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Comment by ErikVandeWater | Hacker News Reader

Does the ACLU have any new product/entrepreneurial goals for the future? Without, it would seem this is a somewhat unusual association.

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The new product is called "civil liberties." I signed up for their mailing list. I hope I get invited to the beta!

I have been using mine for decades and they're truly excellent. 10/10, would recommend. I really hope they continue to kick out more good products.

I was lucky enough to inherit some so I try and help the ACLU spread the love to others who might not.

I got some when I launched, but I haven't really found a use for them. Sad to see so many products sharing the fate of the Apple watch.

Most people's civil liberties work so smoothly they don't even notice.

I think this makes sense strategically for multiple reasons:

- YC would undoubtedly like to ensure there are no barriers to immigrant founded startups that they would like to invest in

- ensuring that there are fewer barriers to employment by immigrants in invested startups

- generally trying to build a better more open world (which is in line with the UBI initiative [0] as well as the stated interest in investigating new concepts for city design [1])

[0] - https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/31/y-combinator-announces-bas...

[1] - https://www.wired.com/2016/07/y-combinators-plan-build-new-c...

Right, I'm sort of confused by what YC will do for the ACLU besides donate some cash to try to make up for the Thiel optics.

YC has been donating to nonprofits for a few years. It's not an investment, and the relationship is not the same as the one they have with startups. I think the general idea is just to support a good cause, and give them access to a bunch of rich entrepreneurs who might want to partner or donate.

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