John Young, Cryptome Founder, Dies at 89: A Champion of Information Freedom

John Young, who passed away at 89, was a pioneer of online transparency. In 1996, he and his wife Deborah Natsios founded Cryptome, an online library dedicated to publishing documents concerning government secrecy, national security, and encryption. Cryptome became a crucial resource during the 'crypto wars' of the 90s, providing vital information to activists and lawyers fighting for encryption freedom. Despite facing pressure from the FBI, Secret Service, and tech giants, Young remained unwavering in his commitment to public access to information. While initially involved with WikiLeaks, he later parted ways due to disagreements. Young's legacy is one of unwavering dedication to the public's right to know.