Free Republic

The encrypted-messaging service Signal is the application of choice for dissenters around the world. The app has been downloaded by more than 100 million users and boasts high-profile endorsements from NSA leaker Edward Snowden and serial entrepreneur Elon Musk. Signal has created the perception that its users, including political dissidents, can communicate with one another without fear of government interception or persecution. But the insider history of Signal raises questions about the app’s origins and its relationship with government—in particular, with the American intelligence apparatus. Such a relationship would be troubling, given how much we have learned, in recent years,...

[How Wikipedia was transformed from an on line encyclopedia to a USAID influence op] In 2017, Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) launched its "Movement Strategy" to transform Wikipedia into a global movement focused on social justice. This shifted the mission from building a collaborative encyclopedia to becoming a "global influencer shaping world policy." Much of this was directly inspired by Soros' Open Society political philosophy. To underscore the point, Soros donated $2 million in a high profile donation to jumpstart the effort. The firm that WMF hired to shape and implement this transformation is called Williamsworks, which is founded and led by...

Billionaire Elon Musk offered Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, $1 billion under the condition that it changes its name to “Dickipedia.” The owner of X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, wrote his offer in a post on his site. He had previously posted a screenshot of a personal appeal from Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales stating that the website is “not for sale.” “I will give them a billion dollars if they change their name to Dickipedia,” Musk wrote. “Please add that to the [cow and poop emojis] on my wiki page,” he continued in another post. “In...