Join EFF at Dragon Con! We're excited to be back with a bunch of talks on the Electronic Frontiers Forum track @ Dragon Con.
About Dragon Con
Dragon Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction & fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe. Call us a phenomenon, call us one of the most well attended pop-culture conventions in the country, call us the most fan fun you can have in five days: Dragon Con is where you want to be on Labor Day Weekend.
Attend our Speakeasy
Current EFF supporters can attend our Members' Only Speakeasy: Atlanta! Raise a glass and discover EFF's latest work defending digital freedoms online. This event is a free, casual gathering to give you a chance to mingle with local EFF supporters and meet the lawyers, activists, and technologists behind the world's leading digital civil liberties organization. It is also our chance to thank you, the EFF members, who make this work possible. Be on the lookout for an email invitation by August 25 or feel free to reach out to melissa@eff.org to get the full event details.
Learn More About EFF's Work
EFF will be at a variety of panels and events on the Electronic Frontiers Forum track, so be sure to check them out and say hi when you see us!
Internet Shutdowns in Foreign Countries
EFF Senior Staff Technologist - Bill Budington
EFF Tech Ops Director - Starchy Grant
Friday, August 30 @ 11:30 AM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
Human rights organization Access Now reports that governments across the world shut down Internet access at least 187 times across 35 countries in 2022 alone. In many cases these shutdowns were associated with violence. What can be done to protect access, and could we see shutdowns in the U.S.A.?
The Struggle to Opt Out of Automobile Telematics
EFF Senior Staff Technologist - Bill Budington
EFF Associate Director, Activism - Hayley Tsukayama
Friday, August 30 @ 1:00 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
Today's automobiles are essentially rolling smartphones, collecting an astounding amount of data which can then be shared or resold with little knowledge or awareness of the owner. Opting out of data collection is surprisingly difficult, with few protections for owners.
FTC Bans Non-Compete Clauses: Will the Ban Hold?
EFF Community Manager - José Martinez
Friday, August 30 @ 2:30 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
The FTC has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking, protecting workers from agreements not to work in other jobs in similar industries, which reduces the market power and choices of workers. Will the ban be upheld in court, and if not, what are the next steps?
The Effort to Shape Public Opinion in the Israeli-Hamas War
EFF Community Manager - José Martinez
EFF Tech Ops Director - Starchy Grant
Friday, August 30 @ 7:00 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
Americans are divided in their opinions of the Israeli-Hamas war, however, social media has had an outsized role in shaping opinions as opposed to traditional media outlets. What tactics are being used to shape opinion, why, and what are the outcomes so far?
Age Verification Laws Shut Down Adult Websites in Eight States
EFF Tech Ops Director - Starchy Grant
Friday, August 30 @ 10:00 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
Age verification laws have been enacted in at least eight states ostensibly to protect children from adult content, but the identification requirements have caused some adult sites to block access from these states. What are the risks of providing such identity, and do we have a right to anonymity?
Brainwave Privacy Law Passed in Colorado
EFF Associate Director, Activism - Hayley Tsukayama
Saturday, August 31 @ 10:00 AM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
What exactly is "brainwave privacy", and why has the state of Colorado moved to protect it in law?
AI Regulation: Can Congress or the EU Get it Right?
EFF IP Litigation Director - Mitch Stoltz
Saturday, August 31 @ 11:30 AM ET | Hilton Crystal Ballroom
In an atmosphere of great concern and fearmongering, regulators are being pressured to put laws in place to ensure that AI technologies are used ethically. Can we successfully regulate AI to ensure ethical use, or will regulators overshoot the mark?
Insurance Rates and Your Privacy in the Era of Drones, Satellites, and Data
EFF Associate Director, Activism - Hayley Tsukayama
Saturday, August 31 @ 2:30 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
The advent of data brokers, satellites, and drones has created a vast ocean of data that insurers could use to theoretically eliminate virtually all risk, while at the same time reducing the size of the premium pool. Should insurers be allowed to do this, and is the public interest being served?
Holding Private Police Foundations Accountable to the Public Interest
EFF Community Manager - José Martinez
EFF Senior Policy Analyst - Matthew Guariglia
Saturday, August 31 @ 4:00 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
Should private police foundations be held accountable when they fund or perform the functions of government, and are there consequences if we fail to do so? We will take a look at Atlanta's Public Safety Training Center ("Cop City") as an example.
Passkeys: Are they Better Than Passwords?Act
EFF Tech Ops Director - Starchy Grant
Saturday, August 31 @ 4:00 PM | Hilton Room 313-314
Passkeys eliminate the need to memorize passwords and use password managers, except for the initial device unlocking. What problems do they solve, and is there a down side? Also, how to you reset a password that you never see and don't have to remember?
How Georgia is Undermining the Constitutionally Protected Right to Protest
EFF Senior Staff Technologist - Bill Budington
EFF Community Manager - José Martinez
EFF Senior Policy Analyst - Matthew Guariglia
Saturday, August 31 @ 8:30 PM | Hilton Room 313-314
While protests over "Cop City" and the plight of Palestinians continue, Georgia has enacted laws which may infringe on freedom of assembly and speech rights. What are these laws, and could they be successfully challenged in court?
RISAA Expansion of Government Surveillance: Now We All Work for the NSA?
EFF Senior Policy Analyst - Matthew Guariglia
EFF Tech Ops Director - Starchy Grant
Sunday, September 1 @ 1:00 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
The Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act is an overly broad solution to a narrow problem stemming from a recent court case and is part of the Section 702 FISA reauthorization. What does all of this mean, and how is it impacting our Fourth Amendment rights?
Steamboat Willie and Tigger Too: How to Exploit the Public Domain
EFF IP Litigation Director - Mitch Stoltz
Sunday, September 1 @ 4:00 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
As iconic copyrighted characters such as Steamboat Willie and Tigger fall into the public domain, what rights do we have to use these characters, and what cautions do we still need to observe?
Social Media Bans for Kids
EFF Associate Director, Activism - Hayley Tsukayama
Sunday, September 1 @ 5:30 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
Florida has banned social media for kids under 14 while requiring 14 and 15 year-olds to have parental consent. Other states are eyeing similar restrictions. Do minors have First Amendment rights, and how is age verification accomplished?
Automated Speed Enforcement in Georgia
EFF Community Manager - José Martinez
Sunday, September 1 @ 7:00 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
Speed cameras that can send enforceable tickets are now allowed in Georgia around school zones, and are potentially bringing in millions of dollars. Do these devices actually improve safety, or are they just a new kind of driving tax? How is the money that is raised being used?
The Fight to Save the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
EFF Associate Director, Activism - Hayley Tsukayama
Sunday, September 1 @ 8:30 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provided discounts on private Internet service for eligible households during the pandemic, but was shut down around June 2024. What are the justifications for bringing it back, or even making it permanent?
Hacking 201
EFF Senior Staff Technologist - Bill Budington
Sunday, September 1 @ 10:00 PM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
Q&A from our panel of experts; play “Stump the Hacker”!
Legal Exposure from Running Your Own Mastodon Server/Instance
EFF Senior Staff Technologist - Bill Budington
Monday, September 2 @ 10:00 AM ET | Hilton Room 313-314
Mastodon is a federated social network with decentralized control, where each server has its own policies and moderation. What legal obligations does one take on when they choose to run their own server with its own policies and moderation, as compared to using monolithic services such as Twitter/X?
Defending Against Cell Site Simulators (IMSI Catchers)
EFF Senior Staff Technologist - Bill Budington
EFF Senior Policy Analyst - Matthew Guariglia
Monday, September 2 @ 1:00 PM | Hilton Room 313-314
IMSI catchers are "fake" cell sites used by law enforcement (and increasingly now by scammers and SMishers) to track cell phones and intercept data. Is there a way to detect when such devices are being used, and to defend against their use when using mobile technology?
