Silent Circle follows Lavabit in shuttering encrypted e-mail

[Recursion]

Silent Circle shuttered its encrypted e-mail service on Thursday, the second such closure in just a few hours in an apparent attempt to avoid government scrutiny that may threaten its customers' privacy.

Silent Circle, which makes software that encrypts phone calls and other communications, announced in a company blog post that it could "see the writing on the wall" and decided it best to shut down its Silent Mail feature. The company said it was inspired by the closure earlier Thursday of Lavabit, another encrypted e-mail service provider that alluded to a possible national security investigation.

"We have not received subpoenas, warrants, security letters, or anything else by any government, and this is why we are acting now," the company explained in its post. "We'd considered phasing the service out, continuing service for existing customers, and a variety of other things up until today. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and with your safety we decided that the worst decision is always no decision."

The company said it would continue to support its Silent Phone, Silent Text, and Silent Eyes teleconferencing platform, assuring users it collects no encrypted data or metadata about conversations.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57597726-38/silent-circle-follows-lavabit-in-shuttering-encrypted-e-mail/

Slashdot's take is here.

[Peacetrain]

1. See this is what makes me want to throw my hands up in the air

"We have not received subpoenas, warrants, security letters, or anything else by any government, and this is why we are acting now," the company explained in its post. "We'd considered phasing the service out, continuing service for existing customers, and a variety of other things up until today. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and with your safety we decided that the worst decision is always no decision."

I have not idea who these people are. but this kind of overreaction.. makes me doubt everyone.. I do not have an ounce of faith in this kind of thing. People taking John Lewis statements out of context to try and prove a point to who ever these guys are shutting down their business and they state they have had no requests for info.. just doing in case..

Whatever.. makes no sense to me