Combating Financial Repression With Bitcoin: Human Rights Activists to Gather at The 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum

the Oslo Freedom Forum (defunct) It is scheduled to return to the Norwegian capital from June 3 to 5 for its 16th session since 2009. The conference series, hosted by the New York-based nonprofit Human Rights Foundation (HRF), will bring together humanitarians, artists, tech entrepreneurs, and world leaders to highlight the state of global human rights and spark conversations about how to expand freedom amidst technological and political oppression. Featured speakers include an exiled Nicaraguan journalist Carlos Chamorrofounder of the Trauma Research Foundation doctor. Bessel van der KolkAnd Jack DorseyCEO and co-founder of Block.

The conference will provide high-level discussions from those on the front lines defending human freedom as well as working sessions to equip activists with tools in the pursuit of social liberation. Authoritarianism in the Global South will be a particularly troubling topic, whether in the context of illiberal governmental regimes or the complicity of globalized markets and supply chains, which, According to the Human Rights Organization websiteThis often leads to exploitative forced labor and resource extraction.

In a statement to Bitcoin Magazine, Christian KerolisHRF's Director of Financial Freedom stressed the importance of censorship-resistant money in supporting freedom. “The Oslo Freedom Forum is an important gathering of freedom fighters from around the world to come together and plan how to expand freedom to more people. The Human Rights Foundation is committed to sharing how Bitcoin and freedom technology can empower these courageous activists in their resistance to tyranny.”

Bitcoin is a bulwark against digital tyranny

off The “Financial Freedom” path.scheduled for June 5, will explore the imperative of open source software, specifically Bitcoin, for dissidents to resist authoritarian regimes that aim to financially withhold and censor dissent.

In partnership with HRF Bitcoin Magazine The exclusive live broadcast of the OFF Financial Freedom Track will be broadcast on… x (Twitter), Youtube, LinkedIn And Facebook.

“The price of Bitcoin, although an indication of adoption, is not what matters. Ultimately, Bitcoin Magazine “He holds freedom like our north star,” he said. Bitcoin Magazine President Mike Germano. “We believe in a world, enabled by Bitcoin, where individuals are empowered to express themselves financially or otherwise. We are proud to partner with HRF, a leader in this dialogue, and to bring these conversations to our global audience of over 12 million Bitcoin users.” “

Today, financial repression is on the rise. The introduction of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), increased financial surveillance, and the expropriation of wealth through overt (and more subtle) means. Economic inflation) has made protecting financial freedom more important than ever.

The Financial Freedom Track will feature leaders in the Bitcoin ecosystem including:

• Jack DorseyCEO of Block
• Abubakar Nur KhalilNigerian programmer, CEO of Recursive Capital
• Fred Naboorumco-founder of the African Bitcoin Conference
• Mogashne Naiduco-founder of the Bitcoin Design Foundation
• Craig Rowefounder of Sparrow Wallet
• Lynn AldenMacroeconomist and author of Broken Money
• Odell diedManaging Partner of Ten31, Co-Founder of OpenSats
• Kaliopen source software creator, creator of Cashu
• Jack Mallersfounder and CEO of Strike

The full list of speakers and the Financial Freedom Track agenda can be found on the website Oslo Freedom Forum website.

Financial privacy – the final frontier

As an open ledger visible to all participants, Bitcoin broadcasts all transactions globally. Given this inherent insight, maintaining the privacy of senders and recipients is crucial for those who challenge oppressive regimes. The 2024 OFF Financial Freedom Track logo depicts the integration of Bitcoin – a way to facilitate Bitcoin payments anonymously, drawing attention to a particular interest in anonymity as a cornerstone of freedom.

This year's forum will take place against the backdrop of a renewed crackdown on Bitcoin's privacy tools. Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, the founders and CEO of privacy-focused service Samourai Wallet and Whirlpool Coinjoin, were recently arrested and charged with money laundering and running an unlicensed money transfer business.

Following the arrest, the FBI issued a statement warning Americans against using non-KYC (Know Your Customer) crypto money transfer services. This situation suggests that financial surveillance is quickly becoming an obvious target for cryptocurrency regulators.

Given the non-custodial nature of the Whirlpool Samurai Program, the arrest could set a dangerous precedent for digital freedom. according to Bitcoin Magazine Contributor L0LA L33TZ This could lead to Know Your Customer (KYCing) for any service operating communications protocols, from Nostr to WiFi hotspots and telecommunications providers… Online KYC plans have been around since early 2014, when the US government attempted to introduce “drivers” licensing for the Internet, similar to the planned introduction of digital identities around the world.

The seriousness of such a trend cannot be underestimated. Digital privacy, especially in the context of Bitcoin, is shaped where authoritarian-minded actors focus their attention.

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