This conversation could quickly spiral out of control, but I just want to point out that a precompiled piece of software is called a 'binary' because it is an opaque blob. I'm pretty sure that's what 'The Dod' meant.
Isaac On 05/25/2012 11:37 AM, Sarah A. Downey wrote: > There's no binary in DNT+'s code, so you may want to check your facts. > > I'll respond to your "everything must be open source" statement, > although I'm fairly certain it won't have any effect on your opinion > that "closed" always equals "bad." And please keep in mind that we're > giving away a /free /add-on with /zero /tracking of or advertising to > its users. > > It's an unnecessarily restrictive and self-handicapping position that > software /must /be open source to be useful for privacy. Plenty of > open source privacy tools have come and gone in the past because they > aren't sustainable without funding. > > Our software does what it says, and it's designed to be simple enough > that the vast majority of Internet users--people who aren't coders or > particularly tech savvy--can use it. It also represents an inordinate > amount of time, effort, and intellectual endeavor; years of work that > simply wouldn't have been possible as a side project to supplement a > paying job. There's nothing wrong with getting paid. Financing > allowed us to create what we did. It's a double-edged sword: our VC > funding provided the resources to create what we did, which means that > our investors wouldn't be thrilled if we turned around and gave away > our IP. We're already giving the product away for free without any > monetary gain from it. > > You can categorically write off software because it's not open source, > but you'll miss a lot of legitimate opportunities for privacy protection. > > -Sarah > > On Fri, May 25, 2012 at 10:47 AM, The Dod <unclezz...@gmail.com > <mailto:unclezz...@gmail.com>> wrote: > > Unless I'm mistaken, your source code isn't publicly available. > I don't see how binary files could be part of any privacy solution. > > > On 05/25/2012 07:35 PM, Sarah A. Downey wrote: >> I'm writing to suggest a tech solution. I'm an attorney and >> privacy analyst at an online privacy startup in Boston called >> Abine <http://abine.com/>, and we developed a tracker-blocking >> browser add-on called DoNotTrackPlus >> <http://abine.com/dntdetail.php> (DNT+) with unique capabilities >> around social button tracker blocking. My response contains >> elements of shameless pluggery, but it's so relevant to the OP's >> call for a solution that I had to weigh in. > > > > > -- > *Sarah A. Downey* > Privacy Analyst | Attorney > Abine, The Online Privacy Company > t: @SarahADowney | p: 800.928.1987 > > > > _______________________________________________ > liberationtech mailing list > liberationtech@lists.stanford.edu > > Should you need to change your subscription options, please go to: > > https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech > > If you would like to receive a daily digest, click "yes" (once you click > above) next to "would you like to receive list mail batched in a daily > digest?" > > You will need the user name and password you receive from the list moderator > in monthly reminders. You may ask for a reminder here: > https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech > > Should you need immediate assistance, please contact the list moderator. > > Please don't forget to follow us on http://twitter.com/#!/Liberationtech
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