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It's nice seeing people like Fred stand up for privacy/human rights, but at the same time, it's little a bittersweet because speaking out directly against PRISM

by zmitri 13y ago

It's nice seeing people like Fred stand up for privacy/human rights, but at the same time, it's little a bittersweet because speaking out directly against PRISM companies could affect business -- as companies he invests in are sometimes purchased by PRISM companies. That might hamper abilities to speak out more directly if he really wanted to make a difference. For example, Fred mentions he is proud that Twitter wasn't in PRISM, http://fredwilson.vc/post/52346663032/the-list-of-technology-companies-allegedly http://fredwilson.vc/post/52346663032/the-list-of-technology... but at the same time uses the fuckyeah tumblr meme to end the post. Tumblr was recently sold to PRISM-involved Yahoo. I'm not saying it's wrong, or bad, but it is very bittersweet.

fredwilson 13y ago
i could care less about pissing off google, yahoo, etc but it is less clear what else i should be doing to try to change things i am all ears
- dllthomas 13y ago
  Sign the pardon petition: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/pardon-edward-snowden/Dp03vGYD https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/pardon-edward-snow... Not likely to make much difference, but it's something, and if Snowden is pardoned it will make a huge difference in terms of threat of transparency. Don't stop there, though.
- zmitri 13y ago
  You're right, it is very unclear. My concern (and what seems to be Snowden's concern as well) is that business is going to keep going on as usual and everyone will let this slide. I don't think its your duty to do something more unless you really want to change things. That being said, doing something to really stand out, like boycotting those PRISM companies until they change their policies, wouldn't be in the fiduciary interests of your investors. It's a tough position to be in I think, and that's why I think it's bitter sweet. Mo money, mo problems.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
- Jgrubb 13y ago
  Viva hyperbole!

by zmitri 13y ago

fredwilson 13y ago

i could care less about pissing off google, yahoo, etc but it is less clear what else i should be doing to try to change things i am all ears

dllthomas 13y ago
Sign the pardon petition: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/pardon-edward-snowden/Dp03vGYD https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/pardon-edward-snow... Not likely to make much difference, but it's something, and if Snowden is pardoned it will make a huge difference in terms of threat of transparency. Don't stop there, though.
zmitri 13y ago
You're right, it is very unclear. My concern (and what seems to be Snowden's concern as well) is that business is going to keep going on as usual and everyone will let this slide. I don't think its your duty to do something more unless you really want to change things. That being said, doing something to really stand out, like boycotting those PRISM companies until they change their policies, wouldn't be in the fiduciary interests of your investors. It's a tough position to be in I think, and that's why I think it's bitter sweet. Mo money, mo problems.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

Jgrubb 13y ago
Viva hyperbole!