EFFector Vol. 23, No. 23 August 20, 2010 editor@eff.org A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 effector: n, Computer Sci. A device for producing a desired change. : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : In our 545th issue: * EFF TO VERIZON: ETISALAT CERTIFICATE AUTHORITY THREATENS WEB SECURITY EFF's open letter urges Cybertrust, a division of Verizon, to evaluate whether the trusted SSL CA certificate it issued to United Arab Emirate-based Etisalat should be revoked. Etisalat recently threatened to discontinue service to BlackBerry users after Blackberry developer Research in Motion refused to provide the UAE government with surveillance back doors in its encryption services. This follows a mislabeled firmware update to approximately 100,000 UAE BlackBerry subscribers that contained malicious surveillance software in July 2009. For more information and the full text of the letter go to: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/open-letter-verizon For the New York Times story about the vulnerabilities of certificate authorities, see: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/technology/14encrypt.html (Registration and/or cookies may be required) : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : EFF Updates * Government Uses Social Networking Sites for More than Investigations EFF recently received a number of documents from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) highlighting government activities that scour not only social networks, but also record every corner of the Internet. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/government-monitors-much-more-social-networks * EFF Files Appeal of Warrantless Wiretapping Case Jewel v. NSA EFF has asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate our landmark case against the federal government for wiretapping millions of ordinary Americans without warrants. The District Court had dismissed the case in January on the incorrect argument that, because so many Americans have had their communications and communications records illegally obtained by the government, no single person has legal "standing" to challenge the ongoing program of government surveillance. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/eff-files-appeal-warrantless-wiretapping-case * EFF Staffs Up in Patent, Copyright, and Trademark Law EFF is pleased to announce the hiring of our newest staff member: staff attorney Julie Samuels. Julie will be working on intellectual property issues, with a focus on stopping abuse of software patents. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/eff-staffs-patent-copyright-and-trademark-law * Breaking Down the DMCA Exemptions, Pt. 2: Free Your Phone and the Rest Will Follow? EFF Senior Staff Attorney Corynne McSherry continues her analysis of the recently granted DMCA exemptions EFF championed by focusing on the two exemptions related to cell phones. First, she clarifies the legality of cell phone "jailbreaking" -- modifying software to liberate iPhones and other handsets to run applications from sources other than those approved by the phone maker. Then she discusses the renewal of a 2006 rule exempting cell phone unlocking so handsets can be used with other telecommunications carriers. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/breaking-down-dmca-exemptions-pt-2-free-your-phone : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : miniLinks ~The Birth of the Copyright Troll? Copyright holding company Righthaven has a new business model that has been attracting attention. http://www.law.com/jsp/cc/PubArticleCC.jsp?id=1202466627090 ~Facebook Places: "Here Now," Privacy Later ACLU's DotRights campaign takes a look at Facebook's new location-based product, Places. http://eff.org/r.2pX : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : Announcements * EFF Needs Research Volunteers this Week! EFF received more than 50 unique nominations for the 19th annual Pioneer Awards. We need to compile bios on each nominee for the judges over the next week. If you have basic Internet research skills and can spare a few hours to help, please e-mail Lori McCoy at lori@eff.org. No experience necessary! * Vote for EFF'S Panels for SXSW 2011! You only have until August 27 to vote for EFF's panels for SXSW 2011, which runs March 11-20 in Austin, Texas. For more information, go to: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/panel-picker-voting-begins-sxsw-2011-vote-effs (Registration and/or cookies may be required to vote.) * Privacy Law 2.0 - Modernizing the Electronic Communications Privacy Act EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kevin Bankston will be featured on a panel discussion at the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy Bay Area Chapter. When: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 12-1:30 p.m. Where: San Francisco, CA https://www.eff.org/calendar/2010/08/24/privacy-law-2-0-modernizing-electronic * Stomping for Digital Civil Liberties Michael Wigren of WKID "Froggy" Radio in Vevay, Indiana, will stomp grapes in support of EFF. When: August 28, 2010, noon Where: Swiss Wine Festival, Vevay, IN https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/stomping-digital-civil-liberties * EFF at Ohio LinuxFest Visit the EFF table at the eighth annual Ohio LinuxFest, and learn more about our latest work. We'll have event-only membership and shop item specials available! When: September 10-12, 2010 Where: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH https://www.eff.org/calendar/2010/09/10/eff-ohio-linuxfest * Constitutional Rights On the Digital Frontier EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn will present two keynote addresses at Des Moines Area Community College's Sixth Annual Constitution Day. When: Thursday, September 16, 2010, 6:30 p.m. Where: Newton Campus, Des Moines, IA and When: Friday, September 17, 2010, 10:1011:05 a.m. Where: Ankeny Campus, Des Moins, IA https://www.eff.org/calendar/2010/09/16/sixth-annual-constitution-day-constitutional * Utah Cyber Symposium 2010: Strengthening Professionals' High Tech Presence EFF Senior Staff Attorney Marcia Hoffman will be speaking at the Cyber Symposium, a full day seminar covering the latest business and legal issues relating to the high tech industry. When: September 17, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Where: Garden Visitors Center, Lehi, UT https://www.eff.org/calendar/2010/09/17/utah-cyber-symposium-2010-strengthening * EFF At Hacker Halted Event EFF members and newsletter subscribers receive a $100 discount off the 2-day conference fees. When: October 9-15, 2010 Where: Intercontinental Hotel, Miami, FL https://www.eff.org/EFF-at-hacker-halted * Save the Date! EFF's 19th Annual Pioneer Awards with Emcee Cory Doctorow!! Prolific author, blogger, and tireless advocate of freedom in the networked world Cory Doctorow returns to San Francisco to emcee EFF's 19th Annual Pioneer Awards. When: November 8, 2010 Where: San Francisco, CA https://www.eff.org/calendar/2010/11/07/save-date-effs-19th-annual-pioneer-awards-emcee : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : * Dream Job Alert! EFF is seeking a senior-level copyright attorney. Responsibilities to include litigation, public speaking, blogging, media outreach, and legislative and regulatory matters related to a variety of high technology legal issues. For a full job description, go to: https://www.eff.org/about/opportunities/senior-copyright-lawyer : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :
