Okay, so the CEO of Proton didn’t pass your purity test, I get it. But you know which CEOs also suck? The CEO of Google and the CEO of Microsoft. How can we expect secure and private alternatives to these ecosystems to flourish if we are constantly engaged in infighting? We will get nowhere if we reject every service that is short of perfect. Let’s keep our eyes on the bigger picture here.

Another hot take: I suspect that at least some of the hate directed at Proton is a smear campaign by some state actor who wants to see private online platforms fail.

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[–] 54 points 10 hours ago (21 children)

the CEO of Proton didn’t pass your purity test, I get it. But you know which CEOs also suck? The CEO of Google and the CEO of Microsoft

The CEO of Proton gave money to a dictator. And I have the same contempt and disgust towards Microsoft and Google, that's why I haven't used their products for years.

There are already private alternatives to Proton. It was one of the first to sell some privacy, but not anymore. It's also not a smear campaign IMHO, we know the facts, we can judge for ourselves. Proton is targeted towards privacy-conscious nerds who can and will check the alternatives. It's easy to see that Proton is not the best choice anymore.

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  • [+] [S] -17 points 10 hours ago (19 children)

    By dictator do you mean Trump? I absolutely do not like Trump (I’m in Canada and he started a trade war with our country and wants to annex us. We all hate him!). That said he is not a dictator. He was democratically elected. Calling him a dictator takes the agency away from the American people. It makes it seem like they are all passive victims rather than the ones that caused this shit show, but they did cause it, so I won’t like them off that easy.

    And bribery seems to be part of the game in the US unfortunately. Do you think he gave Trump money because he likes the guy? In all likelihood he was just playing the game that every tech CEO is playing and looking out for his own best interests. Especially when the US gov is already so hostile to private online platforms already as is, can you really blame him?

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  • [–] 33 points 10 hours ago* (8 children)

    can you really blame him?

    Yes I can. "I'm only doing my job" without using your brain is not an excuse anymore. And yes Trump is a dictator who invaded countries and even kidnapped a foreign president. He's also got his own gestapo and boot lickers.

    It's not a game, it's a bribe given by a foreign company which makes it worse. You cannot really say "I will participate in this corruption game because Americans are stupid," it's immoral.

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  • [+] [S] -20 points 9 hours ago* (7 children)

    And yes Trump is a dictator

    You are not a serious person. Dictator != bad leader. So long as Trump was democratically elected he is not a dictator. I’m not sure if you’re American but if you are, please take more responsibility for your countries electoral choices.

    It's not a game

    You’re right it’s not a game, it’s a fight for survival. Encrypted services are being attacked in the EU, Australia, Canada, India, China, and the US. The CEO is trying to do what he can to keep his company afloat before some stupid anti-encryption prevents him from accessing his biggest consumer base. Is a bribe playing dirty? Sure. But the other team is also playing dirty

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  • [–] 12 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

    So long as Trump was democratically elected he is not a dictator.

    Lmfao. Hitler, Stalin, and Mao, the three most (in)famous dictators in history, were all "democratically" elected. So was Putin, Ghadaffi, Orban, and Hussein, and those are just off the top of my head.

    Read a fucking book dude.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-coup

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  • [–] 17 points 10 hours ago (7 children)

    you know what other dictators were democratically elected? basically all of them.

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  • [+] [S] -14 points 9 hours ago* (6 children)

    I know Hitler (for example) was elected but he suspended elections in Germany. Literally name one dictator that hasn’t suspended democratic processes.

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  • [–] 13 points 9 hours ago (5 children)

    orban, kim, putin, lukashenko, ceaușesku...

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  • [+] [S] -15 points 9 hours ago (4 children)

    Are you suggesting that none of these people have interfered with the democratic processes in their respective countries? Because that is false. Log out and read a book buddy

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  • [–] 13 points 9 hours ago* (3 children)

    are you suggesting trump hasn't? i'm just using your criteria to answer your questions, my guy. calm down.

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  • [+] [S] -6 points 9 hours ago* (2 children)

    ’m just using your criteria to answer your questions

    No, you aren't.

    are you suggesting trump hasn’t?

    Yeah, I am. The Dems just crushed hm last night. Do you think he rigged that election? Get serious.

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  • [–] 4 points 6 hours ago*

    He really, really tried. He threatened legal action, sent intimidation to the counties he thinks will "vote wrong," he tried to force mass disenfranchisement of political opponents, he pulled multiple "heads I win, tails you lose" legal arrangements for contested races, he has sown doubt about non-existent widespread election fraud, he tried to overturn an election, he pressures Georgia to "find him more votes," he constantly prosecutes his political opponents on bogus charges that never stick...

    I could go on. Do you live under a rock? He's only not controlling this election because he failed. They badly wanted to rig things in their favor, forever. Project 2025.

    Edit: oh, right, I left out offering bribes to vote in his favor and instructing state GOPs to gerrymander as hard as possible, while contesting blue states doing the same. Trump is a dictator, he's just bad at it.

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  • [–] 7 points 9 hours ago

    Literally name one dictator that hasn’t suspended democratic processes.

    first, the question was "Literally name one dictator that hasn’t suspended democratic processes.". so i named five. then you changed it to "interfered with democratic processes". vote buying, intimidation, and smear campaigns are all election interference.

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  • [–] 7 points 9 hours ago (1 child)

    Calling him a dictator takes the agency away from the American people. It makes it seem like they are all passive victims.

    Does the half century of billionaire capture of regulatory institutions, politicians, courts, and media outlets mean nothing to you?

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  • [–] [S] -3 points 8 hours ago

    Yeah, because the Americans allowed it to happen. Spare me the pity party. The French are rioting on the streets over an increase in the price of stinky cheese while the Americans will just roll over when ICE kidnaps their neighbours and act like they are helpless victims. Give me a fucking break

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