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Domain: eff.org

Stories and comments across the archive that link to eff.org.

Comments · 6,386

  1. Letter Sent To My Congressmen Today by esme · · Score: 1 · on Reporter Phone Records Being Used to Find Leaks

    This is the letter I sent to my senators and rep today:

    I am deeply troubled by the recent news that the National Security Agency has been building a database of millions of records of telephone calls. Combined with the earlier revelations of warrantless NSA wiretaps, indefinite detentions, and a host of other similar activities, it appears the Bush administration is completely unconcerned with civil liberties. Their public statements show deep contempt for the rule of law.

    Congress must act now. Hearings must be held immediately to find out exactly what the NSA has been doing. Any budgetary or regulatory leverage must be brought to bear to stop illegal conduct. Existing law must be clarified, to make it absolutely clear that the executive branch does not have the authority to violate the Fourth Amendment guarantees of privacy.

    If left unchallenged, these new assertions of executive power will form the foundation of a police state. Even though the current threat to our country is dire, and even though the current administration's intent may be noble, unchecked executive power will lead to tyranny.

    I joined the ACLU, and my wife joined the EFF. What did you do?

    -Esme

  2. Re:What a surprise... by inKubus · · Score: 4, Informative · on Reporter Phone Records Being Used to Find Leaks

    It amazes me that people aren't yelling and screaming about this and marching in front of the White House.

    I'll be right behind you. Go, march, at LEAST yell and scream. Donate to the EFF. CALL your representatives, city, state, and federal. If you already have, choose one and do it again. Once is not always enough.

  3. Re:Consumers can sue for anything by slcdb · · Score: 1 · on Telecoms Facing $50 Billion Lawsuit for Wiretaps
    Anybody can Sue ANYBODY for ANYTHING (In the U.S.). I could sue you for eating a grilled cheese sandwitch, but chances are it will be thrown out of court.
    Yeah, except when this happens.

    Which just goes to show you really CAN'T sue anybody for anything.
  4. Re:Oh well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Can Ordinary PC Users Ditch Windows for Linux?

    Those that aren't hosted or downloaded in countries with dumb laws that prohibit free DVD players?

  5. Re:Derivative work interpretation is scary by IamTheRealMike · · Score: 1 · on Kororaa Accused of Violating GPL
    It's mostly common sense - header files express facts and facts cannot be copyrighted. Even in the presence of stupid games like kernel developers who put functions inlined into headers, they are still "facts" in the legal sense as they are simply information on how to integrate with the rest of the system.

    From an old post of Gav State (who runs TransGaming):

    Copyright law does not protect idea, just the expression of them. Several court decisions have been rendered which suggest that the 'purely functional' elements of a computer program are not copyrightable. There are several cases that explicitly deal with the issue of copyright and header files. The most relevant one for Wine development is probably the 1992 decision in Sega v. Accolade, where Accolade reverse engineered the headers for Sega's ROM libraries in order to develop games compatible with Sega's hardware without paying Sega's royalties. ( http://www.eff.org/pub/Legal/Cases/sega_v_accolade _977f2d1510_decision.html ) The court in that case said:

    Computer programs pose unique problems for the application of the "idea/expression distinction" that determines the extent of copyright protection. To the extent that there are many possible ways of accomplishing a given task or fulfilling a particular market demand, the programmer's choice of program structure and design may be highly creative and idiosyncratic. However, computer programs are, in essence, utilitarian articles -- articles that accomplish tasks. As such, they contain many logical, structural, and visual display elements that are dictated by external factors such as compatibility requirements and industry demands... In some circumstances, even the exact set of commands used by the programmer is deemed functional rather than creative for the purposes of copyright. When specific instructions, even though previously copyrighted, are the only and essential means of accomplishing a given task, their later use by another will not amount to infringement.

    The LGPL acknowledges this legal issue in section (5):

    When a "work that uses the Library" uses material from a header file that is part of the Library, the object code for the work may be a derivative work of the Library even though the source code is not. Whether this is true is especially significant if the work can be linked without the Library, or if the work is itself a library. The threshold for this to be true is not precisely defined by law.
  6. Re:Derivative work interpretation is scary by IamTheRealMike · · Score: 1 · on Kororaa Accused of Violating GPL
    It's mostly common sense - header files express facts and facts cannot be copyrighted. Even in the presence of stupid games like kernel developers who put functions inlined into headers, they are still "facts" in the legal sense as they are simply information on how to integrate with the rest of the system.

    From an old post of Gav State (who runs TransGaming):

    Copyright law does not protect idea, just the expression of them. Several court decisions have been rendered which suggest that the 'purely functional' elements of a computer program are not copyrightable. There are several cases that explicitly deal with the issue of copyright and header files. The most relevant one for Wine development is probably the 1992 decision in Sega v. Accolade, where Accolade reverse engineered the headers for Sega's ROM libraries in order to develop games compatible with Sega's hardware without paying Sega's royalties. ( http://www.eff.org/pub/Legal/Cases/sega_v_accolade _977f2d1510_decision.html ) The court in that case said:

    Computer programs pose unique problems for the application of the "idea/expression distinction" that determines the extent of copyright protection. To the extent that there are many possible ways of accomplishing a given task or fulfilling a particular market demand, the programmer's choice of program structure and design may be highly creative and idiosyncratic. However, computer programs are, in essence, utilitarian articles -- articles that accomplish tasks. As such, they contain many logical, structural, and visual display elements that are dictated by external factors such as compatibility requirements and industry demands... In some circumstances, even the exact set of commands used by the programmer is deemed functional rather than creative for the purposes of copyright. When specific instructions, even though previously copyrighted, are the only and essential means of accomplishing a given task, their later use by another will not amount to infringement.

    The LGPL acknowledges this legal issue in section (5):

    When a "work that uses the Library" uses material from a header file that is part of the Library, the object code for the work may be a derivative work of the Library even though the source code is not. Whether this is true is especially significant if the work can be linked without the Library, or if the work is itself a library. The threshold for this to be true is not precisely defined by law.
  7. some hope? by e**(i+pi)-1 · · Score: 5, Insightful · on Telecoms Facing $50 Billion Lawsuit for Wiretaps
    • Domestic spying is costly for telecoms
      Snooping and tapping activities at the boundary of legality have made me worried, but costly legal lawsuits could be a good medicine. Like chemotherapy against cancer. Better would be strict laws which prevent such abuse. Lets see how the law dragons fight the snooping hydra.
    • Domestic spying could reveal trading secrets
      There is an other issue which could prevent that we slip into a totalitarian state: telephone calling records of industry decision makers are valuable information. The database can give hints about mergers, stock market developments (company X has suddenly a lot of phone-calls with company Y. Do they merge? Do they launch a new product, lets buy or sell stocks accordingly). In a government, for which business is so closely linked to politics, domestic spying could be seen a free ticket for obtaining insider information. That could become a problem, once it is realized that it exists.
    • Domestic spying accelerates standard encryption
      A third remedy about the domestic spying issue could be technology: not only standard encryption of telephone calls, but also standard masquerading about who calls whom. Such technology will first be used by people who need protection, not criminals, but CEOs or engineers working on new technology, which the competition should not know about. Of course, the people who are the primary targets of those stupid spying activities have long gone to other communication channels.
    An other reason for hope is the existence of organizations like EFF or ACLU.

    "The Eye: that horrible growing sense of a hostile will that strove with great power to pierce all shadows of cloud, and earth, and flesh, and to see you: to pin you under its deadly gaze, naked, immovable."

    LOR, Chapter 2, The Passage of the Marshes
  8. Here's what I did... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative · on Telecoms Facing $50 Billion Lawsuit for Wiretaps

    First after a call to AT&T, where I had a nice 15 minute talk with the customer service representative (she was aware there was something going on and had some canned response for reporters, but didn't understand what the "big deal" (her words) was, until I explained it to her. By the end of the conversation, she agreed that this was pretty scary... or at least pretended to, but she sounded sincere.) who told me that only one other customer had called her to complain (about 2pm).

    Second, I'm cancelling my phone service w/AT&T and I will let them know exactly why. I'm switching to an Internet phone. Now, I know that this may not be much safer, especially considering any call INTO a bad phone company would be logged and reported to the NSA. (This is why Qwest customers aren't safe if they call anyone who uses AT&T, for example)... but if enough people cancel in disgust, who knows, maybe they'll get the message.

    Third, I'm donating to the EFF. They need our help more than ever. And vice-versa.

    Fourth, I'm ready, willing, and able to join any class action lawsuits against these companies. Even if they get thrown out.

    Fifth, not an email. Not a letter. But a phone call to my state Senators and Representative.

    Also #1: Has anyone put together a unified wiki/forum trying to "reverse-engineer" the NSA's data mining program from published reports + what IT folks & mathematicians think is possible? I bet with enough collaboration and discussion, the net can figure out pretty close to what they're doing with this massive database/total information awareness program (sounds a bit like they're creating associations between clusters of people, much like Amazon does when they profile you to recommend new products... The more info they have, the more they can cross-reference, looking for patterns and comparing with patterns of known profiles (criminals, political enemies, etc.).. I'd be really interested in learning more about what people think this program is and how it might work, from a technological point of view.

    Also #2: Merry Fitzmas

  9. Re:I think... by ecorona · · Score: 1 · on DOJ To Claim National Security in NSA Case

    https://secure.eff.org/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_D ONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=1122 Here is the link to donate to EFF.

  10. Text of Government's motion. by coolhelperguy · · Score: 5, Informative · on U.S. Government Intervenes in EFF vs. AT&T

    Text of motion: Government's Motion to Dismiss, or for Summary Judgment [PDF, 1.8M]

    EFF's page on the case: http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/att/

  11. Text of Government's motion. by coolhelperguy · · Score: 5, Informative · on U.S. Government Intervenes in EFF vs. AT&T

    Text of motion: Government's Motion to Dismiss, or for Summary Judgment [PDF, 1.8M]

    EFF's page on the case: http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/att/

  12. Re:It's about perspective, you fuckwit. by glesga_kiss · · Score: 1 · on Americans Not Bothered by NSA Spying
    Yes, I seem to remember getting a mail from the government telling me I need to get RIFD in my arm next time I renew my license.

    Who needs RFID?? You have a cell phone, right?

    However, when thousands of people die in an attack on our soil, people want something done.

    At least 32,000 civilians have been proven beyond all doubt to have died due to that "something done" in Iraq. What is fair retaliation I wonder? Or are their lives worth less than ours?

  13. Three letters: EFF. Donate and Join by geekotourist · · Score: 1 · on The NSA Knows Who You've Called
    The EFF's January 2006 Class Action Lawsuit is about this program. They started it, leading to Mark Klein's whistleblowing, leading to more press coverage, leading to this.


    Slashdot readers, more than just about anyone else, understand why the EFF's work is so important. YRO, right?

    Got Encryption?

    Like that the Supreme Court upheld Betamax?

    Like your Broadcast-flag-free gear?

    The EFF is insurance- they're there to actually understand the technical details of why the DMCA takedown letter you just got is unconstitutional, for example. But most Slashdot members haven't joined the EFF. Change that- Join the EFF today

    Yes, really. Slashdot has members in the high-hundred-thousands or low-millions. The EFF has nowhere near even 1/30th or 1/40th of that many members. 39 of 40 Slashdot members are relying on the donations of that 40th member to keep the EFF going.

    Did you like that the Communications Decency Act got killed?

    Remember how quickly Sony got slammed for their rootkit?

    Remember how long it took for non-technical people to understand how damaging the rootkit was? That's part of why the EFF is so important- they understand why the technical details matter so that they're ready when you call. But a small non-profit member-based organization depends on money from their members to run.

  14. Three letters: EFF. Donate and Join by geekotourist · · Score: 1 · on The NSA Knows Who You've Called
    The EFF's January 2006 Class Action Lawsuit is about this program. They started it, leading to Mark Klein's whistleblowing, leading to more press coverage, leading to this.


    Slashdot readers, more than just about anyone else, understand why the EFF's work is so important. YRO, right?

    Got Encryption?

    Like that the Supreme Court upheld Betamax?

    Like your Broadcast-flag-free gear?

    The EFF is insurance- they're there to actually understand the technical details of why the DMCA takedown letter you just got is unconstitutional, for example. But most Slashdot members haven't joined the EFF. Change that- Join the EFF today

    Yes, really. Slashdot has members in the high-hundred-thousands or low-millions. The EFF has nowhere near even 1/30th or 1/40th of that many members. 39 of 40 Slashdot members are relying on the donations of that 40th member to keep the EFF going.

    Did you like that the Communications Decency Act got killed?

    Remember how quickly Sony got slammed for their rootkit?

    Remember how long it took for non-technical people to understand how damaging the rootkit was? That's part of why the EFF is so important- they understand why the technical details matter so that they're ready when you call. But a small non-profit member-based organization depends on money from their members to run.

  15. Three letters: EFF. Donate and Join by geekotourist · · Score: 1 · on The NSA Knows Who You've Called
    The EFF's January 2006 Class Action Lawsuit is about this program. They started it, leading to Mark Klein's whistleblowing, leading to more press coverage, leading to this.


    Slashdot readers, more than just about anyone else, understand why the EFF's work is so important. YRO, right?

    Got Encryption?

    Like that the Supreme Court upheld Betamax?

    Like your Broadcast-flag-free gear?

    The EFF is insurance- they're there to actually understand the technical details of why the DMCA takedown letter you just got is unconstitutional, for example. But most Slashdot members haven't joined the EFF. Change that- Join the EFF today

    Yes, really. Slashdot has members in the high-hundred-thousands or low-millions. The EFF has nowhere near even 1/30th or 1/40th of that many members. 39 of 40 Slashdot members are relying on the donations of that 40th member to keep the EFF going.

    Did you like that the Communications Decency Act got killed?

    Remember how quickly Sony got slammed for their rootkit?

    Remember how long it took for non-technical people to understand how damaging the rootkit was? That's part of why the EFF is so important- they understand why the technical details matter so that they're ready when you call. But a small non-profit member-based organization depends on money from their members to run.

  16. Three letters: EFF. Donate and Join by geekotourist · · Score: 1 · on The NSA Knows Who You've Called
    The EFF's January 2006 Class Action Lawsuit is about this program. They started it, leading to Mark Klein's whistleblowing, leading to more press coverage, leading to this.


    Slashdot readers, more than just about anyone else, understand why the EFF's work is so important. YRO, right?

    Got Encryption?

    Like that the Supreme Court upheld Betamax?

    Like your Broadcast-flag-free gear?

    The EFF is insurance- they're there to actually understand the technical details of why the DMCA takedown letter you just got is unconstitutional, for example. But most Slashdot members haven't joined the EFF. Change that- Join the EFF today

    Yes, really. Slashdot has members in the high-hundred-thousands or low-millions. The EFF has nowhere near even 1/30th or 1/40th of that many members. 39 of 40 Slashdot members are relying on the donations of that 40th member to keep the EFF going.

    Did you like that the Communications Decency Act got killed?

    Remember how quickly Sony got slammed for their rootkit?

    Remember how long it took for non-technical people to understand how damaging the rootkit was? That's part of why the EFF is so important- they understand why the technical details matter so that they're ready when you call. But a small non-profit member-based organization depends on money from their members to run.

  17. Three letters: EFF. Donate and Join by geekotourist · · Score: 1 · on The NSA Knows Who You've Called
    The EFF's January 2006 Class Action Lawsuit is about this program. They started it, leading to Mark Klein's whistleblowing, leading to more press coverage, leading to this.


    Slashdot readers, more than just about anyone else, understand why the EFF's work is so important. YRO, right?

    Got Encryption?

    Like that the Supreme Court upheld Betamax?

    Like your Broadcast-flag-free gear?

    The EFF is insurance- they're there to actually understand the technical details of why the DMCA takedown letter you just got is unconstitutional, for example. But most Slashdot members haven't joined the EFF. Change that- Join the EFF today

    Yes, really. Slashdot has members in the high-hundred-thousands or low-millions. The EFF has nowhere near even 1/30th or 1/40th of that many members. 39 of 40 Slashdot members are relying on the donations of that 40th member to keep the EFF going.

    Did you like that the Communications Decency Act got killed?

    Remember how quickly Sony got slammed for their rootkit?

    Remember how long it took for non-technical people to understand how damaging the rootkit was? That's part of why the EFF is so important- they understand why the technical details matter so that they're ready when you call. But a small non-profit member-based organization depends on money from their members to run.

  18. Three letters: EFF. Donate and Join by geekotourist · · Score: 1 · on The NSA Knows Who You've Called
    The EFF's January 2006 Class Action Lawsuit is about this program. They started it, leading to Mark Klein's whistleblowing, leading to more press coverage, leading to this.


    Slashdot readers, more than just about anyone else, understand why the EFF's work is so important. YRO, right?

    Got Encryption?

    Like that the Supreme Court upheld Betamax?

    Like your Broadcast-flag-free gear?

    The EFF is insurance- they're there to actually understand the technical details of why the DMCA takedown letter you just got is unconstitutional, for example. But most Slashdot members haven't joined the EFF. Change that- Join the EFF today

    Yes, really. Slashdot has members in the high-hundred-thousands or low-millions. The EFF has nowhere near even 1/30th or 1/40th of that many members. 39 of 40 Slashdot members are relying on the donations of that 40th member to keep the EFF going.

    Did you like that the Communications Decency Act got killed?

    Remember how quickly Sony got slammed for their rootkit?

    Remember how long it took for non-technical people to understand how damaging the rootkit was? That's part of why the EFF is so important- they understand why the technical details matter so that they're ready when you call. But a small non-profit member-based organization depends on money from their members to run.

  19. Three letters: EFF. Donate and Join by geekotourist · · Score: 1 · on The NSA Knows Who You've Called
    The EFF's January 2006 Class Action Lawsuit is about this program. They started it, leading to Mark Klein's whistleblowing, leading to more press coverage, leading to this.


    Slashdot readers, more than just about anyone else, understand why the EFF's work is so important. YRO, right?

    Got Encryption?

    Like that the Supreme Court upheld Betamax?

    Like your Broadcast-flag-free gear?

    The EFF is insurance- they're there to actually understand the technical details of why the DMCA takedown letter you just got is unconstitutional, for example. But most Slashdot members haven't joined the EFF. Change that- Join the EFF today

    Yes, really. Slashdot has members in the high-hundred-thousands or low-millions. The EFF has nowhere near even 1/30th or 1/40th of that many members. 39 of 40 Slashdot members are relying on the donations of that 40th member to keep the EFF going.

    Did you like that the Communications Decency Act got killed?

    Remember how quickly Sony got slammed for their rootkit?

    Remember how long it took for non-technical people to understand how damaging the rootkit was? That's part of why the EFF is so important- they understand why the technical details matter so that they're ready when you call. But a small non-profit member-based organization depends on money from their members to run.

  20. Three letters: EFF. Donate and Join by geekotourist · · Score: 1 · on The NSA Knows Who You've Called
    The EFF's January 2006 Class Action Lawsuit is about this program. They started it, leading to Mark Klein's whistleblowing, leading to more press coverage, leading to this.


    Slashdot readers, more than just about anyone else, understand why the EFF's work is so important. YRO, right?

    Got Encryption?

    Like that the Supreme Court upheld Betamax?

    Like your Broadcast-flag-free gear?

    The EFF is insurance- they're there to actually understand the technical details of why the DMCA takedown letter you just got is unconstitutional, for example. But most Slashdot members haven't joined the EFF. Change that- Join the EFF today

    Yes, really. Slashdot has members in the high-hundred-thousands or low-millions. The EFF has nowhere near even 1/30th or 1/40th of that many members. 39 of 40 Slashdot members are relying on the donations of that 40th member to keep the EFF going.

    Did you like that the Communications Decency Act got killed?

    Remember how quickly Sony got slammed for their rootkit?

    Remember how long it took for non-technical people to understand how damaging the rootkit was? That's part of why the EFF is so important- they understand why the technical details matter so that they're ready when you call. But a small non-profit member-based organization depends on money from their members to run.

  21. Re:Class Action Lawsuit? by slcdb · · Score: 1 · on The NSA Knows Who You've Called

    IAANAL and I asked myself the same question. And for a moment, I was just about ready to call up my lawyer and get the ball rolling on a lawsuit against my wireless provider, Cingular (a joint venture of AT&T and BellSouth).

    However, after doing a little bit of research, I found that such a lawsuit would almost certainly not survive, and so would probably not even be worth an attempt. The reason is because of this: statement of interest from the DoJ in the EFF v. AT&T lawsuit. You only need to read the first paragraph of the introduction to get the gist of it. Basically, the DoJ will invoke the "military and state secrets privilege" to shut-down any such lawsuit against the telcos. The lawsuits will be summarily dismissed and the telcos permanently indemnified.

    It appears that it doesn't even matter if the telcos broke any laws. Because this is a secret government program concerning national security, they can basically break any laws they want. It also looks like they'll absolutely get away with this. Only Congress can stop them, but even Congress probably will be powerless here (one only need to look at the other NSA wiretapping program uncovered in December -- nothing meaningful has happened there to determine if the government's agencies are breaking the law).

  22. Re:Does that work? by slcdb · · Score: 1 · on The NSA Knows Who You've Called

    I believe you are absolutely right. However, I'm afraid that no court will ever be able to rule one way or the other on the legality of the NSA program. This is because the Department of Justice will intervene in any legal action regarding this program and assert the "military and state secrets privilege" to summarily dismiss the proceedings.

    This has already all but happened in the EFF's lawsuit against AT&T (which, at it's core, is probably involving the same program that was uncovered today). See the DoJ's statement of interest in that case, announcing their intention of shutting the lawsuit down.

    What really bothers me about this way of "resolving" these lawsuits is that this completely circumvents any and all checks and balances. The executive branch has authorized these programs without legislative oversight or approval. The legality of these programs cannot be questioned or judged by the judicial branch. So, what we have here is a single branch of the government that is able to do as it sees fit, and neither of the other two branches may intervene.

    How this is even possible boggles my mind, yet here it is actually happening. This is absolutely surreal.

  23. Re:Dogs sniffing data? by Lugae · · Score: 1 · on MPAA training Dogs to Sniff Out DVDs

    I realize that this was in the UK--this time--and that there may be legal precedent allowing this sort of thing to go on, but this tape from EFF is pretty cool.

  24. This is news? by Vapor · · Score: 1 · on The NSA Knows Who You've Called

    The EFF has already filed a class-action lawsuit against AT&T for aiding the government in this illegal activity, and the Bush administration has already used it's "powers" to begin the "cover-up."

  25. Re:The False Positive? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on MPAA training Dogs to Sniff Out DVDs

    It looks like I'll be getting some Fourth Amendment Shipping Tape soon.

  26. Onion router by mrraven · · Score: 1 · on Social Consequences and Effects of RFID Implants?

    When I go to web sites I don't want to be tracked I use an onion router, specifically TOR. Maybe you want your business spilled out for the world to see all the time, others not so much...

    http://tor.eff.org/

  27. Sounds Like A Job For.. by BlueStrat · · Score: 1 · on Tearing Down China's Great Firewall

    AnonymOS! http://kaos.to/cms/content/view/14/32/

    This could be a very powerful tool in anyones' kit that needed internet privacy.
    It includes advanced cryptography, and also, maybe even more importantly in the case of China, a pre-configured ready-to-go, on-by-default TOR http://tor.eff.org/ anonymous encrypted onion-routed proxy system.

    Plus, being an OpenBSD 3.8-based LiveCD, it can be used from an internet cafe or whatever net-connected PC one might have or get access to, even if only temporarily.

    Of course, Chinese censors could blackhole the TOR gateway servers, but these change randomly as I understand it. I am not that knowledgeable regarding the TOR network details. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can chime in on this.

    Cheers!

    Strat

  28. The answer is Onion Routing by iendedi · · Score: 1 · on Tearing Down China's Great Firewall
    We've never had an unbreakable DRM. Will we really have an undernet that can't be spied on?
    The answer to this is yes, and the method is through Onion Routing. The solution I like the most is TOR which was developed by Naval Intelligence and is currently in the hands of the EFF.

    Tor makes me feel safe when overseas using banking sites and my own email accounts. You simply don't have to sweat so much about man-in-the-middle attacks or packet sniffing in less than completely trustworthy environments.
  29. Re:Article full of holes by wpegden · · Score: 1 · on Tearing Down China's Great Firewall
    The program effectively turns anyone's personal computer into a proxy server. Once the software is installed on a computer in, say, Canada, that person creates a contact list of trusted friends or family members in censored countries and sends his or her IP address to them. No advertising needed.
    Man, why not just use tor? You would get good anonymity, AND the tor network could route blocked domains. Is the problem that they would start blocking all tor nodes??
  30. Apple and Intel hardware is crippled with DRM by UseFree.org · · Score: 1 · on MacBook Announcement Expected on Tuesday

    I won't be buying Apple products (especially those based on Intel hardware) because they includes draconian Digital Restrictions Management (DRM). Apple and Intel have sold out their users to the entertainment cartel made up by the RIAA, MPAA and other leaches.

    Why would anyone buy DRM-crippled hardware from Apple when there are so many Linux and Free Software friendly manufacturers that sell desktops and laptops pre-loaded with the GNU/Linux operating system and the KDE desktop environment?

  31. Re:Action Time! by rhendershot · · Score: 1 · on FCC Affirms VoIP Must Allow Snooping

    Bravo!

    Truly an interesting idea and certainly not a scenario your congressperson has ever faced before. Think of it? An organized, um, *group* of people all professing a belief in similar things and the *might* to hold your elected official to account!

    And you'll have the millions of dollars to pad the way like the other special interest groups, I'm sure....

    EFF: http://www.eff.org/
    DownsizeDC: http://www.downsizedc.org/ - Make Congress read every word of every bill they create before they vote on it.
    Urge your Representative and your Senators to sponsor DownsizeDC.org's "Read the Bills Act" (RTBA).

  32. Don't like this, do something about it by kratei · · Score: 4, Informative · on UN Broadcasting Treaty May Restrict Speech
    If you don't like this, do something about it. What? Contact your representatives. I don't know what to tell those outside the US, but for those of you inside it:

    https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy?JServSessionI dr011=kftdaz9nm1.app13b&cmd=display&page=UserActio n&id=163

  33. Re:Aside from the troll clichés and all... by xoyoyo · · Score: 1 · on Apple Defeats RIAA and France In Same Day

    And of course the US *never* practises protectionism:

    http://www.buffalo.edu/reporter/vol35/vol35n40/art icles/Boeing.html
    http://www.freetrade.org/issues/steel.html
    http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004619.php

  34. Re:State Secrets Privilege + EFF v. AT&T = by StikyPad · · Score: 1 · on Colbert New Comic-in-Chief
    It's not over yet:
    April 28, 2006
    Government Moves to Intervene in AT&T Surveillance Case

    DOJ Will Assert Military and State Secrets Privilege and Request Dismissal of Lawsuit

    San Francisco - The United States government filed a "Statement of Interest" Friday in the Electronic Frontier Foundation's (EFF's) class-action lawsuit against AT&T, announcing that the government would "assert the military and state secrets privilege" and "intervene to seek dismissal" of the case.

    EFF's lawsuit accuses AT&T of collaborating with the National Security Agency in its massive surveillance program. EFF's evidence regarding AT&T's dragnet surveillance of its networks, currently filed under seal, includes a declaration by Mark Klein, a retired AT&T telecommunications technician, and several internal AT&T documents. This evidence was bolstered and explained by the expert opinion of J. Scott Marcus, who served as Senior Advisor for Internet Technology to the Federal Communications Commission from July 2001 until July 2005

    Much of the evidence in the case is currently under seal, as AT&T claims public release of the documents would expose trade secrets. A hearing on the issue is scheduled for May 17th. http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2006_04.php#00461 3
  35. Re:freaking MPAA by EvanED · · Score: 3, Informative · on Bill Would Outlaw Digital Receiver Recorders

    Second, we could try to start our own lobbying group. Give a concentrated voice to the technically literate population

    You don't need to do that. It exists.

  36. Purge the evil by topical_surfactant · · Score: 2, Insightful · on RIAA Targets LAN Filesharing at Universities
    The record cartel (RIAA members) are quite clearly evil. Indescriminately suing 12-year olds, senior citizens and welfare-moms has sealed their judgement in my mind. Eroding personal rights and freedoms for the sake of pure greed doesn't hurt either. Musicians stupid enough to sign with an RIAA member deserve no listeners, no profit, and no airtime.

    Don't buy RIAA member CDs, make music mixes for friends and support the indie scene. If someone chides you about filesharing, tell them to get stuffed.

    http://www.downhillbattle.org/ http://www.eff.org/ http://www.riaaradar.com/

  37. Re:I still don't see how state secrets applies by jamstar7 · · Score: 1 · on DOJ To Claim National Security in NSA Case
    uhm, i seriously doubt this can be done in any sort of meaningful manner. and yes I have heard of networked computers and clusters... there is simply too much information... dont believe me? i just did a very quick search on google and came up with the following article: http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Foreign_and_local/?f=cs e_canada_sigint.overview.txt and to quote: "In any case, the volume of Canadian domestic communications is far too great for any Canadian intelligence agency, or even the enormous NSA, to monitor more than a fraction of it, even if Canadian communications were at the top of the monitoring priority list."
    I'm still thinking the possibility for a 'supernetwork' is viable. After all, it just takes money. The US is what, 12 TRILLION dollars in debt right now? How much of that budget is buried under 'National Security, Eyes Only'? Where would that money come from? Do you REALLY think the government spends $3000 for a hammer, 5-15,000 for a toilet seat? And if the budget for these departemts is classified for 'National Security', you may never KNOW what kind of computing power the government has.
  38. Re:Do please be specific by hublan · · Score: 1 · on Colbert New Comic-in-Chief
    That's not specific. Please cite the EXACT law, and give a link to whenre you think the administration admitted breaking a federal law.



    It boils down to this: For the NSA eavesdrop on a conversation, where one of the participants is a US citizen and/or resident, they require a FISA court approval, whether this be done beforehand or retroactively (up to 24 hours after the fact). In essence, the president authorised the NSA to eavesdrop on telephone conversions that were either inbound to or outbound from the United States, whether they involved US citizens/residents or not (the illegal bit, according to the law cited above). Another sticky bit is that NSA is only allowed to monitor communications partially or wholly outside of the US. With the AT&T plumbing program, it has opened the possibility that the NSA might've been listening to fully domestic conversations, which is also illegal. This is what the EFF wanted to find out with their lawsuit.

    That good enough for you?
  39. State Secrets Privilege + EFF v. AT&T = by DanTheLewis · · Score: 4, Insightful · on Colbert New Comic-in-Chief

    The President broke the law. AT&T gave customer data on millions of people to the feds and allowed them to tap all their pipes to data mine Americans' private phone calls. EFF sued them for violating FISA, the 4th Amendment, and for the AT&T customers whose private data was handed.

    One witness, one expert, and a few internal documents filed, and Bush asserts a State Secrets Privilege; the lawsuit cannot continue. What did he not want us to know?

    I don't know how to connect the dots any more obviously. If you don't smell a rat, I suggest you update your BS detector.

    http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/att/

  40. Re:Watch it, enjoy it, believe it by jambarama · · Score: 1, Insightful · on Colbert New Comic-in-Chief

    And sadly enough the press is ignoring it. If you search front page stories at Digg.com - you'll find the same story has made it to the front page of digg three times in the last day and a half - and each story has been buried.

    I'm not suggesting a conspiracy, just fear from Bush supporters to allow criticism of Bush. I'm conservative, and I have some major reservations with Bush - but too many of my GOP friends really can't stand discussion. It is too bad that news agencies are too afraid to print accurate criticisms. Though with all the NSA wiretapping and executive gag orders who can blame them?

  41. Re:I still don't see how state secrets applies by bigNuns · · Score: 1 · on DOJ To Claim National Security in NSA Case

    uhm, i seriously doubt this can be done in any sort of meaningful manner. and yes I have heard of networked computers and clusters... there is simply too much information... dont believe me? i just did a very quick search on google and came up with the following article:

    http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Foreign_and_local/?f=cs e_canada_sigint.overview.txt

    and to quote:

    "In any case, the volume of Canadian domestic communications is far
    too great for any Canadian intelligence agency, or even the
    enormous NSA, to monitor more than a fraction of it, even if
    Canadian communications were at the top of the monitoring priority
    list."

    thats canadians... you know how much more traffic is going on in the US? think about how often you talk about bombs and terrorists and airplanes and other nasty words on the phone with your friends... now, flag them all... now sort through them... good luck getting anything useful out of this... a much more likely scenario is that certain citizens have been marked to be monitored... my guess is all their communication was monitored, not just the communication taking place with someone outside the country.

  42. Re:Protect yourself by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Congress May Consider Mandatory ISP Snooping
    ... except, TOR can't save you, now. If they can monitor the ingoing and outgoing traffic from every node, they can catch a lot of the stuff that's going on.

    Tor does not provide protection against end-to-end timing attacks: If your attacker can watch the traffic coming out of your computer, and also the traffic arriving at your chosen destination, he can use statistical analysis to discover that they are part of the same circuit.

    http://tor.eff.org/overview.html.en

    And, as a side note, if this were broadly interpreted, web sites wouldn't be the furthest extent of this. Rather, anything that has an output could be considered a content-offering service on a network. That fancy computer processor you bought? You have to replace that with a processor that logs all accesses.

    Also, people have been saying that the Congress doesn't care b/c it won't hurt them. True, they may think this, but they're wrong. They can not continue to prosper if the production which supports them is bound and chained. "The avenger is reality."
  43. Protect yourself by m1ndrape · · Score: 1 · on Congress May Consider Mandatory ISP Snooping

    Protect yourself and start using Tor.

    http://tor.eff.org/

    or for you debian based users

    $ sudo aptitude install tor

  44. Join/donate to the EFF - it can only help by toby · · Score: 2, Informative · on NSA Spying Comes Under Attack
    I've said it before and I'll say it again ... the EFF is out there gunning for YOU on this one (and others - you can expect them to vigorously fight on your behalf against the newly proposed Super-DMCA).

    Never a better time to donate or join.

  45. Join/donate to the EFF - it can only help by toby · · Score: 2, Informative · on NSA Spying Comes Under Attack
    I've said it before and I'll say it again ... the EFF is out there gunning for YOU on this one (and others - you can expect them to vigorously fight on your behalf against the newly proposed Super-DMCA).

    Never a better time to donate or join.

  46. Join/donate to the EFF - it can only help by toby · · Score: 2, Informative · on NSA Spying Comes Under Attack
    I've said it before and I'll say it again ... the EFF is out there gunning for YOU on this one (and others - you can expect them to vigorously fight on your behalf against the newly proposed Super-DMCA).

    Never a better time to donate or join.

  47. Re:Why they pay more by BalanceOfJudgement · · Score: 1 · on Digital Music Downloads Too Expensive?

    MOD PARENT UP please.

    I agree completely. In fact, one of the current EFF Action items is preventing the RIAA/MPAA from forcing a bill through Congress that would require all digital radio and TV receivers to have built in DRM that would prohibit recording - in other words, the universally-loved American pasttime of recording your favorite show to watch later would be come illegal.

    How's that for land of the free.

    https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&p age=UserAction&id=216
    https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&p age=UserAction&id=205

  48. Re:Why they pay more by BalanceOfJudgement · · Score: 1 · on Digital Music Downloads Too Expensive?

    MOD PARENT UP please.

    I agree completely. In fact, one of the current EFF Action items is preventing the RIAA/MPAA from forcing a bill through Congress that would require all digital radio and TV receivers to have built in DRM that would prohibit recording - in other words, the universally-loved American pasttime of recording your favorite show to watch later would be come illegal.

    How's that for land of the free.

    https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&p age=UserAction&id=216
    https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&p age=UserAction&id=205

  49. Stop the RIAA by zufar · · Score: 5, Informative · on Digital Music Downloads Too Expensive?
    EFF is collecting signatures to stop RIAA

    To The United States Congress: We are the customers and former customers of the member labels of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). We love music and will gladly pay a fair price for it, but we are outraged by the RIAA's tactics in suing ordinary Americans for filesharing....

    Let's slashdot the Senate and House Commerce!

  50. Re:"Piracy" is good for the RIAA by Stinky+Cheese+Man · · Score: 1 · on Canadian Music Stars Fight Against DRM

    Who Are You Calling "Pirate"?

    http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004589.php

    SCM