______ ______ ______ _
| ____|| ____|| ____|___ __ | |_ ___ _ _
| ____|| ____|| ____|/ -_)/ _|| _|/ _ \| '_|
|______||_| |_| \___|\__| \__|\___/|_|
EFFector Vol. 34, No. 6 Tuesday, December 13, 2022
[email protected]
A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
ISSN 1062-9424
effector: n, Computer Sci. A device for producing a
desired change.
: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :
In our 786th issue:
* VICTORY! San Francisco Bans Killer Robots…For Now
In a stunning 8-to-3 vote on December 6th, the San Francisco Board of
Supervisors banned the San Francisco Police Department from using deadly
force with remote-controlled robots. The Board also sent the policy back to
its Rules Committee for revisions and more public comment. This is a big
reversal: just one week earlier, the Board voted 8-3 to authorize the SFPD to
use these killer robots. The campaign against the use of this technology was
covered by news outlets across the globe and could not have been achieved
without the hard work of activists and residents across the Bay Area who
worked together and made their voices heard.
Read more: [link removed]
* VICTORY! Apple Commits to Encrypting iCloud, Drops Phone-Scanning Plans
On December 7th, Apple announced it will provide fully encrypted iCloud
backups, meeting a longstanding demand by EFF and other privacy-focused
organizations. EFF applauds Apple for listening to experts, child advocates,
and users who want to protect their most sensitive data. Encryption is one of
the most important tools we have for maintaining privacy and security online.
That’s why we included the demand that Apple let users encrypt iCloud
backups in the Fix It Already campaign that we launched in 2019.
Read more: [link removed]
* VICTORY! The Safe Connections Act is Now Law
The Safe Connections Act (S. 120) overwhelmingly passed both chambers of
Congress, and it was signed by the President on December 7th. The Act makes
it easier for survivors of domestic violence to separate their phone line
from a family plan while keeping their own phone number. It also requires the
FCC to create rules to protect the privacy of the people seeking this
protection.
Read more: [link removed]
* VICTORY! The Link Tax Bill Was Excluded from the National Defense Authorization Act
EFF and its allies kept the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act
(JCPA) “link tax” bill out of must-pass U.S. military legislation. This
bill would create a link tax, impacting the ability of users to see and share
information online. The next stop? Keeping it out of the year-end omnibus.
Read more: [link removed]
: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :
EFF Updates
* Audio Version of EFFector Newsletter
We're piloting an audio version of EFFector's Newsletter. We hope you enjoy
it!
[link removed]
* The Fediverse Could Be Awesome (If We Don’t Screw It Up)
Many people have left Twitter recently, feeling the chaos of Elon Musk’s
takeover. Many of them are looking for a new home in the “fediverse.”
This represents a rare opportunity to make a better corner of the
internet…if we don’t screw it up.
[link removed]
* Leaving Twitter’s Walled Garden
More and more people are checking out something called Mastodon as a Twitter
alternative, but what is Mastodon anyway? This explainer will help you make
heads or tails of this new approach to communications and social media.
[link removed]
* From Camera Towers to Spy Blimps, Border Researchers Now Can Use 65+ Open-Licensed Images of Surveillance Tech from EFF
EFF has released a series of images taken along the U.S. Mexico-Border in
California, Arizona, and New Mexico under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
license, which means they are free to use so long as credit is given to
EFF.
[link removed]
* The Filter Mandate Bill Is a Privacy and Security Mess
Among its many other problems, the Strengthening Measures to Advance Rights
Technologies Copyright Act would mandate a slew of filtering technologies
that online service providers must “accommodate.” And that mandate is
broad, so poorly-conceived, and so technically misguided that it will
inevitably create serious privacy and security risks.*
*
[link removed]
* Get to Know the Electronic Frontier Alliance: Digital Fourth
EFF talks to Electronic Frontier Alliance member Digital Fourth—also known
as Restore the Fourth Boston—a local group that has been instrumental in
passing surveillance oversight ordinances in the greater Boston area since
2018.
[link removed]
: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :
Announcements
* Missed the First EFF Awards Celebration? Watch It Here!
On November 10th, individuals from every corner of the digital rights
community gathered in San Francisco for the EFF Awards, a newly-rebranded
annual celebration of the movement for digital freedom, justice, and
innovation. Watch the recorded event here.
[link removed]
* CES 2023
EFF is proud to support CES 2023! CES is in full swing with an in-person
event in Las Vegas, NV and a virtual event.
[link removed]
: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :
Job Openings
* Chief Development Officer
EFF is seeking a Chief Development Officer to lead the organization’s
fundraising programs. The Chief Development Officer will lead and oversee
the day-to-day management and operations of the development team, co-develop
and manage all aspects of our development strategy and help build our
membership, major donor and fundraising capacity.
[link removed]
: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :
MiniLinks
- EU Set to Bar Meta from Ads Based on Personal Data (Reuters)
In a landmark ruling, Meta will only be able to run advertising based on
personal data with users' consent.
[link removed]
- ICE Accidentally Released the Identities of 6,252 Immigrants who Sought Protection in the U.S. (LA Times)
ICE reported that they accidentally posted the names, birthdates,
nationalities and detention locations of more than 6,000 immigrants who
claimed to be fleeing torture and persecution.
[link removed]
- Spy Blimps in the Sky: The Increasing Surveillance of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands (The Border Chronicle)
The Border Chronicle joins EFF on a tour to visit the fortification of
surveillance on the United States-Mexico border.
[link removed]
- De-Weaponizing and Standardizing the Post-Election Audit (Center for Democracy and Technology)
The Center for Democracy and Technology has a new report that they hope can
serve as a guide to the post-election audit landscape in 2022 and a path
forward for improving post-election audits in 2024 and beyond.
[link removed]
- Employee Surveillance Is a Working Mom's Nightmare (Time)
The founder of Girls Who Code writes in Time that employer surveillance of
remote employees, which usually comes with punitive measures for those
employees deemed insufficiently active, hits mothers with children at home
especially hard.
[link removed]
- Whatever Happened to Those Self-Service Passport Kiosks at Airports? (New York Times)
The New York Times asks what happened to self-service kiosks at airports, and
the answer is that an increasing number of travelers are being shepherded
into face recognition.
[link removed]
- Cory Doctorow Wants You to Know What Computers Can and Can’t Do (New Yorker)
EFF’s Cory Doctorow is in the New Yorker this Week, dropping gems like
“When we design a computer that treats its user or owner as its adversary,
we lay the groundwork for unimaginable acts of oppression and terror.”
[link removed]
: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :
-------- 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.
[link removed]
If you aren't already, please consider becoming an EFF member today.
[link removed]
: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :
* Administrivia
Editor:
[email protected]
EFFector is published by:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
[link removed]
Membership & donation queries:
[email protected]
General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries:
[email protected]
Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is
encouraged. MiniLinks do not necessarily represent
the views of EFF.
Back issues of EFFector are available via the Web at:
[link removed]
Unsubscribe from future mailings or change your email preferences: [link removed]
Opt out of all EFF email: [link removed]
815 Eddy Street
San Francisco, CA 94109-7701
United States
