@L0laL33tz wrote a response to Amboss's OFAC compliance tool Reflex (which was announced in January I think, but made waves when they presented it at a recent conference).
I've quoted it in full below. Jestopher from Amboss responded on Twitter, and I've quoted that response after Lola's. You can find some good discussion on the linked Twitter thread. What are your thoughts?
Let‘s talk about @ambosstech‘s new product „Reflex“ and why you should close all channels to Amboss immediately.Reflex is a product bringing OFAC compliance to LN Nodes, yet the product is advertised as increasing „Freedom“ for node runners - and freedom, according to Amboss, apparently means compliance with some of the most unjust, racist regulations existing in the world today.OFAC enforces trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security interests. These include financially interacting with any individuals from countries such as Russia, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, or Syria.OFAC discriminates, based on country of birth, residency, and citizenship, against some of the most vulnerable people around the world. For years, particularly people of middle eastern descent have been subject to no-notice account freezes and account closures, if they are even able to open a bank account at all - all thanks to OFAC.OFAC, first and foremost, targets the little people. Those in big business, from oil traders to weapons manufacturers to heads of state, have little issues transacting their money through the traditional financial system even with OFAC sanctions in place - while the big banks facilitating those transactions will get no more than a slap on the wrist.OFACs strategy is simple: cut off entire populations from the global financial system, and with this from accessing basic needs, and hope for a revolte within the country OFAC is targeting. The US has long been the world‘s biggest bully, and OFAC is its favorite enforcement arm. Now, amboss is attempting to turn you into accomplices for profit.From a human rights perspective, this should simply be unacceptable. Bitcoin has been a lifeline for many subject to OFACs racist, discriminatory policies. Especially for smaller payments, such as remittances, LN is vital, and often the only way for individuals to support their families in oppressive regimes; not to mention the use of btc for NGOs cut off from fundraising.Most importantly, even when running a routing node, you have no obligations to comply with OFAC at all, as your service to the network is non-custodial (although this changes when you begin charging routing fees).Amboss yet seems determined to unbank the Bitcoin banked for their own financial gain, and is selling it to you, LN users, as a convenience product to advert „the death of bitcoin through compliance“ - because if only you adhere to OFACs policies marginalizing the few will you decrease your own risk of getting debanked. Freedom for me, not freedom for thee.Amboss‘ OFAC moneygrab should be unacceptable for anyone that actually cares about freedom - freedom for those who think, speak, look, live differently; for those we may not agree with or understand; for those who may one day have to protect our freedoms, just as it is our responsibility to protect their freedoms today.But the Lightning Network is still young, and we should not let ourselves be bullied into racist and for most node runners quite frankly completely unnecessary policies by greedy assholes trying to make a big buck off of others misfortunes. Lets do what‘s always worked: boycott.If you believe for bitcoin to be freedom money, and want it to remain an important tool for human rights, close all channels to amboss nodes and stop using their services immediately. Speak out against their company and products. Tell your friends to close channels to amboss, tell your friends to tell their friends, you know how this works.Mentioning the need for more privacy and surveillance resistance in bitcoin, while simultaneously building the premier surveillance service for the Lightning Network in existence today, really is a mouthful.Freedom of transaction is a human right, not a marketing phrase to sell your shitty products on in a powerpoint. I have always boycotted Amboss, and I hope now that the company is showing its true colors more will do the same.
Jestopher's response:
Reflex is a product for regulated businesses that must comply with one regulation or another, not node runners in general. Our operations software at @ambosstech is not meant to endorse any regulation; we'd prefer that it didn't exist.