- From: Manu Sporny <msporny@digitalbazaar.com>
- Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2026 10:47:32 -0500
- To: public-credentials <public-credentials@w3.org>
On Sun, Feb 15, 2026 at 8:51 AM Jori Lehtinen <lehtinenjori03@gmail.com> wrote: > Can someone help me teach these guys how cryptography works arrrrghh 😁 Whoa, hold up -- Steffen is a capable individual that knows how cryptography works. Remember, we follow a Code of Conduct when engaging here: https://www.w3.org/policies/code-of-conduct/#expected-behavior ... and part of that is an assumption that everyone is engaging in good faith and capable. Presuming someone engaging as deeply as Steffen -- quoting EU regulation, involved in setting these standards in the EU -- doesn't understand how cryptography works is item 21 in "Unacceptable Behavior" in the Code of Conduct. I don't think you really meant what you wrote and were largely joking to add some levity to the frustration in the discussion, but keep in mind that it's really difficult to interpret your meaning on a mailing list (it could have been taken in a far more negative way: "You don't even know the basics of how this stuff works!" -- and that can chill engagement by others who might be nervous to participate in the first place: "Oh no, if they think Steffen doesn't know what he's talking about, then I have no chance in contributing.") You're contributing many good points, Jori, and I am more on your side of the debate than Steffen's, but we have to keep this civil -- it's expected behavior in our community. What I do think is happening is that we're talking past each other, and your latest AI summary, Jori, does help focus where the misalignment might be: I think that you and I are arguing for less regulation, especially the components that seem like they will harm the EU's chances of creating a truly competitive ecosystem. I think that Steffen is arguing for more regulation, to ensure that the EU ends up with a trustworthy system in the end, which is required for regulatory environments. It feels like the debate is largely about where to draw the line... specifically, what parts of EU regulation harm market competition more than they help, and what parts help market competition more than they harm... and we must remember that market competition isn't something everyone might want to optimize for... there are government-granted oligopolies (telecommunications, air travel, defense) and maybe "digital wallets" are such an oligopoly. In any case, I don't think Steffen doesn't get what you're arguing for -- he just doesn't agree with your basic premises (because, I think, he believes the current EU regulation is decentralized enough and doesn't harm market competition in the ways we think it does). -- manu -- Manu Sporny - https://www.linkedin.com/in/manusporny/ Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc. https://www.digitalbazaar.com/
Received on Sunday, 15 February 2026 15:48:13 UTC