Signal Foundation
Signal Technology Foundation | |
| Founded | January 10, 2018[1] |
|---|---|
| Founders | |
| Type | 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization |
| 82-4506840 [2] | |
| Focus | Open-source privacy technology |
| Headquarters | 650 Castro Street, Suite 120-223 [3] |
| Location | |
Area served | Global |
Key people | |
| Subsidiaries | Signal Messenger |
| Revenue | $609,365 [5] (2018) |
| Staff | 36 [6] (2020) |
| Website | signalfoundation.org |
Formerly called | Open Whisper Systems |
The Signal Foundation, officially the Signal Technology Foundation,[2][3] is a non-profit organization founded in 2018 by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton.[4] Its mission is "to develop open-source privacy technology that protects free expression and enables secure global communication."[7]
The foundation shares its name with the Signal messaging app.
History
On February 21, 2018, Moxie Marlinspike and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton announced the formation of the Signal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.[4][8] The foundation was started with an initial $50 million in funding from Acton, who had left WhatsApp's parent company Facebook in September 2017.[8] The Freedom of the Press Foundation had previously served as the Signal project's fiscal sponsor and continued to accept donations on behalf of the project while the foundation's non-profit status was pending.[4]
The initial $50M in funding was a loan, not a donation, from Brian Acton to the new nonprofit Signal Technology Foundation. By the end of 2018, the loan had increased to $105,000,400, which is due to be repaid on February 28, 2068. The loan is unsecured and at 0% interest.[5]
People
As of October 2020, the Signal Foundation board of directors has three members:[7]
Acton is also the president.[5]
See also
References
- ^ "Signal Technology Foundation". OpenCorporates. Delaware Department of State: Division of Corporations. 15 July 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Signal Technology Foundation". Nonprofit Explorer. Pro Publica Inc. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ a b c "Statement of Information" (PDF). businesssearch.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ a b c d Marlinspike, Moxie; Acton, Brian (21 February 2018). "Signal Foundation". Signal.org. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ a b c "Signal Technology Foundation - Form 990 for period ending December 2018". Nonprofit Explorer. ProPublica. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^ Wiener, Anna (19 October 2020). "Taking Back Our Privacy". The New Yorker. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Signal Foundation". signalfoundation.org. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ a b Greenberg, Andy (21 February 2018). "WhatsApp Co-Founder Puts $50M Into Signal To Supercharge Encrypted Messaging". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
Further reading
- Greenberg, Andy (14 February 2020). "Signal Is Finally Bringing Its Secure Messaging to the Masses". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
External links
- Official website
- "Signal Foundation", announcement by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton, 21 February 2018