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EFFector - Volume 23, Issue 23 - EFF To Verizon: Etisalat Certificate Authority Threatens Web Security

EFFECTOR

EFFector - Volume 23, Issue 23 - EFF To Verizon: Etisalat Certificate Authority Threatens Web Security

EFFector Vol. 23, No. 23 August 20, 2010 editor@eff.org

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 545th issue:

* EFF TO VERIZON: ETISALAT CERTIFICATE AUTHORITY THREATENS
 WEB SECURITY

EFF's open letter urges Cybertrust, a division of Verizon,
to evaluate whether the trusted SSL CA certificate it
issued to United Arab Emirate-based Etisalat should be
revoked. Etisalat recently threatened to discontinue
service to BlackBerry users after Blackberry developer
Research in Motion refused to provide the UAE government
with surveillance back doors in its encryption services.
This follows a mislabeled firmware update to approximately
100,000 UAE BlackBerry subscribers that contained malicious
surveillance software in July 2009. 

For more information and the full text of the letter go to:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/open-letter-verizon

For the New York Times story about the vulnerabilities of
certificate authorities, see:
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/technology/14encrypt.html
(Registration and/or cookies may be required)

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EFF Updates

* Government Uses Social Networking Sites for More than
 Investigations
EFF recently received a number of documents from the
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) highlighting government activities that
scour not only social networks, but also record every
corner of the Internet. 
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/government-monitors-much-more-social-networks

* EFF Files Appeal of Warrantless Wiretapping Case Jewel v.
 NSA
EFF has asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to
reinstate our landmark case against the federal government
for wiretapping millions of ordinary Americans without
warrants. The District Court had dismissed the case in
January on the incorrect argument that, because so many
Americans have had their communications and communications
records illegally obtained by the government, no single
person has legal "standing" to challenge the ongoing
program of government surveillance. 
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/eff-files-appeal-warrantless-wiretapping-case


* EFF Staffs Up in Patent, Copyright, and Trademark Law
EFF is pleased to announce the hiring of our newest staff
member: staff attorney Julie Samuels. Julie will be working
on intellectual property issues, with a focus on stopping
abuse of software patents.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/eff-staffs-patent-copyright-and-trademark-law

* Breaking Down the DMCA Exemptions, Pt. 2: Free Your Phone
 and the Rest Will Follow?
EFF Senior Staff Attorney Corynne McSherry continues her
analysis of the recently granted DMCA exemptions EFF
championed by focusing on the two exemptions related to
cell phones. First, she clarifies the legality of cell
phone "jailbreaking" -- modifying software to liberate
iPhones and other handsets to run applications from sources
other than those approved by the phone maker. Then she
discusses the renewal of a 2006 rule exempting cell phone
unlocking so handsets can be used with other
telecommunications carriers. 
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/breaking-down-dmca-exemptions-pt-2-free-your-phone

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miniLinks

~The Birth of the Copyright Troll?
Copyright holding company Righthaven has a new business
model that has been attracting attention. 
http://www.law.com/jsp/cc/PubArticleCC.jsp?id=1202466627090

~Facebook Places: "Here Now," Privacy Later
ACLU's DotRights campaign takes a look at Facebook's new
location-based product, Places. 
http://eff.org/r.2pX

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Announcements

* EFF Needs Research Volunteers this Week!
EFF received more than 50 unique nominations for the 19th
annual Pioneer Awards. We need to compile bios on each
nominee for the judges over the next week. If you have
basic Internet research skills and can spare a few hours to
help, please e-mail Lori McCoy at lori@eff.org. No
experience necessary!

* Vote for EFF'S Panels for SXSW 2011! 
You only have until August 27 to vote for EFF's panels for
SXSW 2011, which runs March 11-20 in Austin, Texas. For
more information, 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, 2010, noon
Where: Swiss Wine Festival, Vevay, IN
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/stomping-digital-civil-liberties

* EFF at Ohio LinuxFest
Visit the EFF table at the eighth annual Ohio LinuxFest,
and learn more about our latest work. We'll have event-only
membership and shop item specials available!
When:  September 10-12, 2010
Where: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH
https://www.eff.org/calendar/2010/09/10/eff-ohio-linuxfest

* Constitutional Rights On the Digital Frontier
EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn will present two keynote
addresses at Des Moines Area Community College's Sixth
Annual Constitution Day. 
When:  Thursday, September 16, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Newton Campus, Des Moines, IA
and
When:  Friday, September 17, 2010, 10:1011:05 a.m.
Where: Ankeny Campus, Des Moins, IA
https://www.eff.org/calendar/2010/09/16/sixth-annual-constitution-day-constitutional

* Utah Cyber Symposium 2010: Strengthening Professionals'
High Tech Presence
EFF Senior Staff Attorney Marcia Hoffman will be speaking
at the Cyber Symposium, a full day seminar covering the
latest business and legal issues relating to the high tech
industry. 
When:  September 17, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Where: Garden Visitors Center, Lehi, UT
https://www.eff.org/calendar/2010/09/17/utah-cyber-symposium-2010-strengthening

* EFF At Hacker Halted Event
EFF members and newsletter subscribers receive a $100
discount off the 2-day conference fees.
When:  October 9-15, 2010
Where: Intercontinental Hotel, Miami, FL
https://www.eff.org/EFF-at-hacker-halted

* Save the Date! EFF's 19th Annual Pioneer Awards with
 Emcee Cory Doctorow!! 
Prolific author, blogger, and tireless advocate of freedom
in the networked world Cory Doctorow returns to San
Francisco to emcee EFF's 19th Annual Pioneer Awards.
When: November 8, 2010
Where: San Francisco, CA 
https://www.eff.org/calendar/2010/11/07/save-date-effs-19th-annual-pioneer-awards-emcee

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* Dream Job Alert! 

EFF is seeking a senior-level copyright attorney.
Responsibilities to include litigation, public speaking,
blogging, media outreach, and legislative and regulatory
matters related to a variety of high technology legal
issues. For a full job description, go to:
https://www.eff.org/about/opportunities/senior-copyright-lawyer

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