Under Meredith Whittaker, Signal Is Out to Prove Surveillance Capitalism Wrong

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the evolution of the encrypted messaging app Signal over the past decade, from its origins as a "cypherpunk curiosity" to its current status as a mainstream, privacy-focused communications platform. It focuses on Signal's president, Meredith Whittaker, and her role in shaping the organization's mission and approach as an alternative to the surveillance-driven business models of major tech companies.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Whittaker's Background and Transition to Signal

1. What was Whittaker's background prior to joining Signal, and how did she end up at Google? Whittaker had a degree in rhetoric and English literature from Berkeley and was not initially looking for a job in tech. She ended up at Google in 2006 as a "consumer operations associate," which was essentially a customer support role, despite not having a technical background. She was able to navigate the company and eventually founded a research group at Google.

2. What were some of Whittaker's concerns about the direction of technology and Google's business model that led her to become a vocal critic? Whittaker became increasingly concerned about the data-driven and surveillance-based business model of major tech companies, particularly as machine learning and AI began to play a larger role. She was involved in projects like Measurement Lab that gave her insight into the capital-intensive nature of tech infrastructure and the potential for misuse of data and AI.

3. What was Whittaker's role in the Google employee walkouts over the company's military contracts? Whittaker was a key organizer of the Google employee walkouts in 2017 to protest the company's work on Project Maven, a Department of Defense contract to develop AI-based drone targeting and surveillance technology. This was a turning point for Whittaker in her criticism of the intersection of tech, surveillance, and military applications.

[02] Signal's Approach and Whittaker's Vision

1. How does Whittaker see Signal as being different from the dominant tech business model? Whittaker views Signal as the antithesis of the surveillance-driven, for-profit tech companies. As a nonprofit organization that does not collect user data or rely on advertising, Signal represents an alternative model that prioritizes privacy and security over monetization.

2. What are Whittaker's goals for expanding Signal's user base and influence? Whittaker aims to make Signal nearly ubiquitous, with the organization developing a "novel sustainability infrastructure" to ensure its long-term viability as a privacy-preserving communications platform. She sees Signal as a model for a more heterogeneous tech ecosystem with many privacy-focused options, in contrast to the current dominance of a few major tech companies.

3. How does Whittaker respond to criticisms from some in the hacker community that Signal may have vulnerabilities or backdoors? Whittaker is critical of the "callow security researchers" who make unsubstantiated claims about Signal's security, arguing that this undermines the platform's use by vulnerable groups and plays into the hands of state actors. She emphasizes Signal's commitment to transparency and working closely with the security research community.

[03] Whittaker's Perspective on the Relationship Between AI, Surveillance, and Regulation

1. How does Whittaker view the connection between AI and surveillance, and the implications for privacy and civil liberties? Whittaker sees AI as deeply intertwined with the data-driven, surveillance-based business model of major tech companies. She argues that the development of AI systems relies on the massive collection of user data, which then enables further surveillance and control through the application of these AI tools.

2. What role does Whittaker see for regulation in addressing the issues around AI and surveillance? Whittaker believes that regulation, such as measures to limit data collection and separate the ownership of infrastructure from applications, could help disrupt the current tech landscape and create space for alternative, privacy-preserving models like Signal to thrive. She sees this as part of a broader effort to build a more diverse and decentralized tech ecosystem.

3. How does Whittaker view the potential for Signal and similar organizations to serve as models for this alternative vision of technology? Whittaker acknowledges that Signal alone cannot solve the problems of surveillance capitalism, but sees it as proof that a different approach is possible. She is working to build coalitions and support the development of other independent, privacy-focused tech initiatives that can collectively challenge the dominance of the major tech platforms.