Freedom in Tech Alliance: Liberty Through Tech

The Freedom in Tech Alliance (FITA) was founded in 2018 by Keagan Wernicke, Matthew Bell, and Nick Virden to promote liberty through technology and policy. 

Our ultimate goal is the shaping of the culture shared by entrepreneurs, founders, and those working in the technology industry in such a way that ensures the maximum benefit to the people around the world. This is now a moral imperative because of the massive impact both technology and the technology industry have upon our daily lives. By shaping the products billions use everyday, and influencing public policy, the opinions and philosophies held by those in tech industry affect everyone around the world, not just those within the field.

To do this, we are raising $50,000.

With these funds, we will:
1. grow our Greater Austin chapter
2. colonize chapters in Silicon Valley and New York
3. build out our online education platform

REWARDS: 

$49
1-Year membership to the Freedom in Tech Alliance ($99 value): Invitations to members-only events, access to members-only content, guaranteed seats at public events
Your name on a "founding member's page" (optional)
Handwritten letter of appreciation from the President

$99
LIFETIME membership to the Freedom in Tech Alliance: Invitations to members-only events, access to members-only content, guaranteed seats at public events
Your name on a "founding member's page" (optional)
Handwritten letter of appreciation from the President

$500
LIFETIME VIP access: invitations to all VIP receptions, invitations to members-only events, access to members-only content, reserved seats at public events
Your name on a "founding member's page" (optional)
Handwritten letters of appreciation from the founders

$1000
LIFETIME PLATINUM access: Access to annual dinner, access to meet and greets with all FITA speakers, invitations to all VIP receptions, all previous benefits
Your name on a "founding member's page" (optional)
Handwritten letters of appreciation from the founders

$5000
LIFETIME DIAMOND access: Seat on FITA steering committee, access to annual dinner, access to meet and greets with all FITA speakers, invitations to all VIP receptions, all previous benefits
Your name on our team page, and "founding member's page"
Handwritten letters of appreciation from the founders


Below are our guiding principles. 

I: The Freedom in Tech Alliance believes that the development of new technology should make the world a freer, more tolerant, more open, safer, and more compassionate place. We believe that technology should empower people against tyranny and control, and, as technologists and entrepreneurs, we have a responsibility to build organizations and develop technologies that make it harder, not easier, for the government to trample our human rights. Because of this, we support the development of decentralized networks to prevent others from exerting control over people.

II. The Freedom in Tech Alliance believes that policies should not seek to limit freedom and take power away from the people. We noticed an alarming increase in the popularity of policies that seek to limit freedom and take power away from the people. We aim to limit the government’s control over technology. We are against backdoors and the invasion of people’s privacy and liberty by government agencies and tyrannical powers around the world. We’re against the crony capitalism that endears companies to the state, and creates an environment hostile to entrepreneurs and startups struggling to break into the market. We believe in keeping the state and internet separate, so that the internet stays free and open.

III. The Freedom in Tech Alliance believes that a culture of tolerance where the free exchange of ideas are encouraged should be the norm. Silicon Valley has become a monolith where only one philosophy is tolerated, and those that don’t share those exact beliefs are cast out as pariahs. We believe that diversity of ideas is just as important as diversity of color. We hold the first amendment in the highest possible regard and work to fight against the culture that encourages the marginalization, belittlement, and active discrimination against those with opposing viewpoints. We are working to create a world that encourages the honest discussion of ideas where those with different outlooks can freely express their beliefs without fear of judgement or discrimination.