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US sentences crypto expert to 5 years after North Korea blockchain presentation

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Re: US sentences crypto expert to 5 years after North Korea blockchain presentation

#101

According to the original complaint, a few months after being interviewed by an FBI agent on returning from his trip to North Korea, Griffith had the following conversation over text messages: Griffith: I need to send 1 [REDACTED UNIT OF CRYPTOCURRENCY] between North and South Korea. Other Guy: "Isn't that in violations of sanctions?" Griffith: It is. A few day later, also in text messages to someone else: Someone: W…

So the title is incredibly misleading?

Re: US sentences crypto expert to 5 years after North Korea blockchain presentation

#102

What if he did the exact same presentation in youtube, and in NK they saw that presentation? What if someone in NK downloaded the open source implementation of that blockchain, participated on it, or even mined quite a few coins? Could be argued the same about any open source program (and their developers) dealing with encrypted information in any way? What was the problem? Going in person? Answering questions in the…

Read the article, he knowingly broke sanctions rules sending money across borders

Re: US sentences crypto expert to 5 years after North Korea blockchain presentation

#104
post #4

Could someone explain why this wouldn't fall under freedom of speech? Sounds like there were not government secrets nor did the expert have a security clearance that would have held him to a higher standard. If Tor researchers gave a presentation at a security conference on how to install Tor, knowing full well that some would use it to engage in the proliferation of CSAM, would that also not fall under free speech?

No post body was provided.

Re: US sentences crypto expert to 5 years after North Korea blockchain presentation

#105

I met Virgil at an academic workshop back in 2014. We went out in Amsterdam. He was a weird guy, to say the least (he’d probably be the first to agree). He was generally quite affable and obviously highly intelligent. He’s an idiot for this fiasco. But it’s also sad to see him in jail; I don’t see how this benefits society in any way. Five years in prison seems like a disproportionate punishment for an arguably victi…

Personally, I support imprisoning anyone who helps subvert sanctions against a despotic state pursuing nuclear weapons.

Re: US sentences crypto expert to 5 years after North Korea blockchain presentation

#106
post #91

The founders of this country are rolling in their graves. Every part of this story. All he did was go to another country and spread truthful information. > "The most important feature of blockchains is that they are open. And the DPRK can't be kept out no matter what the USA or the UN says," This is conspiracy ? Is telling someone that a gun can kill now considered conspiracy to murder, too? Is it really the stance o…

Some of the founders of this country were responsible for the Alien and Sedition Acts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_and_Sedition_Acts

Seriously, the weird veneration we have for the founders is very bizarre mainly because once they got in power, they largely acted like any other ruler.

Re: US sentences crypto expert to 5 years after North Korea blockchain presentation

#107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you think it is that the DPRK places such a priority on emphasizing its nuclear capabilities?

Because the civilized world would bring down the Kim regime, as we certainly should, if we could. Because they have nukes, we can't. This is getting to be a real problem as 21st-century history continues to unfold.

This sounds like a catch-22/ circular logic.

We would invade and topple the government if they didn't have those pesky nukes.

The government needs to be toppled because they are developing nukes and we don't want them to.

Re: US sentences crypto expert to 5 years after North Korea blockchain presentation

#108

I met Virgil at an academic workshop back in 2014. We went out in Amsterdam. He was a weird guy, to say the least (he’d probably be the first to agree). He was generally quite affable and obviously highly intelligent. He’s an idiot for this fiasco. But it’s also sad to see him in jail; I don’t see how this benefits society in any way. Five years in prison seems like a disproportionate punishment for an arguably victi…

To an extent, I wonder if this is the fear of the unknown. Here is a guy, who actually seems to understand the 'magic' of crypto. God only knows what he could do with dangerous knowledge like that. I am not foreign policy, NK, crypto, or national security expert, but it is not about safety. It is about sending a message at a time when US engages in very heavy sanctions effort ( currently against Russia ). From that p…

What 'magic' is there in crypto.

Besides, cryptography as a munition is a known meme in the right circles. This is textbook what not to do.

Re: US sentences crypto expert to 5 years after North Korea blockchain presentation

#109

The founders of this country are rolling in their graves. Every part of this story. All he did was go to another country and spread truthful information. > "The most important feature of blockchains is that they are open. And the DPRK can't be kept out no matter what the USA or the UN says," This is conspiracy ? Is telling someone that a gun can kill now considered conspiracy to murder, too? Is it really the stance o…

All he did was go to another country and spread truthful information.

So did the Rosenbergs. So did Ephialtes of Trachis. I know we've been enjoying a few decades of touchy-feely existence but collaborating with the murderous enemies of your nation traditionally gets you hanged for treason. Five years is a relative slap on the wrist.

Re: US sentences crypto expert to 5 years after North Korea blockchain presentation

#110

The founders of this country are rolling in their graves. Every part of this story. All he did was go to another country and spread truthful information. > "The most important feature of blockchains is that they are open. And the DPRK can't be kept out no matter what the USA or the UN says," This is conspiracy ? Is telling someone that a gun can kill now considered conspiracy to murder, too? Is it really the stance o…

> All he did was go to another country and spread truthful information.

Compare these two statements:

"Mr. Kim, you can transfer money between bank accounts using wire transfers!"

and

"Mr. Kim, if you wire money to this bank account and paper the transaction in this specific way, no one will know you are evading sanctions!"

Both are "spreading truthful information." One is illegal, and one isn't. I think most people can figure out which is which, and I don't think that just changing the underlying medium from "bank account" to "crypto wallet" muddies the issue at all.

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