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EFFector - Volume 24, Issue 20 - WSJ and Al-Jazeera Lure Whistleblowers With False Promises of Anonymity

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EFFector - Volume 24, Issue 20 - WSJ and Al-Jazeera Lure Whistleblowers With False Promises of Anonymity

 
 
EFFector! Electronic Frontier Foundation
 
 

In our 575th issue:

WSJ and Al-Jazeera Lure Whistleblowers With False Promises of Anonymity

The success of Wikileaks in obtaining and releasing information has inspired mainstream media outlets to develop copycat sites, including ones run by the Wall Street Journal and Al-Jazeera. EFF's review of the Terms of Services of these sites reveals that they aren't adequately protecting the security and privacy of sources. For example, the Terms of Service for Al-Jazeera's site give the administrators flexibility to "share personally identifiable information in response to a law enforcement agency’s request, or where we believe it is necessary."

How to Disable Facebook's Facial Recognition Feature

Facebook debuted a tag suggestion feature in December, which works by using facial recognition technology to examine photos in which you’ve already been tagged and then creates a "facial fingerprint." Facebook then uses this fingerprint to suggest your name to your friends when they upload a photo of you. Like most new Facebook features, this one is turned on by default. If this makes you uncomfortable, you will need to opt out manually. Check out EFF's video showing three ways to delete your facial fingerprint data from Facebook.

Achievement Unlocked: Set Up Tor Relays, Get a Molly Crabapple Poster

Less than two weeks since launching, participants in the EFF Tor Challenge have generated over 400 new Tor relays. Tor is a service that masks your IP address. Activists, bloggers, and humanitarian aid workers around the world depend on Tor to maintain their anonymity online and access websites that have been blocked by their governments. To encourage even more relays, we’re adding a special incentive: anyone who sets up 5 or more qualifying relays will receive a custom Molly Crabapple poster explaining how Tor works.

EFF Updates

DEF CON 19 Getaway Contest Update!

Who will win the mind-numbingly good Vegas Grand Prize Package including a standard suite at the Rio Hotel and Casino, two DC 19 Human badges, two tickets to Vegas 2.0's party theSummit, two badges for the ultra-exclusive Ninja Networks Party, AND an EFF Swag Super Pack? With just weeks left, it's all up to you!

EFF Joins Amicus Brief Urging Ohio Supreme Court to Find Warrantless GPS Tracking Unconstitutional

EFF joined legal defense organizations, law professors, and others to urge the Ohio Supreme Court to rule that warrantless surveillance of a car with a GPS tracking device violates the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Supreme Court Affirms High Standard of Proving Patents Invalid

In a disappointing decision, the Supreme Court upheld the Federal Circuit's rule that, in litigation, a patent may be proved invalid by clear and convincing evidence. EFF filed an amicus brief to support our view that a lower standard of proof should be necessary to invalidate bad patents that stifle innovation.

New Member T-Shirts

For a limited time, new and renewing members can choose a new shirt featuring our 8-bit style robot mecha girl throwing EFF pixel fire across the chest, with "I FIGHT FOR THE USERS" stamped on the back!

miniLinks

ACLU Sues State Department to Declassify Diplomatic Cables Already Revealed by WikiLeaks

The ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act request for 23 embassy cables that were widely disseminated by news organizations in November 2010. The government has refused to respond to the request, prompting a lawsuit by the ACLU.

Richard Dreyfuss reads the iTunes EULA

CNET recruited Academy Award winning actor Richard Dreyfuss to provide a dramatic (and hilarious) reading of Apple's End User License Agreement for iTunes.

Cybersecurity Theory and Myths

Law professor Derek Bambauer debunks four myths about cybersecurity - including "No one cares more about civil liberties than Cyber Command and the National Security Agency."

Administrivia

ISSN 1062-9424

EFFector is a publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
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Editor: Parker Higgins, Activist
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Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of EFF. To reproduce signed articles individually, please contact the authors for their express permission.

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Announcements

CFP - Computers Freedom and Privacy 2011

EFF's Director for International Freedom of Expression Jillian York, Senior Staff Attorney Lee Tien, and Activism Director Rainey Reitman will speak on panels at Computers Freedom and Privacy 2011. NOTE: CFP is looking for volunteers, who can then attend the conference for free.
Location: Washington, DC
Date: June 14-16, 2011

Council of Europe: Steering Committee on the Media and New Communication Services

Katitza Rodriguez, EFF International Rights Director, will represent EFF at the Council of Europe Steering Committee on the Media and New Communication Services (CDMC). This is a closed meeting.
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Date: June 14-17, 2011

SOURCE Seattle 2011 - Hear EFF Staff Attorney Marcia Hofmann

EFF is a proud partner of SOURCE Security Conferences this year in Seattle. As an EFF supporter, you can receive a 10% discount on registration. Just use the code "SRCEFF11" on the form. EFF Senior Staff Attorney Marcia Hofmann is speaking on "The Latest Developments in Computer Crime Law" at Source Seattle this year.
Location: Seattle, WA
Date: June 15-16, 2011

EFF Members-Only Speakeasy: Seattle

Join Senior Staff Attorney Marcia Hofmann for a drink on Thursday, June 16, in Seattle! EFF's Speakeasy events are free, informal gatherings that give you a chance to mingle with local members and meet the people behind the world's leading digital civil liberties organization.

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