Signal, an encrypted messaging service app with over 100 million users, is touted as private and secure. However, new reports reveal that not only was the app launched with government funding, it is also allegedly led by National Public Radio (NPR) CEO Katherine Maher. Ta.
Christopher Rufo, conservative activist and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Studies, said: released On Monday, an article was published about the US government’s alleged ties to Maher and Signal. This platform focuses on user privacy. approved These include National Security Agency whistleblower Eric Snowden, Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, and former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. (Related: Biden agency resumes censorship cooperation with Big Tech, Democratic Senate Intel chairman says)
But Rufo argues that Signal’s technology infrastructure was originally funded “in part” by government funding. The technology, which is used by Facebook’s messaging app WhatsApp, is a platform that also operated as a nonprofit foundation and received $3 million from the government agency’s Open Technology Fund (OTF) between 2013 and 2016. It is reported that he received a grant. according to Send to Voice of America (VOA).
The OTF is reportedly independent of the government-funded private news service Radio Free Asia, but the Technology Fund says its goal is to “support the research, development, implementation and maintenance of technology. “Advancing Internet freedom in oppressive environments.” We stand against censorship and fight oppressive surveillance to ensure that all citizens can exercise their fundamental human rights online. ” according to Go to their site.
It’s not uncommon for OTF to award awards to technology platforms. In addition to OTF, the agency also awarded millions of dollars to others, according to a 2020 VOA report. However, the relationship between OTF and Signal is said to be deeper than just a grant. An anonymous source who “worked extensively with OTF” revealed that over time, “the project was actually a State Department-related effort, using open source Internet projects created by the hacker community to support American foreign policy goals.” It appeared to Rufo that he was planning to use it as a tool. ” The initiative is said to have empowered “activists.” [and] “It’s a political party that opposes the government that America doesn’t like,” Rufo reported.
This illustration, taken on January 13, 2021, shows a woman nearby holding a smartphone displaying the logo of the messaging app Signal.Reuters/Dado Ruvik
In addition to the influence of Signal’s background, Maher is the current chairman of the company’s board, Rufo and she said. NPR Bio. One of NPR CEO’s digital communications positions worked as an information and communication technology (ICT) program. board member For the National Democratic Institute.The institute claims that the work By partnering with America’s Foreign Policy Campaign, it aims to “strengthen and protect democratic institutions, processes, norms, and values around the world to ensure a better quality of life for all people.” I am.
Mr. Maher was allegedly scouted for the position at Signal by the foundation’s current president, Meredith Whitaker, because of his interaction with OTF, anonymous insiders told Mr. Rufo. In addition to OTF, Maher reportedly serves as an advisor to Access Now, another nonprofit focused on “digital rights for at-risk populations and communities.” according to Go to their site.
Maher became an online sensation in April 2024 after NPR whistleblower and senior editor Uli Berliner revealed details of the station’s apparent bias against former President Donald Trump during his term in office. received massive backlash. Maher defended NPR’s reporting at the time, but earlier comments about supporting the First Amendment and President Joe Biden resurfaced. In November 2020, Maher endorsed Biden online. In June 2021, the CEO was recorded arguing that the First Amendment creates obstacles to fighting “bad information.”
Maher’s comments from an August 2021 TED Talk video have also resurfaced, with the NPR CEO saying that “respect” for the truth can “get in the way” of finding “common ground” and getting things done. He claimed that there was.
“For perhaps our most vexing disagreements, seeking the truth and trying to convince others of the truth may not be a good place to start,” Maher said in his presentation. insisted. “In fact, our respect for truth may be a distraction that prevents us from finding common ground and getting things done.”
“Obviously, the search for truth has allowed us to accomplish great things and learn great things. But if you really want us to think about this, one thing we can all acknowledge is One is that part of the reason we have such a brilliant record of human experience and all forms of culture is because we recognize that there is so much. There are different truths.”
The Daily Caller has reached out to Signal for comment.
