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I was just thinking about this - what kind of system could work in these circumstances? Say someone had to press a button every hour otherwise an automatic publ

I was just thinking about this - what kind of system could work in these circumstances? Say someone had to press a button every hour otherwise an automatic public release gets sent - the government could simply imprison the person for not pressing it. Say no-one knew who is supposed to press it because of some system of randomness and crypto, then you just threaten the CEO with imprisonment for not dismantling the whole thing. It seems only a fully decentralized organization could get away with it. Thoughts?

CaptSpify 10y ago
preface: I'm not the person you want for thoughts on this from, there are clearly smarter people to ask. I guess it would have to work like a dead-man switch, in that not taking action triggered it. The way I understand the law is that they can force you to omit details about it i.e. "I refuse to comment", but they can't make you lie about it. I wonder if, believing that "omitting details" to be morally/religiously wrong, could you argue that it is preventing your freedom of religion? Ultimately though, I agree that only a fully decentralized organization would work. I'd be open to other ideas, but I've never heard of one that avoids the issues that you mention above.
jdormit 10y ago
I think I missed the thread of this discussion. What would the press releases say? Under what circumstances would someone not be able to press the button?
corvus_sapiens 10y ago
Warrant canaries are a thing [1]. For example, see Reddit's one which disappeared last year [2]. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_canary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_canary 2. https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/4ct1kz/reddit_deletes_surveillance_warrant_canary_in/ https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/4ct1kz/reddit_de...
beezle 10y ago
Why not just tape it to the front door? Its directed at the company right? then anybody working there can read it. The secrecy fetish and end around court warrants is disgusting.

CaptSpify 10y ago

preface: I'm not the person you want for thoughts on this from, there are clearly smarter people to ask. I guess it would have to work like a dead-man switch, in that not taking action triggered it. The way I understand the law is that they can force you to omit details about it i.e. "I refuse to comment", but they can't make you lie about it. I wonder if, believing that "omitting details" to be morally/religiously wrong, could you argue that it is preventing your freedom of religion? Ultimately though, I agree that only a fully decentralized organization would work. I'd be open to other ideas, but I've never heard of one that avoids the issues that you mention above.

jdormit 10y ago

I think I missed the thread of this discussion. What would the press releases say? Under what circumstances would someone not be able to press the button?

corvus_sapiens 10y ago

Warrant canaries are a thing [1]. For example, see Reddit's one which disappeared last year [2]. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_canary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_canary 2. https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/4ct1kz/reddit_deletes_surveillance_warrant_canary_in/ https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/4ct1kz/reddit_de...

beezle 10y ago

Why not just tape it to the front door? Its directed at the company right? then anybody working there can read it. The secrecy fetish and end around court warrants is disgusting.