, treating them as completely separate is just putting blinders on.
Sure, but there are two owners. It's possible to start a company with someone that has different views, or ones that diverge over time. You can't really blame the other guy for his partner's opinions.
So what should they do? Liquidate the company? Should the reasonable person leave the company he built? The guy the internet doesn't like might still be ok to work with, and equally not want to leave. Should you get in trouble for your coworker's opinions?
Yes
a private donation with our money.
Don’t tolerate the intolerant. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance
Berntsson hides his fascist tendencies behind a thin veneer of free speech.
Strömberg obviously knows his bedmate and tolerates his tendencies.
Fuck them both. Delete Mullvad (which I used until very recently)
Don't rely on a totschlagargument to to save yourself from thinking about the complex consequences of your choices.
Even if you think Popper was right that doesn't mean you can just draw a line down the middle of humanity dividing the intolerant-because-evil and intolerant-but-only-to-other-group.