In our 673rd issue:
The Patriot Act granted the government powerful new spying capabilities that have grown out of control—but the provision that the FBI and NSA have been using to collect the phone records of millions of innocent people expires in June. Tell Congress: it's time to rethink out-of-control spying. A vote to reauthorize Section 215 is a vote against the Constitution.
Millions of people jailbreak the phones and tablets they own, in order to run the software they want on their own terms. Whether it's to cut out annoying bloatware, install the latest security fixes, change the home screen, or just to use their device in a way the manufacturer hasn't considered, jailbreaking is an important part of how we interact with our technology. But the Copyright Office and Librarian of Congress could cast the future of jailbreaking into jeopardy in just a few short months. Speak out
today to make sure that doesn't happen.
EFF Updates
EFF's Game Plan for Ending Global Mass Surveillance
For years, we've been working on a strategy to end mass surveillance of digital communications of innocent people worldwide. Now we're laying out the plan, so you can understand how all the pieces fit together--how U.S. advocacy and policy efforts connect to the international fight and vice versa.
EFF Wins Battle Over Secret Legal Opinions on Government Spying
We got news Thursday that we've won our four-year Freedom of Information Act lawsuit over secret legal interpretations of a controversial section of the Patriot Act, including legal analysis of law enforcement and intelligence agency access to census records.
Cory Doctorow Rejoins EFF to Eradicate DRM Everywhere
Leading digital rights champion and author Cory Doctorow has rejoined our ranks to battle the pervasive use of dangerous digital rights management technologies that threaten users' security and privacy, distort markets, confiscate public rights, and undermine innovation.
Peer Pressure: Making Sure the Snoopers' Charter Doesn't Come Back
Late last week, a group of four peers on Britain's House of Lords attempted to insert the entirety of the "Snoopers' Charter"--the Internet surveillance bill that was savaged by a Parliamentary overview, and abandoned by the UK's current coalition government--into a new counter-terrorism bill. We were able to make enough noise to take it off the table, but we need to take long-term steps to keep it from coming back.
SAVE Act Passes in House, Comes One Step Closer to Unnecessarily Chilling Online Speech
For the second year in a row, the House of Representatives has passed the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act, a bill aimed at curbing the serious problem of sex trafficking online. The bill, however, is the same as it was last year--and it's similarly problematic. EFF and a coalition of free speech and privacy groups have released a letter condemning overly broad bills that could chill lawful communications online.
Digital Consumers Gain Ground at the United Nations
With your support, EFF has helped raise the bar in ongoing discussions about how to better protect users against the abuse of their rights through DRM. Our submission to the United Nations pointed out that the then-current draft text for a revised set of Guidelines for Consumer Protection completely failed to deal with the problems that DRM causes consumers of digital products and services.
miniLinks
Copyright Week 2015
We've wrapped up another successful Copyright Week, with articles and actions going up around the Web supporting a set common-sense principles that should underpin sound copyright policy.
WIRED: "No, Department of Justice, 80 Percent of Tor Traffic Is Not Child Porn"
The Department of Justice continues to spread falsehood and misleading statements about Tor usage. Andy Greenberg, the author of an article they've cited to support those untruths, responds to set the record straight.
Public Knowledge, iFixit, and EFF Answer Questions on DRM and the DMCA
We participated in a public Q&A through Reddit's popular AMA (Ask Me Anything) forum. These questions and answers should give you an inside look at what we're working on as we continue with the DMCA rulemaking process.
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Our members make it possible for EFF to bring legal and technological expertise into crucial battles about online rights. Whether defending free speech online or challenging unconstitutional surveillance, your participation makes a difference. Every donation gives technology users who value freedom online a stronger voice and more formidable advocate.
Please consider becoming an EFF member today.
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Editor: Parker Higgins, Activist
editor@eff.org
EFFector is a publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
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