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1. travis+(OP)[view] [source] 2020-06-05 13:16:10
I use signal, but am a little bit at unease because it's free. What's in it for the developers? Whatsapp is e2e and all that but the reason it got bought by facebook for an obscene amount of money is what gave me pause
replies(3): >>Vinnl+f1 >>vesche+u2 >>gravit+Oc
2. Vinnl+f1[view] [source] 2020-06-05 13:23:59
>>travis+(OP)
They're currently funded by donations [1] by individuals and organisations - among whom one of the WhatsApp cofounders, who made a significant investment using his WhatsApp money.

[1] https://signal.org/donate/

3. vesche+u2[view] [source] 2020-06-05 13:31:25
>>travis+(OP)
The Signal Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. They're funded by Brian Acton (former co-founder of WhatsApp, net worth ~3 billion), donations, and the Freedom of the Press Foundation. They are not owned by Facebook not sure why you said that.
replies(1): >>travis+bz
4. gravit+Oc[view] [source] 2020-06-05 14:25:28
>>travis+(OP)
> I use signal, but am a little bit at unease because it's free. What's in it for the developers?

I feel your question subtly touches on one of the reasons people like open source and develop for it - there are many people who just enjoying doing their tech-nerdy things and giving it away for free. Before it was called Open Source it was Freeware, Public Domain and other words - the inherent desire to just do something and give it away for free is inherent in the nature of some folks, with no expectations on return (money, fame, etc.). Postcardware and Beerware were even a thing - "like my thing? send me a postcard from where you live" and I sent a bunch of postcards. :)

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5. travis+bz[view] [source] [discussion] 2020-06-05 16:24:48
>>vesche+u2
Was referring to WhatsApp owned by FB not Signal.
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