I like your thinking. Very good question.
I read the just introduced Saving Privacy Act so you don't have to, and it's pretty fucking badass. If passed, it would completely reform financial privacy in the US.
The Bill removes SARs and CTRs filing requirements, makes financial information only accessible via a search warrant, specifically introduces fourth amendment protections, bans the creation of central databases holding personally identifiable information without the establishment of a dedicated law granting a US agency such right, bans the US Government from creating CBDCs, and introduces criminal penalties for any US official violating your financial privacy rights.
Yes, please.
The World Bank and the IMF have created a system
Of modern-day colonialism that make the people
Of the developing world poorer
And the multinational corporations richer
And take the power away from all of us
It's time to take back control of our lives
And tear apart these monuments to greed
And build our new world from the broken pieces
Leftöver Crack, Super Tuesday, 2004
I'm happy to see Columbia leaked confidential information from this illegal (and human rights violating, mass surveillance) FIU cabal. The fact that it got them de-platformed confirms that it was a just* move.
However I'm thoroughly confused what Switzerland has to do with any of this. IIUC the cash went from Columbia to Israel, and Pegasus is an Israeli company.
* = although the cynic in me suspects their motive was geopolitical, in line with them joining South Africa in the proceedings against Israel and warm relationship with Iran, rather than a sudden deep commitment to privacy.
https://iranpress.com/raisi-iran-ready-to-share-its-technology-with-colombia
They may have sent requests to several FIUs, maybe Switzerland was the first (or only one) to respond. Whatever the connection is, hopefully more of Egmont's dirty laundry will get aired in the course of the investigation
I think my favorite part of this story is
When $5.5 Million in cash are flown into Israel on a private jet, declared at customs, and shortly after placed in an NSO Group bank account, Financial Intelligence Units may just forget to launch an investigation, or so the story goes.
Colombia has publicized a suspicious activity report obtained via the Financial Intelligence Unit of Switzerland, and is now investigating how much FIUs knew about the alleged sale of Pegasus Spyware to the Colombian Police under its former government.
Don't you try to go and spend your cash though. There's rules for us, and rules for them.
Full story:
https://www.therage.co/colombia-investigates-financial-intelligence-unit-in-pegasus-scandal/
Julian Assange addresses the Council of Europe
Last year, 58 Congressmen sent a letter to Secretary Yellen asking for clarity on the scope of Hamas' cryptocurrency financing. But Secretary Yellen's response was never published.
Today, I filed a FOIA Request with the Department of Treasury for Yellen's response.
We already know that the dollar amounts published in the media were inaccurate and that cryptocurrencies are not a popular tool used by Hamas and the PIJ in their terror financing efforts.
Yellen's official response could still be instrumental in combating the current alarmist narrative that cryptocurrencies pose a threat to US national security to demand tighter regulation and increasingly unproportionate AML/CFT measures for the entire industry.
Questions asked and link to the full letter:
How ironic that the entirety of privacy tech is on the line and all you can think about is complaining that no one uses your dumb fucking shitcoin
You can donate #bitcoin to Roman Storm's defense.
The Tornado Cash trial will set dangerous precedents for the entire industry and greatly affect arguments made in the Samourai Wallet trial. Defending Roman means defending us all.
Yesterday, Tornado Cash judge stated code is not speech, non-custodial software providers can be money transmitters, and specific knowledge of criminal activity is not required to be charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
A breakdown of all the arguments:
https://www.therage.co/tornado-cash-code-not-speech-non-custodial-msbs-knowledge-not-required/
Tornado Cash judge says code isn't speech and control isn't needed to qualify as MSB. Article coming tomorrow. GN 🫂
Im pretty sure the SEC could call your mom a security if it wanted to, though there may be precedent with dropping the ETH investigation
https://consensys.io/blog/sec-closes-ethereum-2-0-investigation-will-not-pursue-ethereum-enforcement
Swan employees allegedly coordinating an epic takedown of Swan's mining operations coordinated via *checks notes* their Swan email accounts somehow has me skeptical of the criminal mastermind allegations
Why do I get the feeling that you wont be telling the DOJ „nostr dgaf“ when they knock on your door
Gensler says he does not classify Bitcoin as a security (he apparently reiterated this today), but that doesn't mean that the next administration won't. It also doesn't keep devs working on comms protocols safe that people may use to negotiate trades. You know, like the one we're chatting on now.
I'll look forward to you telling that to the guys with guns coming to your house to pick you up, lmk how it goes
Tornado Cash? Needed a banking license. Samourai Wallet? Needed a banking license. WhatsApp, Apple, X, probably all need licenses too.
Sounds retarded? Correct. That's why the SEC has proposed a rule to formalize licensing requirements for communication protocols.
In a speech at the annual U.S. Treasury Market Conference, Gensler announced to rule on proposed amendments to the Exchange Act by November, which expand the definition of the term "exchange" to mean "systems that bring together buyers and sellers of securities [...] (i.e. "communication protocols")."
Critics argue the rule may be weaponized to criminally indict software developers given the already hostile environment for crypto- and privacy devs.
If this rule passes, we are fucked beyond comprehension.
Full story:
https://www.therage.co/gensler-to-rule-on-licensing-requirements-for-communication-protocols-2/
Good morning, Keir Starmer wants to spy on your bank accounts
A bill proposed yesterday would enable the mass surveillance of financial transactions beyond AML/CTF regulations to "stop benefit fraud"
Full story:
https://www.therage.co/keir-starmer-wants-to-spy-on-your-bank-account/