This article is fundamentally false - we addressed it on https://element.io/blog/addressing-fear-uncertainty-and-doub...
dang: is HN really the place for competitive marketing crap like this?
dang: is HN really the place for competitive marketing crap like this?
Is it irrelevant? A vendor that isn't based in the UK could just rightfully tell the UK government to fuck off—which isn't likely to be an option for the UK-based Matrix and Element.
How does that publicised adding algorithm get corrupted, if the UK government decides they want that 2+2=5?
The answer is that matrix being based in the UK isn't ideal, but since they published the whole protocol, it can't just be made unsafe on request without people noticing. If the math maths it still maths when the government doesn't want it to math.
What could happen is that the UK could force specific servers of the UK based entity to surveil targets etc. But you don't have to use their servers (in fact, their goal is probably that you run your own).
As someone who would be in the position to decide for or against matrix/wire usage in my org, I have to say this kind of pratise didn't particularily strengthen my trust in wire.
A likely outcome is that they make it unsafe and people do notice.
I don't know the matrix org but if I were them I had a plan in a drawer for when that happens and where to move.
I started self-hosting and adopting Matrix for my app recently and most of these raised concerns seem manipulative at best. Thanks for all the work with the project!