In our 588th issue:

• UPDATES
• MINILINKS
• ANNOUNCEMENTS

GPS Inventor Joins EFF in Fight Against Warrantless GPS Tracking

The principal inventor of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other leading technologists joined EFF in urging the Supreme Court to block the government from using GPS tracking without first getting a warrant, arguing that the massive collection of sensitive location data should require court oversight. The government can use location information over time to learn detailed information about you like—like where you go to church, what sort of doctors you go to, what meetings and activities you participate in, and much more. Police should not have blanket permission to install GPS devices and collect detailed information about people's movements over time without court review.

EU Parliament Takes the First Step to Prevent Sales of Surveillance Equipment Used to Violate Human Rights

The European Parliament has formally recognized what has become increasingly clear: some European tech companies have been selling the tools used to surveil democracy activists to repressive governments. In response, the European Parliament passed a resolution to bar overseas sales of systems that monitor phone calls and text messages, or provide targeted Internet surveillance, if they are used to violate democratic principles, human rights or freedom of speech.

Freedom of Expression Under Attack in Mexico: Social Network Users and Bloggers Face Violence, Political Backlash

Bloggers in the Mexican border town of Nuevo Laredo are being terrorized by the Los Zetas drug cartel, which is trying to silence citizens who speak out against drug-related violence. EFF recommends that bloggers who are concerned about their security and safety post under a pseudonym, use Tor to prevent eavesdroppers from seeing the sites they visit and prevent websites from collecting data that might reveal their physical location, and use HTTPS to encrypt their private communications when possible.

EFF Updates

California's Reader Privacy Act Signed into Law

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed the Reader Privacy Act, updating reader privacy law to cover new technologies like electronic books and online book services as well as local bookstores. Authors, companies, and advocacy groups like EFF and the ACLU supported the act, and applaud this forward-thinking law to protect the privacy of consumer reading data.

Safeconnect, Universities, P2P, Network Security and Risk: The Tangled World of "Policy Enforcement" on Other People's Computers

After months of work spurred by an initial report by Professor Ted Byfield of New School University's Parsons New School for Design, EFF is happy to report a security vulnerability fix in a product called Safe•Connect, used nationwide for network monitoring on college campuses.

Publication of the FCC’s Net Neutrality Rules Spawns a Flurry of Legal Challenges

Now that the FCC’s "Open Internet" net neutrality rules have been published in the Federal Register, opening the door to legal challenges, the lawsuits are piling on. Verizon appealed the order, arguing that the FCC overstepped its authority in issuing its net neutrality order, while Free Press argued that the order doesn’t go far enough, objecting foremost to the relaxed requirements for wireless as opposed to wireline providers.

On Newspapers, Public Discourse, and the Right to Remain Anonymous

In a recent Washington Times editorial, Gayle Falkenthal declared that "the time has come to limit the ability of people to remain anonymous" online. Her arguments against online pseudonyms are not only inaccurate, they're also dangerous: online anonymity protects a range of people, from Syrian dissidents to small-town LGBT activists and plenty of others in between.

Party Like It's 1986 - Demand Privacy Like It's 2011

To help support the effort to reform ECPA, and in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of ECPA’s signing, EFF is joining Google, CDT, ACLU, CEI, TechFreedom, CCIA, and Americans for Tax Reform to throw the capital's most awesome party - Party Like It's 1986. If you’re in Washington D.C., join us on October 20th for an 80s-themed celebration of digital privacy. But even if you can’t be there in person, you can urge Congress to update privacy law by signing our petition.

Announcing the Humble Frozen Synapse Bundle

The newest iteration of the Humble Bundle lets users pay what they want for a cross-platform, DRM-free version of the innovative tactical strategy game Frozen Synapse plus the game soundtrack. Customers can earmark a percentage of their donations to support charities, including EFF. To sweeten the pot, customers who choose to give more than the average amount will also receive the entire Humble Frozenbyte Bundle suite, including Trine, Shadowgrounds: Survivor, Shadowgrounds, Splot, and Jack Claw!

Experienced Writer/Editor Sought for Cutting Edge Nonprofit

EFF is looking for a strong writer/editor who is familiar with issues involving high tech freedom and can make a compelling case about why our work is so important to current and potential funders. Along with providing context for EFF’s technology and activism projects, this person must be able to write clearly about complicated litigation.The writer/editor is responsible for researching grant opportunities, sending out letters of inquiry and proposals to foundations, keeping track of dates and deadlines, and submitting reports at the end of the grant periods. Excellent interpersonal, written, oral and organizational skills are essential. Grantwriting experience is a big plus but not required.

miniLinks

Ken Burns Prohibition: Olmstead

Warrantless wiretaps, roaring 20s-style: Ken Burns' PBS documentary tells the story of the landmark wiretap case Olmstead v. United States.

Italy: Internet Press Freedom Under Threat

One of the provisions of the Media and Wiretapping Bill currently being discussed by the Italian Parliament threatens free expression and innovation in Italy.

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.

Press releases and EFF announcements & articles may be reproduced individually at will.

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