Cypherpunks (Don't Just) Write Code

""Privacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age. Privacy is not secrecy.A private matter is something one doesn't want the whole world to know, but a secret matter is something one doesn't want anybody to know.Privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world."- Eric Hughes, "A Cypherpunk's Manifesto" (1993)"

"It's All About Privacy In The Cypherpunk Manifesto, privacy is mentioned twenty-four times.It is the central theme, the foundation, and the driving purpose of the entire call to action. Yet, in popular discussions, people often focus on a single line: "Cypherpunks write code."- Hughes, 1993 That focus usually comes from those of us who do write code - and we understand that the line means Cypherpunks write code to protect privacy.But this narrow focus leaves out the rest of the Cypherpunk community - the broad majority who also play essential roles in achieving that goal."

""For privacy to be widespread it must be part of a social contract...Privacy only extends so far as the cooperation of one's fellows in society."- Hughes, 1993 Cypherpunks don't just write code. Code is meaningless without users, advocates, and educators - and, at times, privacy-focused lawyers to defend those who write it.If only coders are considered Cypherpunks, we create a smaller, more vulnerable anonymity set - easier to target, easier to silence. We should want some Cypherpunks to write code.But we should also want Cypherpunks who: Lobby against anti-privacy legislation Defend digital rights in court Lead organizations that uphold privacy principles"

Privacy is central to an open electronic society and is distinct from secrecy; it is the power to selectively reveal oneself. Widespread privacy depends on a social contract and the cooperation of others in society. Code and encryption are necessary tools but are ineffective without users, educators, advocates, and privacy-focused lawyers. Narrowly defining the movement as only coders makes the anonymity set smaller and more vulnerable. Sustaining privacy requires diverse roles: people who write code, people who use and teach privacy tools, legal defenders, lobbyists opposing anti-privacy laws, and organizational leaders who protect digital rights.

Read at Bitcoin Magazine