Nicholas Merrill

Nicholas Merrill, founder of the Calyx Institute and privacy advocate, shares his journey from ISP operator to championing digital rights. He discusses challenging an FBI gag order, emphasizing the importance of privacy technologies. Merrill expresses skepticism about cryptocurrencies, likening them to the dot-com bubble, and underscores Calyx's focus on building privacy tools over legal battles. He also highlights the emotional toll of secrecy, drawing parallels with Edward Snowden, and addresses the digital divide through community hotspots.