the only thing i can think that you're referring to is https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6199050 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6199050 if that's what

the only thing i can think that you're referring to is https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6199050 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6199050 if that's what you remember then i think you misunderstood that thread. what i took from there was: - there is no good, clean, technical solution for encrypted webmail (and people have been saying this for ages) - the final security guarantees for encrypted webmail depend on the operator - lavabit's operator held up their side of the bargain and refused to cooperate when they felt it was wrong to do so. so lavabit's operator's conscience was all that stood between the users and the nsa. that's how it has to be from a technical viewpoint. and people with technical smarts understood that (unfortunately, not everyone did). so it's to the credit of this guy that he took the stand he did. when he was the last line of defense, he held his ground. respect. much respect. (and i upvoted you just because i find it frustrating that downvoted comments get greyed out so no-one can see what is being discussed)