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Gnu Privacy Guard relies on one underfunded person (2015)

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Re: Gnu Privacy Guard relies on one underfunded person (2015)

#21

Post by Digit-Al »

It seems like so much of the internet is reliant upon technology created by, and supported by, people who get little to no reward or recognition for their important contributions.

An idea (not a serious one, but a point for discussion): in civil society we have a government that collects taxes that are used to fund the vital infrastructure that allows the society to function. How about if all ISPs were to charge a very small levy to customers? This levy would go to an independent and neutral body to be used to pay for the salaries of those who are creating the internet infrastructure we all rely upon.

Obviously there would be many problems with trying to implement such a system across the entire world. Worth discussion though?

P.S. I have no doubt that this idea has probably already been thought of and discussed before. There is nothing new under the sun :-)

[edit: fixed fat finger typo.]

Re: Gnu Privacy Guard relies on one underfunded person (2015)

#22

Post by bahjoite »

huntie wrote: post #6

It's worth noting that while GPG's financial situation is better now, GPG is still looking for funds. Here[1] is a post from June about their current donation campaign. [1] https://gnupg.org/blog/20170606-campaign-launch.html

It would be super if they were helped to achieve their EUR15K/month target, but after nearly three months, they're only a third of the way there (a situation that is made a little better by having a couple months worth of one-time donations).

https://gnupg.org/donate/

Re: Gnu Privacy Guard relies on one underfunded person (2015)

#24

Post by thanksgiving »

Digit-Al wrote: post #21

It seems like so much of the internet is reliant upon technology created by, and supported by, people who get little to no reward or recognition for their important contributions. An idea (not a serious one, but a point for discussion): in civil society we have a government that collects taxes that are used to fund the vital infrastructure that allows the society to function. How about if all ISPs were to charge a ve…

> How about if all ISPs were to charge a very small levy to customers?

At least in the US, we know we can't trust the ISPs to "do the right thing". Maybe things are different elsewhere but I cannot support this idea in the US. Sorry.

Re: Gnu Privacy Guard relies on one underfunded person (2015)

#25

Post by ianai »

thanksgiving wrote: post #24
Digit-Al wrote: post #21

It seems like so much of the internet is reliant upon technology created by, and supported by, people who get little to no reward or recognition for their important contributions. An idea (not a serious one, but a point for discussion): in civil society we have a government that collects taxes that are used to fund the vital infrastructure that allows the society to function. How about if all ISPs were to charge a ve…

> How about if all ISPs were to charge a very small levy to customers? At least in the US, we know we can't trust the ISPs to "do the right thing". Maybe things are different elsewhere but I cannot support this idea in the US. Sorry.

it seems too much to both not support a thing directly and also decry potential support as unfit.

Re: Gnu Privacy Guard relies on one underfunded person (2015)

#26

Post by kwhitefoot »

Digit-Al wrote: post #21

It seems like so much of the internet is reliant upon technology created by, and supported by, people who get little to no reward or recognition for their important contributions. An idea (not a serious one, but a point for discussion): in civil society we have a government that collects taxes that are used to fund the vital infrastructure that allows the society to function. How about if all ISPs were to charge a ve…

Sounds like the cassette and compact disk taxes that were implemented in some countries. Did they ever support the performers who really needed the money?

Re: Gnu Privacy Guard relies on one underfunded person (2015)

#28

Post by firebird84 »

stephenr wrote: post #18
zanchey wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there much deployment of S/MIME in the corporate world? Identity generation is much easier in GPG in my experience. We have a national PKI for doctors that could have been, but isn't, used for S/MIME. Missed opportunity.

In some ways it's easier for corporate, as the ca's have more incentive to make it useable. I asked a ca about s/mime pricing - on its own they have a 50x3yr minimum purchase. They offered to waive the minimums if I combined with a regular server cert purchase.

A while back you could get a globally trusted free cert from Comodo. I'm not certain they're still doing it but you could see if the free route will work. (The keying material is generated inside the browser and never leaves your machine)

Re: Gnu Privacy Guard relies on one underfunded person (2015)

#29

Post by gilrain »

another-dave wrote: post #14

The fact that someone of his ability can take an intern's wages to do this, and for that long, shows the incredible altruism in tech.

The broad altruism in tech that has allowed this situation, and which still underfunds the projects' modest needs? Yes, astonishing generosity.

Re: Gnu Privacy Guard relies on one underfunded person (2015)

#30

Post by amelius »

Digit-Al wrote: post #21

It seems like so much of the internet is reliant upon technology created by, and supported by, people who get little to no reward or recognition for their important contributions. An idea (not a serious one, but a point for discussion): in civil society we have a government that collects taxes that are used to fund the vital infrastructure that allows the society to function. How about if all ISPs were to charge a ve…

Why not let projects ask for government funding? Perhaps a specialized agency could help with this.
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