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Google Summer of Code Bans Two Developers After US Mentor Faces Abuse, Death Threats

Lee Calcote, a US-based mentor, exposed abusive messages and a death threat linked to GSoC rejections, prompting bans and widespread condemnation.

A US founder has shared a screenshot of the death threat he received from an Indian
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Overview

  • Lee Calcote, founder of Layer5, shared an abusive LinkedIn message from Shivansh Chauhan, an Indian developer, sent after Chauhan's friend was rejected from the 2025 Google Summer of Code (GSoC) program.
  • Calcote humorously rated the message's grammar and creativity on social media, which led to both Chauhan and his friend, Tanishq Maheshwari, being banned from the GSoC program and related open-source projects.
  • Following Calcote's post, he received a death threat from a Bengaluru-based engineering student who demanded the removal of the original post and threatened dire consequences if the demands were not met.
  • The engineering student, who threatened to hire a hitman, has since deleted his LinkedIn profile, drawing further criticism from the global tech community.
  • The incidents have sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with calls for greater professionalism and accountability among aspiring developers in open-source communities.