Insane probably being the most appropriate word used in connection with that IPO.
Going back to the legal aspects: i wouldn't worry about the NSA too much. If they want access, they'll get it. Probably already have, given the age of the project.
And providing that you aren't tagged as a "terrorist" by the US gov, it shouldn't be a problem for the average user or Maidsafe itself
I'd be more worried about Sony, tbh. Every dropbox system ever created has been used by the warez scene (remember the Yahoo Briefcase, godabuzz fans?) and an encrypted, decentralised, anonymous storage system certainly offers possiblities for the illegal sharing of copyright content.
If Sony (or any other big music/software/movie company) felt that MS was stepping on their toes in any way, the central core of the MS project will be an easy legal target, and Sony has resources that make the $12 million (?) from the IPO look like coffee money.
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The same problem also arises with law enforcement /police agencies: individual users may well be able to remain relatively anonymous, but the public head of the MS project is always going to be an easy target.
Any MS guys with ideas about this ?
I am currently seen as the public head (not for long if I succeed). We have just spread this across the planet. It is all open, all owned by everyone and will be very difficult to stop. So now there is no public head, no company at the centre, this is decentralisation of the whole system. In terms of being infiltrated etc. if you knew anything at all about me (I am not being cheeky here) then you would know this was impossible for me to allow. If I quit all of a sudden then worry, I never and the code is our there. Many eyes are being trained on this now, many devs are to receive training from us and others to develop the core.
I am not money driven, so a hard target, no amount of cash could buy me off when I can see the face of some child who would be disadvantaged by not doing this. We are single entities us humans and part of a species. It is our individual duty to protect and further the species. If you can remove greed from your person you are already protected beyond belief. If the target becomes more than money, then that's the risk we take. I choose to accept that risk gladly.
My well being is irrelevant to the world when all is taken into account. The opportunity for a free privacy enhancing and secure mechanism of information transfer and protection is way more important than any single person or team. Knowing this, absolutely and with 100% conviction makes you a very difficult adversary for those who would choose to stop freedom. I believe this stance is an easy one for people to follow and adopt, the greed stance is so last century, more of us can count now, more of us are educated and more of us are building project SAFE each day.
I doubt there will be any backdoors, there may be attacks, we seen all the mt gox lies and deceit already spewed about , that only works with weak minds, I do not believe society is made up of weak minds. We can see now our eyes are opening and the path ahead should be clear. Lets take our Internet back for a start, a very small start, but a start never the less. We are taking these steps now, everyone is welcome to join, we can be legions for change and we all know this is an inevitability, no need to wonder. We will take back our freedom and dignity.
Backdoor that :-)
