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EFFector Vol. 35, No. 6 Monday, May 15, 2023 [email protected]

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
ISSN 1062-9424

effector: n, Computer Sci. A device for producing a
desired change.

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In our 792nd issue:

* The Kids Online Safety Act is Still A Huge Danger to Our Rights Online
Congress has resurrected the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bill that would
increase surveillance and restrict access to information in the name of
protecting children online. Today’s version of KOSA would still require
surveillance of anyone 16 and under. It would put the tools of censorship in
the hands of state attorneys general, and would greatly endanger the rights,
and safety, of young people online. And KOSA’s burdens will affect adults,
too, who will likely face hurdles to accessing legal content online as a
result of the bill.

Read more: [link removed]

* The STOP CSAM Act Would Put Security and Free Speech at Risk
A new U.S. Senate bill aims to remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from
the internet. But the bill would also make it a crime to offer encryption,
because it could "facilitate" the sharing of illegal child abuse
material—even if there's no evidence that a platform or service intended to
do so. The law would undermine digital security for all internet users,
impacting private messaging and email app providers, social media platforms,
cloud storage providers, and many other internet intermediaries and online
services.

Read more: [link removed]

* The EARN IT Act Is Back, Seeking To Scan Our Messages and Photos
The EARN IT Act creates an unelected government commission, stacks it with
law enforcement personnel, and then tasks it with creating “best
practices” for running an internet website or app. If EARN IT passes,
we’re likely to see state lawmakers step in and mandate scanning of
messages and other files similar to the plan that Apple wisely walked away
from last year. Digital rights supporters sent more than 200,000 messages to
Congress to kill earlier versions of this bill. We’ve beaten it twice
before, and we can do it again. We need your support to stop the EARN IT Act
one more time.  

Read more: [link removed]

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EFF Updates

* Audio Version of EFFector Newsletter
We're piloting an audio version of EFFector's Newsletter. We hope you enjoy
it!

[link removed]

* EFF and ECNL's Comment to the Meta Oversight Board on the Term 'Shaheed'
EFF recently submitted comments with the European Center for Not-for-Profit
Law (ECNL) to the Oversight Board on the moderation of the Arabic word
“shaheed.” EFF and ECNL’s comments address the over-moderation of the
word and other Arabic-language content, particularly through the use of
automated content moderation tools. 

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* California Bill to Stop Dragnet Surveillance of People Seeking Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Passes Key Committees
A.B. 793 seeks to protect people seeking abortion and gender-affirming care
from dragnet-style digital surveillance. EFF is a proud co-sponsor of the
bill, which has passed two key committees in the California Assembly. If
you're a Californian who'd like to express your support for protecting the
privacy of vulnerable people seeking healthcare—please speak up for this
bill.

[link removed]

* Podcast Episode: Safer Sex Work Makes a Safer Internet
An internet that is safe for sex workers is an internet that is safer for
everyone. Public interest technology lawyer Kendra Albert and sex worker,
activist, and researcher Danielle Blunt join EFF’s Cindy Cohn and Jason
Kelley to talk about the failures of FOSTA-SESTA, the need for encryption to
create a safe internet, and how to create cross-movement relationships with
other activists. 

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* Neighborhood Watch Out: Cops Are Incorporating Private Cameras Into Their Real-Time Surveillance Networks
In a quiet but rapid expansion of law enforcement surveillance, U.S. cities
are buying and promoting products from Georgia-based company Fusus in order
to access on-demand, live video from public and private camera networks.
Grocery store trips, walks down the street, and otherwise minding your own
business when outside your home could soon come under the ever-present eye of
the government. 

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* Federal Appeals Court Gets It: Fair Use Protects Security Research Tools
In a refreshingly direct opinion, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has
ruled that creating and selling virtualization software for security research
is a fair use. Along the way, it provides a kind of master class in applying
copyright’s fair use doctrine to functional works like computer programs.

[link removed]

* Eight Years Holding ISPs to Account in Latin America: A Comparative Outlook of Victories and Challenges for User Privacy
Latin American and Spanish telecommunications companies have made important
advances in their privacy policies and practices, but persistent gaps and
worrying trends pose potential risks for internet and mobile phone users.
We’ve released a report based on the analyses and assessment of industry
practices by EFF partners over the last eight years to shed light on telecom
and Internet service providers’ (ISPs) commitments to users’ privacy.

[link removed]

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Announcements

* New Stay Golden Hooded Sweatshirt!
Snag our new, heavier-weight hoodie with raglan sleeves and gunmetal zipper
from our shop or when you donate at the Titanium level or above.

[link removed]

* EFF at Black Hat USA
EFF is once again excited to be back in Las Vegas for Black Hat USA August
5-10! If you are interested in submitting a talk to Black Hat, you can
contact [email protected] [1] about any legal concerns regarding your talk or any
sensitive InfoSec research you are conducting.


[1] mailto:[email protected]
[link removed]

* No Ethics In Big Tech: Comedy Night
On May 20, No Ethics In Big Tech, a local organization in the Electronic
Frontier Alliance, is hosting an online comedy night to discuss the ethical
implications of technology, the latest developments in tech, and the
importance of a free and independent press in the age of algorithmic news
feeds.

[link removed]

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Job Openings

* Public Interest Technology Director
EFF is looking for a full-time Public Interest Technology Director to lead
our distributed 15-person Public Interest Technology team, including our
Certbot engineers, Privacy Badger developers, and growing group of
public-facing technology analysts, security researchers, and expert
rabble-rousers. Applications accepted until May 19, 2023.

[link removed]

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MiniLinks

- The UK’s Tortured Attempt to Remake The Internet, Explained (The Verge)
The UK’s Online Safety Bill aims to make the country ‘the safest place in
the world to be online’, but is a threat to free expression and privacy
online. EFF warns that the bill could become “a blueprint for repression
around the world.”

[link removed]

- Journalists Are Under Threat at Border Zones (Columbia Journalism Review)
Around the world, authorities at ports of entry are granted latitude to
search and detain individuals. EFF’s Adam Schwartz discusses how law
enforcement and intelligence agencies in the US seem more and more excited
about this kind of end-run around the Constitution.

[link removed]

- New Senate Bill Would Turn Online Services Into Narcs (Reason)
The Cooper Davis Act would force online services to monitor and report any
mentions of illicit intoxicants. It may also give companies incentive to
search private messages to find protected speech that is merely indicative of
illegal behavior. EFF’s Mario Trujillo outlines the concerns.

[link removed]

- They Were Flooded By Online Harassment and Hatred. They Didn't Know a Targeted Campaign Caused It (USA Today)
While Americans enjoy significant freedom of speech because of the First
Amendment, individuals do not have absolute free reign to use speech that
internationally harasses or intimidates others. EFF’s Aaron Mackey breaks
it down.

[link removed]

- How Louisiana Police Are Using a DNA ‘Lab in a Box’ to Solve Crimes (PBS)
Law enforcement officials consider Rapid DNA technology as a big boost to
investigative work. But there is a strong likelihood that people will be
implicated for crimes that they didn’t commit based on a DNA sample.
EFF’s Jennifer Lynch warns against technologies like Rapid DNA.

[link removed]

- Miles Apart: Texas and California Lawmakers Stake Opposite Corners of Abortion Policy (Ms. magazine)
It’s about 1,500 miles from Austin to Sacramento, but Texas and California
lawmakers are a million miles apart on how to treat private data and free
speech related to reproductive health. EFF’s Jennifer Pinsof and Hayley
Tsukayama explain the high stakes.

[link removed]

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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
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If you aren't already, please consider becoming an EFF member today.


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* Administrivia

Editor:
[email protected]

EFFector is published by:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
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Membership & donation queries:
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General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries:
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Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is
encouraged. MiniLinks do not necessarily represent
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