can publishing software be criminalized?

The DOJ charged two developers of sanctioned crypto mixer Tornado Cash, alleging they helped facilitate $1B in money laundering (benefiting North Korean hackers). TC is a privacy-focused smart contract, and developers can’t always control what people do with their code once it’s released. FYI: the gov’t said the two knew they were helping fraudsters. Now crypto’s on edge, as smart-contract makers consider legal risk.



Tornado Cash arrests spur privacy debate

can publishing software be criminalized?  The DOJ charged two developers of sanctioned crypto mixer Tornado Cash, alleging they helped facilitate $1B in money laundering (benefiting North Korean hackers). TC is a privacy-focused smart contract, and developers can’t always control what people do with their code once it’s released. FYI: the gov’t said the two knew they were helping fraudsters. Now crypto’s on edge, as smart-contract makers consider legal risk.   Tornado Cash arrests spur privacy debate Privacy is generally considered a fundamental right throughout much of the world, but when it comes to crypto mixing services like Tornado Cash, things get complicated really quickly.  The US Departme https://blockworks.co/news/tornado-cash-privacy-debate

Sam Mendoza

Today's announcement should remind criminal organizations everywhere in the world that they are neither untraceable nor anonymous.
You can't hide from us behind a keyboard- -whether you're a hacker
or facilitator. Those charged today engaged in a conspiracy to launder money for cybercriminals, including for a North Korean cybercrime organization seeking to evade sanctions. As we have with this
operation, the FBI is going to keep dismantling the infrastructure used by cyber criminals to commit and
profit from their crimes, and holding anyone who assists those criminals accountable.
- FBI Director Christopher Wray

Today's announcement should remind criminal organizations everywhere in the world that they are neither untraceable nor anonymous. You can't hide from us behind a keyboard- -whether you're a hacker or facilitator. Those charged today engaged in a conspiracy to launder money for cybercriminals, including for a North Korean cybercrime organization seeking to evade sanctions. As we have with this operation, the FBI is going to keep dismantling the infrastructure used by cyber criminals to commit and profit from their crimes, and holding anyone who assists those criminals accountable. - FBI Director Christopher Wray

Sam Mendoza

A group of likeminded people in Crypto are talking about this.