What is the PCTL?
The Privacy Community Tier List was created by Tom Spark to foster positivity inside the privacy space. This is not an exclusive list made to divide privacy communities. Any privacy community can become a tier 1 community through reaching out here to amend any past wrongdoings.
Tom spark rates the privacy positivity level based on his individual research and opinion of each privacy community. It specifically awards privacy community with good ethical values, and highlights communities that need improvement.
The internet privacy space is rift with toxic gatekeeping, personal attacks, and all forms of harassment and even in some case, privacy violations.
We believe privacy is a fundamental human right, and should be encouraged and available for all.
PCTL Rating Gudelines:
-Encourage positivity, kindness, and difference of opinion
-Discourage gatekeeping, personal attacks, and harassment
-Discourage and remove the spread of misinformation
Not happy with your score?
Contact Tom spark on discord or through the contact form and explain how your community will adhere to the guidelines.
Privacy Community Tier List
Privacy Positive Tier 1: GrapheneOS, WeVPN, Skiff Privacy, Redact.dev, Tom Spark Reviews (my discord / channel)
These are active communities with chat channels and forums that demonstrate a good grasp of the guidelines and are generally very positive privacy places (or creators) to hang out with and learn about privacy!
Privacy Neutral Tier 2: Rob Braxman’s Brax.me, Naomi Brockwell, Side of Burritos, Mental Outlaw, Hide.me, Privacytools.io, NordVPN, ProtonVPN, Mullvad, Private Internet Access, TorGuard VPN, /r/privacy
These communities are mostly neutral. They usually don’t have chat channels , and they are mainly neutral in that they don’t attack other communities and stay to themselves. If the community does have a chat channel, it’s effect is neither entirely positive or negative IMO.
Privacy Negative Tier 3: Techlore, TheHatedOne, Windscribe, iVPN, PrivacyGuides, Jonah Aragon, Seth for Privacy, Reddit.com/r/vpntorrents, Reddit.com/r/VPN
These communities do not adhere at all to the PPTP guidelines. Most likely there is a centralized leader or leadership team whom define the toxic project culture and encourage some form of gatekeeping, toxicity, and personal attacks. “Leadership defines the project”.
Disclaimer: This list is simply my opinion of interacting with these communities, and not intended to slander any communities or companies present. Your own experience may vary.