Live data from Hacker News

Donation Controversy

mullvad.net

1–10 of 63 posts

Re: Donation Controversy

#2
Related: I'm Done with Mullvad (65 points, 14 hours ago, 175 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48975428

The CEO of Mullvad is the main financer of the Swedish Örebro party (118+695 points, last month, 3+1588 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48687508 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48717469

Re: Donation Controversy

#3
> We have nurtured a culture of radical tolerance.

Play radical games, win radical prizes. The last place I want my money going is towards radical authoritarianism, a cause that I thought Mullvad would thoroughly oppose.

> Self-censorship out of fear is an even bigger dampener than direct censorship.

Bullshit. Self-censorship is a self-preservation mechanism, a VPN doesn't change the consequences of saying illegal or offensive things. Direct censorship is an abuse of the monopoly on power, and much more inhumane than just feeling insecure about your edgy ideas being attached to your identity.

Re: Donation Controversy

#5
For those unfamiliar:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96rebro_Party

The party has been variously characterised as left-wing and right-wing, as well as populist, nationalist and conservative.

  Some key issues for the Örebro Party locally include strong secularism, a 30-hour workweek with retained pay, lowered wages for politicians, expanded social housing, abolishing preschool-fees, making public transport free of charge,[3] ending taxpayer funding of what it sees as wasteful sculptures, monuments and art and introducing free dental care.[4][5] Nationally the party has set out large-scale remigration, closing the Swedish borders to immigration, a stricter assimilation policy and ending taxes on energy and fuel as some of its key issues.
The message from the CEO about the donation: https://dberntsson.info/

And for those who may not be old enough to remember the last time this happened in the techsphere: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_Eich#Appointment_to_CE...

Re: Donation Controversy

#6
Personally, I'd rather not have a company I work for police my social media and political activities just so that they fit with what the company desires. That would make me quit as I value a separation between my personal and work activities.

That said, the fact that the person involved is the founder of this company (not a regular employee) does change things though. I don't know anything about the politics involved, but (with the exception of recent American executives) I would imagine you would want the people who run your company to be more neutral as to prevent controversy (or at least do so quietly).

Re: Donation Controversy

#9
it was a mistake to respond, over 90% of the controversy is performative as it nearly always is. the ideologues will posture and claim that they are dropping mullvad while being unlikely to follow through.

most people wouldn't even know the controversy happened nor care. with the response, you now trigger various human instincts that draw attention, promote further gossiping and wondering where the fire is with all the smoke.

Re: Donation Controversy

#10
post #5

For those unfamiliar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96rebro_Party The party has been variously characterised as left-wing and right-wing, as well as populist, nationalist and conservative. Some key issues for the Örebro Party locally include strong secularism, a 30-hour workweek with retained pay, lowered wages for politicians, expanded social housing, abolishing preschool-fees, making public transport free of ch…

It sounds like the usual far right bottom line dressed up with a bunch of “Free Pizza” promises to cover it with a veneer.

Personally I wish people like his had the balls to stop hiding behind that kind of thing, we all know what someone is about when “immigration is the main problem” in their viewpoint.

Own it. Or if it’s something to be ashamed of… accept the shame.

Post reply on HN