This case sets a dangerous precedent for developers working on privacy-preserving tools. The fact that Roman Storm was found guilty on just one charge after a jury deadlock highlights the complexity and uncertainty around the legal treatment of open-source software. While it's somewhat reassuring that the judge acknowledged the appealability of the conviction and allowed Storm to remain free until sentencing, relying on appeals is a fragile defense. The broader issue is the criminalization of code especially when it's used for both legitimate privacy and illicit activities. We should be extremely cautious about punishing creators for how their tools are used, especially in decentralized systems. This verdict could have chilling effects on innovation in the privacy and crypto space.
This case sets a dangerous precedent for developers working on privacy-preserving tools. The fact that Roman Storm was found guilty on just one charge after a jury deadlock highlights the complexity and uncertainty around the legal treatment of open-source software. While it's somewhat reassuring that the judge acknowledged the appealability of the conviction and allowed Storm to remain free until sentencing, relying on appeals is a fragile defense. The broader issue is the criminalization of code especially when it's used for both legitimate privacy and illicit activities. We should be extremely cautious about punishing creators for how their tools are used, especially in decentralized systems. This verdict could have chilling effects on innovation in the privacy and crypto space.