Cryptome’s Maverick: John Young’s Legacy of Defiant Transparency Lives On
John Young, co-founder of Cryptome, passed at 89, leaving a legacy of defiance against government secrecy. The internet archive, an inspiration for WikiLeaks and others, was born from Young’s passion for public knowledge. An architect at heart, Young designed a site as straightforward as his mission: making information accessible, not pretty.
Hot Take:
**_John Young was the Indiana Jones of the internet, minus the fedora but with the same penchant for uncovering hidden treasures. His legacy is a website that looks like it was designed on a Windows 95 computer but packs the punch of a cyber treasure trove, full of secrets the governments wish you didn’t know._**
Key Points:
– John Young co-founded Cryptome, a pioneering internet archive, with his partner Deborah Natsios.
– Cryptome was an inspiration to platforms like WikiLeaks but maintained a distinct philosophy on transparency.
– Young’s radicalization was sparked by the 1968 student protests at Columbia University.
– Cryptome was designed as a straightforward information repository, influenced by Young’s background as an architect.
– Despite frequent legal threats, Young remained committed to public access to controversial information.