Ah, Tornado Cash—the very scary enemy that made the US authorities throw all their forces into protecting humanity... from computer code. Not from scammers, not from hackers, but specifically from a soulless string of code that, unfortunately for bureaucrats, cannot be interrogated, arrested, or sentenced to life imprisonment.
So, what happened?
- The USA apparently decided that the threat to their nation is not data leaks or organized crime, but a protocol that simply helps people hide their transactions. It is obvious that instead of chasing real criminals, it is better to ban the very tool they can use. After all, an axe can also be blamed for being able to chop wood and heads, right?
- Sanctions against Tornado Cash are based on brilliant logic: if hackers used your tool, you are guilty. So, dear developers, think twice before inventing anything. Just in case, stop writing code and do something safe, like knitting.
What about the Constitution?
Ah, it's such a trifle. The First Amendment? Forget it. Freedom of speech is certainly wonderful, but if your "nonsense" code interferes with the authorities monitoring everyone, then sorry, your creativity is illegal. Apparently, in the USA, software development is now equated with crime if it is smart enough to protect users' anonymity.
Conclusions
- The US authorities, who are supposed to protect the Constitution, apparently decided that sometimes it can be a bit... ignored. After all, the right to freedom of speech and creativity only needs to be protected when it's convenient.
- The developers of Tornado Cash became scapegoats not for their actions, but for creating a tool that was used by *others*. The logic is amazing: it’s like blaming the pot manufacturer for someone cooking an illegal soup in one of their pots.
In the end, the USA demonstrated a stunning example of "protecting democracy," while managing to trample on its fundamental principles. If this is not a reason for pride, then what is?
Glory to common sense and a couple of reasonable people who still decided that the Constitution is not just a pretty piece of paper! The court lifted the sanctions against Tornado Cash, reminding the authorities that protecting freedom of speech is not a hobby, but a duty. Yes, apparently someone in the system still remembers that technology is not a criminal, but a tool.
But here's the problem: the developers of Tornado Cash, Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev, are still being persecuted. These unfortunate people, instead of celebrating their talent for creating something new, are forced to think about how to prove that writing code is not a crime.
And what are they supposed to do now?
- Maybe get into the habit of writing on paper, so as not to be accused of creating "dangerous" protocols?
- Or, even better, just start working in the arts: wire sculptures are unlikely to be sanctioned... for now.
Question to the floor:
What should developers do, who only invent tools that someone somewhere might abuse? Should they abandon their profession and wait for the day when authors of books are imprisoned for their characters committing crimes? Or should they hope that the number of reasonable people will increase, and they will finally understand: it is actions that should be punished, not technologies?
If this continues, the next step may be a ban on developing Swiss knives—too many functions, and thus too many ways to fall under prosecution. #TornadoCash #TORN $BTC