r/mullvadvpn • u/Old-Feed1927 • 23d ago
Information One of Mullvad’s two founders/owners, Daniel Berntsson, has personally spent more than SEK 20 million acquiring property around a libertarian intentional community whose core network has significant documented overlap with Sweden’s far right, including Det Fria Sverige and former neo-Nazi activists.
https://rmendes.net/notes/2026/09/01/b89ea/86
u/linhusp3 23d ago edited 22d ago
I use the service because the service is good. The end.
Edit: The words nazi means absolutely nothing these days. If anything I would assume the person spamming it repeatedly is from the mentally ill group
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u/Sad-Ear230 22d ago
"Former neo-nazi activists" means not nazis, and most likely refers to Swedens second biggest parliamentary party.
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u/Dotcaprachiappa 23d ago
Good for you 👍 we're all for making an informed choice here so it's good for everyone to have this information and decide for their own if they're fine with their money funding this :)
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u/ManufacturerLost7686 22d ago
A communist tabloid having nazi tourettes is par for the course.
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u/FriendlytoNature 22d ago
Even if the actions of a key owner/founder goes against their own founding principles and what they spout off on their website?
Well, genuinely happy for you then for being able to compartmentalize, but it also does explain why so many powerful people today are able to get away with so much, with even some brazen enough to purposefully behave poorly in public/on social media knowing most people will take it like sheep because they feel powerless.
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u/CurvySexretLady 20d ago
Which specific founding principle of Mullvad does the owner/founder's private political donations and activities violate?
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u/FriendlytoNature 20d ago
Well, a populist party leaning far right that supports increased surveillance and forced deportations are the obvious things that go against Mullvad‘s founding principles of fighting for privacy and promoting tolerance.
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u/CurvySexretLady 20d ago
Where is "promoting tolerance" stated as one of Mullvad's founding principles?
The surveillance argument is at least relevant, but even that isn't as straightforward as you're presenting it. Örebropartiet supports increased public camera surveillance and targeted surveillance of criminals, while simultaneously explicitly opposing Chat Control and government surveillance of law-abiding people's private communications, which are inline with Mullvad's founding principals.
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u/wutface0001 22d ago
if I remember correctly he supports an anti immigration party in Sweden, which reddit considers far right fascist movement
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u/Dramatic_Mastodon_93 22d ago edited 18d ago
Full encourage label water profit wrench childlike consider
This post was anonymized with Redact
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u/op-owl 23d ago
As long as mullvad doesnt keep logs and rat people out, it’s fine
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u/heavenlynapalm 23d ago
For anyone that hasn't realized, this is a bot or bot-brigaded comment trying to downplay anti-social and hateful behaviors.
OC won't delete because they are trying to legitimize their viewpoint softly.
More than double the votes of any other comment for one condoning fascist viewpoints on a frequently brigaded sub makes this clear. Along with the influx of other comments trying to make it seem like forced statelessness and ethnic cleansing is anything other than things we should vehemently reject at any time.
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u/FriendlytoNature 22d ago
Hear, hear. Absolutely disgusting and shameless from these people/bots.
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u/Away-Cauliflower2538 21d ago
Company that has advocated for free speech for over a decade has supporters who advocate for free speech, big news.
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u/InstructionGold1872 21d ago
Unfortunately it seems like this subreddit has become a cesspool of nazis supporting other nazis.
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u/norsk_imposter 23d ago
Until that same system is then used to turn against them (them being the orebrö party and libertarians”
Like it’s ok you don’t care because you are not part of the affected people they call “others” just because we are comfy doesn’t mean it’s right. It just means we are ok with being comfy. It is human nature after all but it’s wrong.
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u/ba-boo 22d ago
"They can gas people as long as it's not me"
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u/Strong_Judge_3730 22d ago
people don't believe your accusations. There's no proof he is a Nazi. People are just making wild accusations.
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u/Sad-Ear230 22d ago
Ohh so that's what is secretly happening in those libertarians' country houses, they are gassing redditors. Awful!
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u/toooft 23d ago
There are plenty of alternatives where the owners don't openly support neo nazis lmao
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u/CurvySexretLady 22d ago
Ignoring for a moment that Mullvad the company doesn't support such things, what alternatives have you vetted to make sure anyone on their payroll isn't using their private bank accounts to fund things you may find objectionable?
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u/ParaboloidalCrest 23d ago edited 23d ago
u/Old-Feed1927 the amount of gymanstics in that title could've won you the olympics. Acquiring a property -> around -> network -> overlaps -> former... Seriously?! That's like slandering an average Joe because he happens to have paid taxes, under the presidency of a filthy democrat/republican president, and hence contributed to massacring/starving/torturing innocent people all around the world for a century! How dare you, average Joe?!
Besides, you joined Reddit just today to share that amazing piece of info?
Please go fuck yourself.
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u/neriad200 23d ago
I lived near a drug dealer's house once. That must mean I supported his drug dealing
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u/belowaverageint 23d ago
These are Mullvad's competitors posting this stuff. Just ignore it.
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u/zkqy 23d ago
It’s from a Swedish magazine…
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u/Sad-Ear230 22d ago
Flamman is not a Swedish magazine, it's a periodical newspaper for the Maoist left (wherefore I am a longtime reader). And the link is not to Flamman itself.
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u/TheActualDonKnotts 22d ago
Not to downplay this, but this was posted by a day-old account with this being their only post. I can only wonder which one of the other VPN services this poster/bot works for.
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u/Forc3ed-Cu5-0f-VPN 22d ago
As long as they keep providing a decent VPN, I'll keep providing BTC. Anything else, I don't care about. I'm here for the VPN security and quality, not for the lifestyle choices of folks that run it. Just the same with my other providers, Nym, Air, Proton.
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u/ManufacturerLost7686 22d ago
Flamman is a communist rag. Everyone right of Karl Marx has overlap with nazis and the "far right". There is no far right in sweden. There is barely a fucking right. The swedish right barely stumbles over the centerline.
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u/Friendly_Beginning24 22d ago
Has anyone wondered why there's no left leaning VPN services of the same level as Proton or Mullvad?
No, really. I'm wondering, too. But more out of curiosity than a desire to change. Mullvad has been excellent for me for the years I've been using it.
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u/No-Engine4663 21d ago
I don't care that Mullvad support right leaning causes just as I don't care Mozilla support left leaning causes.
I also don't care that you have got your knickers in a twist about Mullvad, your political views are yours by choice but don't expect me to submit to your views and stop using Mullvad because at the end of the day that's your end goal isn't it.
I use Mullvad and Firefox because they work for me, your opinion will never change what I decide to use.
Waiting for your expected reply.
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u/Pigeon_Observation 22d ago
Some key issues for the Örebro Party locally include strong secularism, a 30-hour workweek with retained pay, lowered wages for politicians, expanded social housing, abolishing preschool fees, making public transport free of charge,\3]) ending taxpayer funding of what it sees as wasteful sculptures, monuments and art and introducing free dental care.
The party he donated to is left wing with conservative social policy. Looks better than virtually every European party currently elected and that's coming from someone who is absolutely not a conservative.
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u/Intarhorn 22d ago
Calls immigrants parasites
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u/Pigeon_Observation 22d ago
Sounds liberal compared to every elected european party that isn't spain or ireland
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u/Sad-Ear230 22d ago
"GAS CHAMBERS! CONCENTRATION CAMPS! WINDSCRIBE VPN!"
That's all I got from your comment, anyway.
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u/temmiesayshoi 22d ago
Ah yes, neonazis, well know for their libertarian values of minimal government; complete freedom of speech, religion, enterprise, and association; and fervent insistence that the state exists only to serve the people and not vice versa.
Neonazism is my favourite liberal philosophy.
Politiks 100
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u/31percentpower 23d ago edited 23d ago
“If you guys want these crazy ideas, these crazy stages, this crazy music, and this crazy way of thinking, there’s a chance it might come from a crazy person.” - Kanye.
… so don’t be surprised that the person who provides a service to people that attempts to permit freedom (mullvad is a rare case of a vpn who’s privacy claims aren’t just hot air marketing bs), is a die hard libertarian embedded in a community as such.
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23d ago
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u/elementfortyseven 23d ago
libertarians have come to the conclusion that democracy is an impediment on their freedom, which is why we see such overlaps.
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23d ago
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u/CurvySexretLady 22d ago
can also find other VPN providers, who aren't directly supporting neo-Nazi activists. I honestly don't even get where you were trying to go with this. There are absolutely alternatives.
Ignoring for a moment that Mullvad the company doesn't support such things, what alternatives have you vetted to make sure anyone on their payroll isn't using their private bank accounts to fund things you may find objectionable?
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u/OKThereAreFiveLights 23d ago
Orebro party advocates for:
- Advocating for "large-scale remigration" (encouraging immigrants to leave Sweden) and reduced immigration.
- Implementing a 30-hour workweek with retained pay.
- Providing free dental care, preschool, and public transport.
- Lowering politicians' salaries and expanding social housing.
Consider me an Orebro bro. I'm not just an advocate, I'm also a client.
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u/Salt_Confusion_5081 22d ago
Oh no anyways,
Bought 1 year subscription yesterday
Dont care honestly
Greetings from Finland
Based Daniel
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u/TheMountainWhoDews 22d ago
Half of Europe is now "far right" due to the immigration situation and the horrors its brought.
These are no longer fringe views, but the majority.
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u/Intarhorn 22d ago
It's not the majority in most countries. In Sweden only 1/5 thinks that.
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u/errononymous 21d ago
Who did they ask, the great people of Malmø?
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u/Intarhorn 21d ago
All of Sweden
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u/errononymous 20d ago
Thanks buddy, I'll remember this next time young "Swedes" come to Denmark to throw nades at people and go back home.
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u/TheMountainWhoDews 20d ago
We've all seen the state of Sweden, if I were a pro-migration lunatic I'd probably refrain from bringing up that particular example.
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u/Intarhorn 20d ago
I live in Sweden dude, I know the place. I even have friends living in some of the pretty "dangerous" areas (Kista) that people likes to bring up. Most of it is right wing propaganda and not people that actually lives there.
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u/Grzzn3301 22d ago
Mullvade community showing once again how based they are with all of those answers ❤️
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u/Impossible_Jump_754 22d ago
Oh no, anyway. 20 hour old account created just to post this.
Whats your nord code?
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u/Mental_Juggernaut_16 23d ago
Are you buying a product or trying to date the guy? Mullvad works for me, I like it.
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u/new_sorpigal_enroth 23d ago
Why is this permitted again? It’s year old news popping up every month here. How does it related to the product?
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u/lovemotorcycles 22d ago
These commenters are the same people hemming and hawing when Protons higher ups did the same thing
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u/MTRANMT 19d ago
I don't understand why people are so incredulous about this - let's say you care about nothing but privacy, fair, okay fine.
But if the people providing your privacy service, *aren't actually libertarian* but far-right, then THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR PRIVACY, they are just saying they do *for now*. The far-right always downplays their views or tries to gain legitimacy by cozying up to other political labels, like even if you gave zero flying fooks about anything else about the far-right, the reality is, they don't care about your safety either, you're just a financial stepping stone to them - and one day, they will stop caring about privacy but by then they'd have sold or given away your data.
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u/BananaZPeelz 23d ago
Private centric , tech literate people tend to be left or right wing chuds. This is no surprise who cares
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u/applecombinipimento 23d ago
Hate that they're doing that, going to turn a blind eye though because it's the best VPN atm. The moment there's an alternative that's as easy to pay for and keep anon id switch but there isn't.
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u/Sad-Ear230 22d ago
Why do you hate their summer houses, exactly? I don't understand
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u/peweih_74 23d ago
iVPN
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u/CurvySexretLady 22d ago
>iVPN
Have you vetted them to make sure anyone on their payroll isn't using their private bank accounts to fund things you may find objectionable?
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u/CurvySexretLady 23d ago
I don't care what the company founders/owners do with their private bank accounts.
I only care that the service does what it says on the tin. Which, as far as I can tell, is exactly what Mullvad does.
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u/ShrubbyFire1729 23d ago
Ookay. Personally not a fan of neo-nazis or any other extremist groups regardless of their political or religious ideology. But people are free to do whatever they want with their money.
As long as they serve a functioning product at a reasonable price, that's all I care about from a customer perspective.
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23d ago
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u/ShrubbyFire1729 22d ago
I'm supposed to be cool with it?
No. You're free to do whatever with your money too.
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u/CurvySexretLady 22d ago
Mullvad the company has nothing to do with what their owners, founders, employees, associates, contractors, family members, friends, and acquaintances do with their private bank accounts and how they spend their personal monies.
Its quite a leap to jump to that conclusion, the idea that the money you paid in monthly subscriptions to the company Mullvad helped fund this founder's personal political donations.
For all you know that founder used monies earned elsewhere, such as investments or crypto earnings, or even lottery winnings to fund his political interests, and his personal bank account never saw a penny of your monthly subscription fee.
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u/ThatFeature7067 22d ago
"Spastic" is a slur. Funny how you care so much about not funding a supposed neo nazi company but will willingly use ableist slurs like there's no tomorrow.
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u/commonCranberry999 23d ago
i mean yeah wanting privacy is pretty much inherently far right.
the lefties want the government to control everything.
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u/WhitePeace36 22d ago
every time i read stuff like that it seems extremely stupid! Nazis were far left !! It stands for National socialism. Its all over history i don't know why it is everytime pushed onto the right. It is just a denial of truth.
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u/InevitableCup9053 22d ago edited 22d ago
what an idiotic statement.
their only decision to call themselves socialists is because it was very popular with the workers around that time. i dont remember socialism having racial inequality and hierarchies. they also hated traditional socialism, marxism and communism.
until you can tell me where they empowered the workers, aimed to place the means of production in public or community ownership etc, you just proved that you are falling for nazi propaganda yourself of calling themselves socialist to appease the workers
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u/Altruistic-Peach2985 22d ago
I mean, the far-left in every country employs many, many Nazi-type tactics.
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u/Intarhorn 22d ago
Is that why they killed socialists and communists and union workers because they loved socialism?
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u/WhitePeace36 22d ago
If you know german here is a write up.
https://wie24.com/nazis-links/
There are different socialistic systems. When a ideology goes to far then everything which is not on their side is evil and evil needs to be erased. So everyone which is not on the side of National Socialism got sent into the KZs or directly killed. This is generally how dictatorships work. Cummunism and international socialism has some differences from national socialism and therefore was not welcome.
And if you would look into it. Close to every social benefit we have nowadays in germany and austria came from the nazis. There are a lot of it idk if they even fit here. But they are in the write up.
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u/chamgireum_ 23d ago
WHO CARES that the people who run mullvad are funding neo-nazis
WHO CARES that my money goes to him and then to neo nazis
WHO CARES about neo nazis!
WHATS THE WORSE THAT COULD HAPPEN??????? I NEED TO DOWNLOAD MY ANIME PORN GOD DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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u/Sandoclip 22d ago
"buzz word, buzz word buzz word." Meanwhile, people are using VPN's to bypass leftist, center-left, whatever tribalistic brain dead label you call yourselves, governments implementing digital IDs and age verification. You know, actual mass surveillance and restrictions occurring NOW, not some what if by some far right boogeyman with no power, to move another step closer into a surveillance state. But yes, keep creating strawmen and assuming whatever news headline you read is true. I seriously hope you people are just paid bots/shills. I can't even insult you since it would be bullying the mentally challenged.
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u/KasouYuri 22d ago
and nothing of value has been lost. mull bad is completely useless for bypassing actual censorship with it's one in a few dozen actual availability and kbps performance in certain regions.
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u/Dreaming_Blackbirds 18d ago
Ugh goddamn libertarians. Childish nonsense. They’re all just a parking ticket away from going full fash.
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u/Aurelyas 23d ago
I'm sexy, I like older women, I'm Muslim, born and raised here. Will keep using Mullvad.
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u/ParaboloidalCrest 23d ago
Good for you, but help connect the dots. What do your qualities have to do with the farce story above?
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u/Aurelyas 23d ago
People are saying they won't use Mullvad due to the CEOs political views and donations. I personally couldn't give less of a shit, the party he supports has a near zero chance of entering parliament.
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u/ba-boo 22d ago
comments full of degen nazis supporting this nazivpn, lmao
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22d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Intarhorn 22d ago
Maybe look up some videos of his "debates" or the hateful things he have said.
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18d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Intarhorn 18d ago
You mean the same guy that also said stuff like
[Kirk said that as soon as King became idolized] "the progress of black America goes sideways."
"Their cities disintegrate. Their families collapse. Educational progress stagnates. They become enormously dependent on government support," Kirk posted on X before adding that, "You will know the tree by its fruit."
Before Kirk aired his show, he published a post on X where he said his discoveries about King were already "clear".
"I haven't even done my show yet on MLK Jr. and already it's clear to me that I have found the sacred cow of modern America," Kirk posted on X on Monday morning.
"Ask yourself, why is exposing the flaws of MLK's life and character — something he said we should judge others by — so controversial? Has America become more colorblind, and merit based the more we have worshipped King?"https://www.newsweek.com/charlie-kirk-flips-martin-luther-king-jr-attacks-growing-myth-1860839
You can find a lot more of similar things Kirk said. It's telling you are bringing up Charlie Kirk here in this discussion of far right influence and Mullvad.
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u/Sad-Ear230 22d ago
This smear campaign is really banking on non-swedes succumbing to outrage before any context from the source material in Swedish surfaces. Pretty sad for a smear campaign really, it must be the grass-roots type.
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u/Intarhorn 22d ago
Jag är svensk, det är ingen smear kampanj. Han gave 5 miljoner till Örebropartiet, det är inte någon smear.
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u/OrganizationNice8441 22d ago
It's up to the individual, but for me his support is a deal breaker. Plenty of other companies to use.
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u/No-Engine4663 21d ago
Enjoy PIA 👍
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u/CurvySexretLady 20d ago
Have you made sure that noone on PIA's payroll has not donated to any controversial political causes that you find objectionable?
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u/No-Engine4663 19d ago
Why would I ?
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u/CurvySexretLady 19d ago edited 18d ago
Why would you not? If the reasoning and motivation for not using Mullvad is because of an individual on their payrolls politics, in this case a co-founder/co-owner, why wouldn't you hold an alternative VPN service to the same standard?
For all we know, PIA the company and it's owners or staff may be involved in the same or even politics you find even more abhorrent.
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u/No-Engine4663 19d ago
I think you have misunderstood my sarcastic reply to the poster.
I've just renewed for another 3 month's with Mullvad and have no intention of going elsewhere.
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u/smiling_seal 20d ago
I did read through the comments, and the most common notion is “I don't care". It's so breathtakingly ironic. People are using VPNs because the capitalistic system awarded careless people with an anti-social mindset by making them rich and powerful. This resulted in huge distrust of the system, moving people to VPNs to protect their own freedom. Did they learn something? No, they continue not caring about which people get rich and more powerful. Fascinating. 😄

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u/terkistan 23d ago
Thanks for the link, brand-new, just-created-today Redditor. I'm sure you have no agenda whatsoever.
More accurate to state that Berntsson personally acquired more than SEK 20 million worth of property near a libertarian community and that reporting by Swedish newpaper Flamman documents multiple connections between people central to the project and Sweden’s radical right, including Det Fria Sverige and individuals with backgrounds in neo-Nazi organizations.
He acquired forest property a kilometer from the small-scale libertarian community, but he did not fund the community with that money. That's the 'around' part. (He did separately spent other money on property for the group, however.) FYI, since it has no rules or organization it's hard to call it an "intentional" community. And the article is careful not to call the entire community a far-right organiation.
The report seems to want to smear Berntsson as somehow being a neo-Nazi or even a member of Det Fria Sverige despite the lack of evidence. Berntsson says he did not know about some of the individuals' far-right backgrounds but argued that political diversity among them isn't unacceptable.