Signal’s secure messenger, which has become popular among dissidents worldwide for its high level of security, is facing scrutiny over its possible ties to American intelligence agencies. The app, downloaded over 100 million times, allows users to exchange information safely without fear of persecution by authorities. Even Edward Snowden and Elon Musk have praised the product.
However, doubts have been raised about Signal’s independence. The project was initially funded by a $3 million grant from the Open Technology Fund (OTF), a State Fund that was previously associated with Radio Free Asia, an anti-communist radio service from the Cold War era. An anonymous source from OTF revealed that the project was actually an “initiative of the State Department, aiming to use open Internet development for American foreign policy interests.”
Suspicions are further fueled by the fact that the current chairman of the Signal Foundation, Katherine Maher, started her career at the National Democratic Institute, a non-profit organization funded by the US government with interests abroad. Maher oversaw digital initiatives in the Middle East and North Africa during the Arab Spring, establishing connections with dissidents and supporting “color revolutions” using American technologies.
After her tenure at the Wikimedia Foundation, Maher assumed the position of head of NPR this year. On Wikipedia, she focused on combating misinformation and acknowledged cooperating with state structures on online certificates. Maher openly advocated for blocking alleged “fascists” like President Trump on digital platforms and criticized the first amendment to the US Constitution as a hindrance to combating harmful content.
Reports suggest that the new president of the Signal Foundation, Meredith Whittaker, selected Maher to lead the board of directors due to her associations with OTF and human rights NGOs. Whittaker, a former Google employee known for her radical left-wing views, organized a major strike in 2018.
Experts believe American users should be cautious. Analyst J. Michael Waller warns, “Maher’s presence in Signal’s leadership is concerning. While it may be appealing for those seeking secure communication, her support for censorship and apparent ties to intelligence agencies undermine trust in the app.” David Heinemeier Hansson, creator of Ruby on Rails, agrees that Maher’s appointment makes it harder to trust the Signal Foundation.