On Nov 29, 2025, at 9:27 AM, Alex C <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> DANIEL fucking BERNSTEIN is banned from developing crypto protocols? IETF has
> jumped the shark.
>
+1
Your frustration is completely understandable.
Dr. Bernstein has been repeatedly suspended over issues that are completely
unrelated to the actual technical discussions. Across everywhere from TLS to
stealth working groups like MODPOD, which influence decisions that affect the
security and usability of billions of people and even the main IETF list, he
cited RFCs and official process documents.
The responses to him are meta ("you're repeating yourself") instead of engaging
the real concerns about standardizing the safer PQ+ECC vs the less safe solo PQ
and coming to consensus on what "rough consensus" is to avoid a moderation
structure that can silence dissent with almost no transparency.
Alarmingly, it appears the moderators themselves did not abstain on voting for
said moderation structure. I really do hope I'm wrong regarding said failed
abstinance. To be clear, Dr. Bernstein also pointed directly to the IETF's own
clear definitions of "rough consensus" using RFCs, and none of those points
have been refuted. He did this, for us all quite heroically, through the US
holidays since this was the best time for the stealth group to push things
through, stealthily, which is why they set deadlines during times despite
referencing how things are accomplished with US laws to argue their own points
time and time again.
From the outside, it feels like someone is steering this process in ways that
aren't being openly acknowledged. The pattern of moderation decisions just
doesn't line up with what any reasonable, neutral arbitrator would do...
especially in a standards body that's supposed to value openness and dissent.
For you and I and likely 99% of everyone here, Dr. Bernstein is someone we grew
idolizing. Few people have contributed more to modern cryptography, period.
It's hard not to feel like that kind of credibility makes some folks in
positions of authority within the IETF/IESG/NSA uncomfortable. 🤡
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