A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 effector: n, Computer Sci. A device for producing a desired change. : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : In our 544th issue: * PURCHASE COOL STUFF AT EFF'S DEF CON AUCTION AT EBAY! Even if you couldn't make it to Las Vegas this year, you can still own a piece of EFF/DEF CON history by bidding at EFF's eBay auction. All auctions end on Wednesday, August 18, 2010, so bid now! - Limited Edition Signed DEF CON Skateboard Deck - DEF CON Comedy Jam III FAIL Panel Waffle Iron - Ninja Networks EFF Quest Badge - D(EFF)CON 18 Things to Hack UV/Glow-in-the-Dark T-Shirt For more information on the auction items, including links to the auctions themselves, go to: http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/eff-def-con-auction-items-are-bid * COURT REJECTS WARRANTLESS GPS TRACKING: EFF-ACLU ARGUMENTS AGAINST ALWAYS-ON SURVEILLANCE WIN THE DAY The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit firmly rejected government claims that federal agents have an unfettered right to install Global Positioning System (GPS) location-tracking devices on anyone's car without a search warrant. The court agreed with the amicus brief arguments propounded by EFF and the ACLU of the National Capital Area, holding that round-the-clock surveillance required a search warrant based on probable cause. For more information, including a link to the full opinion go to: https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2010/08/06-0 : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : EFF Updates * EFF Urges Supreme Court to Block NASA'S Invasive Background Checks EFF urged the United States Supreme Court to uphold an appeals court decision that blocks invasive and unnecessary background checks at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), arguing that the over-collection of personal data puts employees' privacy at risk. https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2010/08/09 * Publisher, Former Partners Agree to Destroy Personal Information About Gay Customers While this is a good outcome, the case highlights a problem that we're likely to see again and again. Personal information supplied to companies by consumers is a valuable asset, and its possible sale to the highest bidder will implicate the privacy of millions of people when those companies are sold or go out of business. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/publisher-former-partners-agree * A Review of Verizon and Google's Net Neutrality Proposal Reaction to Google and Verizon's joint proposal for a new legislative framework for net neutrality have been swift and often critical. While we agree with many aspects of that criticism, we think their idea of a narrow grant of power to the FCC to enforce neutrality within carefully specified parameters deserves further consideration. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/google-verizon-netneutrality * Government Finds Uses for Social Networking Sites Beyond Investigations A recently released study conducted by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence reveals that, in addition to using social networking sites for law enforcement investigations, the government has been considering using it for background checks in security clearances. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/government-finds-uses-social-networking-sites * Government Abuses Computer Crime Law to Boost Criminal Charges EFF asked a federal appeals court to block the government's attempt to wrongly expand federal computer crime law, turning misdemeanor charges into felonies. https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2010/08/06 : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : miniLinks ~ The Digital Surveillance State Constitutional scholar Glenn Greenwald describes the expansion of US intelligence community: "vast, secret, and dangerous." http://www.cato-unbound.org/2010/08/09/glenn-greenwald/the-digital-surveillance-state-vast-secret-and-dangerous/ ~ Streaming Music to the iPad? Apple quietly enables online streaming from the cloud to iPhones, iPad and iTouch. http://michaelrobertson.com/archive.php?minute_id=324 ~ Google CEO on the Future of Privacy Eric Schmidt says the future of the web is "transparency and no anonymity" because "governments will demand it." http://www.thinq.co.uk/2010/8/5/no-anonymity-future-web-says-google-ceo/ : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : Announcements * Panel Picker Voting Begins for SXSW 2011: Vote for EFF'S Panels! The panel picking process has begun for SXSW 2011, which runs March 11-20 in Austin, Texas. EFF has proposed several panels this year, including: - The Epic Fail of BitTorrent Indie Film Lawsuits - Legal Bootcamp: e-Privacy Law for Internet Startups - Identity Correction: Fair Use or Fraud?, and - I Can Has Appz and Privacy Too? For more information about voting for EFF's panels, go to: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/panel-picker-voting-begins-sxsw-2011-vote-effs (Registration and/or cookies may be required to vote.) * Privacy Law 2.0 - Modernizing the Electronic Communications Privacy Act EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kevin Bankston will be featured on a panel discussion at the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy Bay Area Chapter. When: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 12-1:30 p.m. Where: San Francisco, CA https://www.eff.org/calendar/2010/08/24/privacy-law-2-0-modernizing-electronic * Stomping for Digital Civil Liberties Michael Wigren of WKID "Froggy" Radio in Vevay, Indiana, will stomp grapes in support of EFF. When: August 28, noon Where: Swiss Wine Festival, Vevay, Indiana https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/stomping-digital-civil-liberties *EFF at Hacker Halted Event EFF members and newsletter subscribers receive a $100 discount off the 2-day conference fees. When: October 9-15 Where: Miami, FL https://www.eff.org/EFF-at-hacker-halted * Nominations Close on August 16th for EFF's 2010 Pioneer Awards For nomination guidelines and online nomination form go to: https://www.eff.org/awards/pioneer/ : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : * Dream Job Alert! EFF is seeking a senior-level copyright attorney. Responsibilities will include litigation, public speaking, blogging, media outreach, and legislative and regulatory matters related to a variety of high technology legal issues. Qualified candidates will have at least five years of experience working in copyright law, including an in-depth knowledge of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) sections 512 and 1201. Candidates should also have significant experience in at least one of the following specialties: trademark law, trade secret law, and/or patent law. Litigation experience is required, including significant experience managing both overall case strategy and day-to-day projects and deadlines. Candidates should have good communication skills and an interest in working with a team of highly motivated lawyers and activists in a hard-working nonprofit environment. Strong writing and analytical skills, as well as the ability to be self-motivated and focused, are essential. Tech savviness and a familiarity with Internet civil liberties and high tech public interest issues is strongly preferred. This position is based in San Francisco. Interested applicants should submit a resume and references to ipjob@eff.org. : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : * Administrivia EFFector is published by: The Electronic Frontier Foundation Shotwell Street San Francisco CA 94110-1914 USA +1 415 436 9333 (voice) +1 415 436 9993 (fax) https://www.eff.org/ Editor: Lori McCoy, Membership/Administrative Assistant lori@eff.org Membership & donation queries: membership@eff.org General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries: information@eff.org Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of EFF. To reproduce signed articles individually, please contact the authors for their express permission. Press releases and EFF announcements & articles may be reproduced individually at will. Current and back issues of EFFector are available via the Web at: https://www.eff.org/effector/ Click here to change your email address: https://action.eff.org/addresschange This newsletter is printed on 100% recycled electrons. EFF appreciates your support and respects your privacy. http://www.eff.org/policy
