This article appears to be a transcription of an interview with Moxie Marlinspike, the co-founder and CEO of Signal Messenger. Here are some key points from the interview:
Focus on Europe
Marlinspike mentions that he will be spending a lot of time in Europe over the next six months, specifically in Paris, where he will focus on expanding Signal’s European market and connections.
Book project
He also mentions that he is writing a book about his 20-year journey working on privacy-preserving technology.
Comparison with Telegram
Marlinspike compares Signal to Telegram, saying that while both platforms are used for messaging, Signal is designed for private communication at the highest level of security. In contrast, Telegram is a social media platform with DMs and is not encrypted.
Ukraine conflict
He notes that during the Ukraine conflict, Ukrainians were using Telegram for social media broadcasts and groups, but also using Signal for serious communications due to its high level of encryption.
EU focus
Marlinspike states that he wants to be flexible in the current US political climate and understand his options by expanding into the EU market. He believes it’s a good time for a privacy-preserving app like Signal to grow and adapt to changing circumstances.
Disinformation campaigns
He expresses concern about disinformation campaigns targeting vulnerable communities, particularly in the context of war zones or areas with low digital literacy. He notes that these campaigns can force people onto less secure options, leading to surveillance and social control.
Interview style
The interview style is conversational, with Mike Butcher asking follow-up questions to clarify Marlinspike’s points and providing some context about the tech industry.
TechCrunch relevance
This article would be relevant to TechCrunch readers interested in:
- Privacy-preserving technology
- Messaging apps
- EU regulations on data protection
- Disinformation campaigns
- Ukraine conflict
- Tech industry leaders’ perspectives
