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EFFector Vol. 35, No. 13 Thursday, October 12, 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 799th issue:

* The Federal Government’s Privacy Watchdog Concedes: 702 Must Change
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has released its
much-anticipated report on Section 702, a legal authority that allows the
government to collect a massive amount of digital communications around the
world and in the U.S. It agreed with EFF and organizations across the
political spectrum that the program requires significant reforms if it is to
be renewed before its December 31, 2023 expiration. Of course, EFF believes
that Congress should go further—including letting the program expire—in
order to restore the privacy being denied to anyone whose communications
cross international boundaries.

Read more: [link removed]

* Get Real, Congress: Censoring Search Results or Recommendations Is Still Censorship
For the past two years, Congress has been trying to revise the Kids Online
Safety Act (KOSA) to address criticisms from EFF, human and digital rights
organizations, LGBTQ+ groups, and others, that the core provisions of the
bill will censor the internet for everyone and harm young people. All of
those changes fail to solve KOSA’s inherent censorship problem: As long as
the “duty of care” remains in the bill, it will still force platforms to
censor perfectly legal content.

Read more: [link removed]

* Young People Fight Back!
Congress seems hell-bent on surveilling, censoring, and digitally isolating
America’s young people. But they are fighting back—in D.C., on Discord,
and across the country. We’re offering a special Neon membership level [1]
for anyone under 18 who is in the digital rights fight. Help to support our
activists, technologists, and attorneys defend privacy, digital creativity,
and internet freedom for everyone. (And don't worry, we won't ask you to
verify your age!) Over 18? You can also gift a Neon membership [2].


[1] [link removed]
[2] [link removed]
Read more: [link removed]

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EFF Updates

* California Takes Some Big Steps for Digital Rights
California often sets the bar for technology legislation across the country.
This year, the state enacted several laws that strengthen consumer digital
rights. Californians now enjoy the right to repair: S.B. 244, authored by
California Sen. Susan Eggman, makes it easier for individuals and independent
repair shops to access materials and parts needed for maintenance on
electronics and appliances. Another significant win comes with the signing of
S.B. 362, also known as the CA Delete Act, which was authored by California
Sen. Josh Becker and builds on the state's landmark data privacy law and its
data broker registry to make it easier for anyone to exert greater control
over their privacy. 

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* This Bill Would Revive The Worst Patents On Software—And Human Genes
Most high-tech patent lawsuits are brought by patent trolls—companies that
exist not to provide products or services, but primarily have a business
using patents to threaten others’ work—and some politicians are proposing
to make that bad situation worse.  The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act,
S. 2140, (PERA), sponsored by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Coons
(D-DE) would be a huge gift to patent trolls, a few tech firms that
aggressively license patents, and patent lawyers. For everyone else, it will
be a huge loss. That’s why we’re opposing it, and asking our supporters
to speak out as well.

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* How To Turn Off Google’s “Privacy Sandbox” Ad Tracking—and Why You Should
Google has rolled out "Privacy Sandbox," a Chrome feature first announced
back in 2019 that, among other things, exchanges third-party cookies—the
most common form of tracking technology—for what the company is now calling
"Topics." While there have been some changes to how this works since 2019,
Topics is still tracking your internet use for Google’s behavioral
advertising. Firefox and Safari are better browser options if you'd prefer
more privacy, but if you’re sticking with Chrome, we’ll show you how to
get out of the Sandbox.

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* The State of Chihuahua Is Building a 20-Story Tower in Ciudad Juarez to Surveil 13 Cities–and Texas Will Also Be Watching
Chihuahua state officials and a notorious Mexican security contractor broke
ground last summer on the /Torre Centinela/ (Sentinel Tower), an ominous,
20-story high-rise in downtown Ciudad Juarez that will serve as the central
node of a new AI-enhanced surveillance regime. With tentacles reaching into
13 Mexican cities and a data pipeline that will channel intelligence all the
way to Austin, Texas, the monstrous project will be unlike anything seen
before along the U.S.-Mexico border. And that's saying a lot, considering the
last 30-plus years of surging technology on the U.S side of the border. 

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* Cities Should Act NOW to Ban Predictive Policing… and Stop Using ShotSpotter, Too
Sound Thinking, the company behind ShotSpotter—an acoustic gunshot
detection technology that is rife with problems—is reportedly buying
Geolitica, the company behind PredPol, a predictive policing technology known
to exacerbate inequalities by directing police to already massively
surveilled communities. Sound Thinking acquired the other major predictive
policing technology—Hunchlab—in 2018. This consolidation of harmful and
flawed technologies means it’s even more critical for cities to move
swiftly to ban the harmful tactics of both of these technologies.

[link removed]

* Audio Version of EFFector Newsletter
Here’s an audio version of EFFector. We hope you enjoy it!

[link removed]

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Announcements

* EFF’s 2022 Annual Report
Get the bird’s-eye view of what EFF has been up to. 2022 by the numbers:

* 🔵 17 legal and legislative victories
* 🔵 78 press mentions per day (average)
* 🔵 20 amicus briefs filed
* 🔵 76 Electronic Frontier Alliance members
* 🔵 16.2 million unique page views of EFF.org
* 🔵 154 countries where “How to Fix the Internet” podcast was
downloaded
* 🔵 489,400 EFFector newsletter subscribers
* 🔵 nearly 1 in 5 EFF members live outside the U.S.
* 🔵 34% of members are sustaining donors

 

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* Tor University Challenge
EFF is conducting the Tor University Challenge, a campaign urging higher
education institutions to support free, anonymous speech by running a Tor
network relay. Universities answering this call to defend private access to
an uncensored web will receive prizes while helping millions of people around
the world and providing students and faculty a vital learning experience.
Tell your alma mater to join the network today!

[link removed]

* New Watchers T-shirt!
Don’t miss out on our new member t-shirt for 2023! Donate at the Copper
Level or above to receive our new Watchers t-shirt.

[link removed]

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Job Openings

* No available positions at this time
Bookmark our opportunities page [1] for future options!


[1] [link removed]
[link removed]

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MiniLinks

- The Uncertain Future of an Eavesdropping Law (Defense One Radio podcast)
"It's actually really hard to spy on the entire world and do it within the
rule of law in a way that never allows any misuse. It's a hard and expensive
thing to do, and they're not doing it very well," EFF’s Cindy Cohn said.

[link removed]

- FCC Plans to Restore Net Neutrality Rules Tossed Out Under Trump (The Register)
Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said she
intends to seek a vote to restore US net neutrality rules that were nixed by
the Trump administration. EFF’s Corynne McSherry explains why this is good
for internet users across America, and sets a good example for the world.

[link removed]

- Who Has Access to Your Security Camera Footage? (House Beautiful)
EFF’s Matthew Guariglia warns how home security camera companies could be
sharing your footage with law enforcement without your knowledge, much less
your permission. "Your footage could be used to enable police harassment or
surveillance of neighbors, pedestrians, or your family without you even
knowing."

[link removed]

- A Hollywood-Backed Nonprofit’s App Promises To Identify Sex Traffickers. But Critics Say It Endangers Survivors (Forbes)
“An app built to flag people into binary filings of good or bad based on
their (often completely legal) association with sex work is really, really,
stupid,” said EFF’s Daly Barnett. “Clumsy work like this… tends to
make trafficking worse and consensual sex work more dangerous.”

[link removed]

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-------- SUPPORTED BY DONORS
-------------------------------------------------

Our members make it possible for EFF to bring legal and technological
expertise into crucial battles about online rights. Whether defending free
speech online or challenging unconstitutional surveillance, your
participation makes a difference. Every donation gives technology users who
value freedom online a stronger voice and more formidable advocate. Check out
our FAQ for information on memberships, donations, shop orders, corporate
giving, matching gifts, and other ways to give.
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If you aren't already, please consider becoming an EFF member today.


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* Administrivia

Editor:
[email protected] [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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