Signal Foundation

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This article is about charitable foundation governing development of secure messenger. For software, see Signal (software). For protocol used by Signal, see Signal Protocol.
Signal Foundation
Signal Technology Foundation
Signal-logo.png
PredecessorOpen Whisper Systems
FoundedJanuary 10, 2018; 4 years ago (2018-01-10)[1]
Founders
Type501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
82-4506840 [2]
FocusOpen-source privacy technology
Headquarters650 Castro Street, Suite 120-223 [3]
Location
  • Mountain View, CA
Area served
Global
Key people
SubsidiariesSignal Messenger LLC.
Revenue (2019)
$19,408,880 [5]
Staff (2020)
36 [6]
Websitesignalfoundation.org

The Signal Foundation, officially the Signal Technology Foundation,[2][3] is an American 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 loan 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] 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.[9]

People[]

As of October 2020, the Signal Foundation board of directors has three members:[7]

Signal Messenger LLC[]

Signal Messenger
Formation10 January 2018; 4 years ago (2018-01-10)[10]
Founders
TypeLimited liability company[11]
ProductsSignal, Signal Protocol
Key people
Parent organization
Signal Technology Foundation
AffiliationsFreedom of the Press Foundation[4][13]
Websitesignal.org

Signal Messenger LLC was founded simultaneously with the Signal Technology Foundation and operates as its subsidiary. It is responsible for the development of the Signal messaging app[14] and the Signal Protocol. Moxie Marlinspike served as Signal Messenger's first CEO[11] until stepping down on January 10, 2022.[12] Brian Acton has volunteered to serve as interim CEO while the organization searches for a new CEO.[12]

Senior leadership[]

List of CEOs[]

  1. Moxie Marlinspike (2018–2022)
  2. Brian Acton; interim CEO (2022– )

References[]

  1. ^ "Signal Technology Foundation". OpenCorporates. Delaware Department of State: Division of Corporations. 15 July 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Signal Technology Foundation". Nonprofit Explorer. Pro Publica Inc. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Statement of Information" (PDF). businesssearch.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e Marlinspike, Moxie; Acton, Brian (21 February 2018). "Signal Foundation". Signal.org. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Signal Technology Foundation - Form 990 for period ending December 2019". Nonprofit Explorer. ProPublica. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  6. ^ Wiener, Anna (19 October 2020). "Taking Back Our Privacy". The New Yorker. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Signal Foundation". signalfoundation.org. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ a b "Signal Technology Foundation - Form 990 for period ending December 2018". Nonprofit Explorer. ProPublica. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Signal Messenger, LLC". OpenCorporates. Delaware Department of State: Division of Corporations. 15 July 2018. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  11. ^ a b c "Statement of Information" (PDF). businesssearch.sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. 3 October 2018. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  12. ^ a b c Marlinspike, Moxie (10 January 2022). "New year, new CEO". signal.org. Signal Messenger. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  13. ^ Timm, Trevor (8 December 2016). "Freedom of the Press Foundation's new look, and our plans to protect press freedom for 2017". Freedom of the Press Foundation. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Signal Terms & Privacy Policy". signal.org. Signal Messenger LLC. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2021.

Further reading[]

External links[]

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