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EFFector Vol. 37, No. 4 Monday, April 14, 2025 [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 821st issue:

* Congress Takes Another Step Toward Enabling Broad Internet Censorship
The TAKE IT DOWN Act, a House bill that seeks to speed up the removal of
certain kinds of troubling online content, is now expected to receive a floor
vote in the coming weeks before heading to President Trump’s desk for his
signature. While the bill is meant to address a serious problem—the
distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII)—the
notice-and-takedown system it creates is an open invitation for powerful
people to pressure websites into removing content they dislike. Trump himself
has shown just how this system can be abused, saying earlier this year that
he would personally use the takedown provisions to censor speech critical of
the president. Tell your Member of Congress to oppose censorship and to
oppose TAKE IT DOWN.

Read more: [link removed]

* Judge Rejects Government’s Attempt to Dismiss EFF Lawsuit Against OPM, DOGE, and Musk
EFF's lawsuit seeking to stop the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
from disclosing tens of millions of Americans’ private, sensitive
information to Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE)
can continue, a federal judge ruled earlier this month. Judge Denise L. Cote
of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York partially
rejected the defendants’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which was filed
Feb. 11 on behalf of two labor unions and individual current and former
government workers across the country. This decision is a victory: The court
agreed that the claims that OPM illegally disclosed highly personal records
of millions of people to DOGE agents can move forward with the goal of
stopping that ongoing disclosure and requiring that any shared information be
returned. 

Read more: [link removed]

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EFF Updates

* Site-Blocking Legislation Is Back. It’s Still a Terrible Idea.
More than a decade ago, Congress tried to pass SOPA and PIPA—two sweeping
bills that would have allowed the government and copyright holders to quickly
shut down entire websites based on allegations of piracy. The backlash was
immediate and massive. Thirteen years later, members of Congress in both
parties are ready to try this again. The Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act
(FADPA), along with at least one other bill still in draft form, would revive
this reckless strategy. Lawmakers claim they’re targeting “pirate”
sites—but what they’re really doing is building an internet kill switch.

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* How to Delete Your 23andMe Data
Last month, the genetic testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy, which
means the genetic data the company collected on millions of users is now up
for sale. With this bankruptcy, the concerns we expressed last year remain
the same. It is unclear what will happen with your genetic data if 23andMe
finds a buyer, and that uncertainty is a clear indication that you should
consider deleting your data.

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* Online Tracking is Out of Control—Privacy Badger Can Help You Fight Back
Every time you browse the web, you're being tracked. Most websites contain
invisible tracking code that allows companies to collect and monetize data
about your online activity. Since we first released Privacy Badger in 2014,
online tracking has only gotten more invasive and Privacy Badger has evolved
to keep up. Whether this is your first time using it or you’ve had it
installed since day one, here’s a primer on how Privacy Badger protects
you.

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* EFF, Civil Society Groups, Academics Call on UK Home Secretary to Address Flawed Data Bill
EFF joined 30 civil society groups and academics in warning about the law
enforcement risks contained within the UK's draft Data Use and Access Bill
(DUA Bill). The Home Secretary must address the lack of safeguards governing
law enforcement use of automated decision-making tools before time runs out.

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* Vote for “How to Fix the Internet” in the Webby Awards People's Voice Competition!
EFF’s “How to Fix the Internet” podcast is a nominee in the Webby
Awards 29th Annual People's Voice competition – and we need your support to
bring the trophy home! Submit your vote by Thursday, April 17th. And head to
our site to catch up on past seasons of the podcast to become deeply informed
on vital technology issues and join the movement working to build a better
technological future.

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

[link removed]

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Announcements

* Bay Area Members' Speakeasy
EFF members are invited to join EFF staff in-person for our Bay Area Members'
Speakeasy on April 23! This event is a free, casual gathering to give you a
chance to mingle with local EFF supporters and meet the activists, lawyers,
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.

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* EFF at BSides San Francisco
EFF is excited to be back for BSides San Francisco April 26-27! We'll be in
the expo area, where you can stop by the EFF booth to chat with our team and
learn about the latest developments in fighting for privacy and security
online. You can even pick up a special gift as a token of our thanks when you
take advantage of our membership specials or donate!

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* EFF's 17th Annual Cyberlaw Trivia Night
On Thursday, June 5th, the Bay Area's best legal minds gather in support of
online freedom as we celebrate our 17th Annual Cyberlaw Trivia Night! EFF’s
crack team of legal experts will challenge participants to delve into their
knowledge of obscure tech law minutiae–all in the pursuit of this year's
coveted EFF Cyberlaw Quiz Cup. Who will bask in the glory of ultimate
victory? Register your team today!

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* EFF at HOPE_16
EFF is also excited to be back in New York for HOPE August 15-17! Interested
in going to HOPE_16 this summer? Through the month of April, our friends at
2600 are donating 10% of HOPE ticket sales to EFF. Grab your ticket
now—hack the planet while benefiting EFF!

[link removed]

* New EFF Gear Is Here
Head over to the EFF shop to check out the latest in freedom-supporting swag,
including pins, a Braille sticker, tabletop gaming dice, playing cards, and a
new heat-changing mug that reveals its secret slogan when hot. Sip in style
and support EFF’s work defending your privacy and digital rights, one cup
at a time.

[link removed]

* Corporate Giving and Sponsorships
EFF thanks the organizations who support our work. Learn how your team can
join the fight for digital rights at eff.org/thanks [1].


[1] [link removed]
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Job Openings

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MiniLinks

- What To Do If Border Police Ask To Search Your Phone (Reason)
Prospective travelers "need to have a plan about how to protect their data,
and what they are going to do if they're pulled into secondary inspection and
asked to unlock their device," EFF’s Sophia Cope told Reason. "You cannot
be in secondary inspection like, oh crap, what am I supposed to be doing?
That's the most important thing. The second most important point is that one
size doesn't fit all."

[link removed]

- Inside a Powerful Database ICE Uses to Identify and Deport People (404 Media)
EFF’s Adam Schwartz warned 404 Media about the dangers of government data
collection and misuse. “For half a century or more, one of the first
principles of data privacy has been if government collects data for one
purpose, government should not use that data for another purpose without
permission of the data subject,” he said. “One of the reasons this has
been so central to data privacy is that it’s not just what the advocates
want, but if you don’t follow this rule, really bad things happen. In 1942,
the U.S. Census Bureau had information about the addresses of Japanese
Americans, and they gave that info to the Department of Defense, who used it
for the purposes of rounding up and detaining innocent Japanese Americans.”

[link removed]

- TikTok ban: What's next for app as bidding war rages? (Context News)
"To truly reduce the supply of data that foreign adversaries can obtain, we
need federal privacy legislation that limits how all companies collect and
share our personal data," EFF’s Babette Ngene told Context News, explaining
how the TikTok ban’s privacy justifications fail.

[link removed]

- Google Is Helping the Trump Administration Deploy AI Along the Mexican Border (The Intercept)
EFF’s Dave Maass told The Intercept how AI is just the latest wasteful and
invasive surveillance technology being thrust on border communities. “For
more than two decades, surveillance towers at the border have proven to be a
boondoggle, and adding AI isn’t going to make it any less of a boondoggle
— it will just be an AI-powered boondoggle,” he said.

[link removed]

- Cops Used the Shoplifting Panic to Buy Tons of New Equipment (The Appeal)
EFF’s Matthew Guariglia explained to The Appeal how the use of high-tech
surveillance to fight retail theft exposes the insidious nature of law
enforcement mission creep. “If the tools being purchased to fight terrorism
are now being used to find a turnstile jumper,” he said. “Then tools
being used to fight organized retail theft are gonna go the same way.”

[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]

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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