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EFFector - Volume 28, Issue 5 - Will Congress bypass the democratic process with TPP?

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EFFector - Volume 28, Issue 5 - Will Congress bypass the democratic process with TPP?

 
 
EFFector! Electronic Frontier Foundation
 
 

In our 676th issue:

Will Congress Bypass the Democratic Process with TPP?

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a controversial, secret agreement that would undermine online freedoms worldwide by exporting dangerous copyright rules. EFF and our members have been fighting it for years.

Now we're at a crossroads. At any moment in the next few days, legislators are planning to introduce a bill that would enable TPP to bypass public scrutiny with a no-debate Fast Track process. If it passes, members of Congress will have no opportunity to publicly discuss and consider the merits of the agreement, nor change any of the provisions decided through back room meetings. We need you to speak out now in defense of transparency, due process, and digital rights.

EFF Busts Podcasting Patent, Invalidating Key Claims at Patent Office

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office invalidated key claims in the so-called "podcasting patent" after a petition for review from EFF--a decision that significantly curtails the ability of a patent troll to threaten podcasters big and small. The "podcasting patent" became big news in 2013, when a company called Personal Audio, LLC, began demanding licensing fees from podcasters including comedian Adam Carolla and three major television networks. This is a big victory for the podcasting community, as well as the overall fight against bad patents.

EFF Lawsuit Challenges Drug Enforcement Administration Surveillance of International Call Records

EFF is representing Human Rights Watch, a nonpartisan organization that fights human rights abuses across the globe, in suing the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for illegally collecting records of its telephone calls to certain foreign countries. The lawsuit aims to vindicate HRW’s rights, and the rights of all Americans, to make calls overseas without being subject to government surveillance.

EFF Updates

New Coalition Site Fight215.org Launches to Amplify Opposition to the NSA’s Mass Surveillance

EFF and a coalition of more than thirty organizations from across the political spectrum launched Fight215.org to help concerned individuals contact lawmakers and demand an end to the NSA’s unconstitutional mass surveillance under the Patriot Act. The campaign brings attention to the looming expiration of Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which the NSA claims justifies bulk collection of the phone records of millions of innocent people.

Automakers Say You Don’t Really Own Your Car

Automakers are trying to tell the Copyright Office you shouldn't be able to tinker with your car--and their responses to our car repair and security research comments completely miss the point. The manufacturers claim you could violate all sorts of existing regulations in fixing your car on your own, but fail to say why copyright law should keep car owners from popping the hood. Add your voice to our petition arguing for your right to repair and research your car.

Data Retention Law Passes in Australia, but the Fight Isn’t Over

Despite widespread opposition from journalists, activists, and the general public, Australia passed a comprehensive data retention bill this month. But it's not over: Australians can take steps now to protect themselves while organizing to fight back.

EFF Urges Canada to Dismiss Anti-Terror Legislation, Bill C-51

EFF joined more than 100 organizations and individuals in urging Canadian members of parliament to vote against Canada's anti-terror legislation, Bill C-51. The reckless bill contains vague language and proposes broad, unchecked surveillance powers that threaten the right to privacy and free expression in Canada.

Shari Steele: A Legacy of Digital Rights

For more than 20 years, Shari Steele quietly helped build EFF into the organization it is today. Read our fond farewell to our long-time executive director, and read her own retrospective on two decades at EFF.

miniLinks

The creepy spying power buried in the Patriot Act

A new video from filmmaker Kirby Ferguson explains why you should care about Section 215 of the Patriot Act.

Don’t keep the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks secret

The White House keeps TPP texts classified, allowing Hollywood to get anti-user policies passed in secret.

Test your skills with DEF CON at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival

For the first time ever, the world's biggest underground hacking conference will travel from Las Vegas to NYC for this year's TFF. The three-day program will wrap up with a special live talk from Dark Tangent on April 25.

Supported by Members

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.

Please consider becoming an EFF member today.

Donate Today

Administrivia

Editor: Rainey Reitman, Activism Director
editor@eff.org

EFFector is a publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
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Membership & donation queries: membership@eff.org

General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries: info@eff.org

Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged. MiniLinks do not necessarily represent the views of EFF.

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Announcements

EFF is Hiring

We're hiring web developers and an activist. Please check out the job descriptions and submit your application today!

Global Conference on Cyberspace

EFF Director for International Freedom of Expression Jillian York will speak at the fourth Global Conference on Cyberspace. Representatives from governments, the private sector, and civil society will gather in order to promote practical cooperation in cyberspace, to enhance cyber capacity building, and to discuss norms for responsible behavior in cyberspace.
April 16-17, 2015
The Hague

Patent Reform Lunch on the Hill

EFF, R Street, and Public Knowledge are hosting a patent reform lunch briefing on Capitol Hill, featuring stories from troll victims and a panel of experts to talk about proposed legislative reforms.
April 16, 2015
Washington, D.C.

Understanding New Surveillance Tools: Cell Phone Tracking, Stingrays, Hemisphere & More

EFF Senior Staff Attorney Hanni Fakhoury will be discussing legal challenges to cell phone surveillance at the National Defender Investigator Association National Conference.
April 17, 2015
San Diego, CA

Security and Development Hackathon

Riscure, ThoughtWorks, and EFF are organizing a twin-track, full-day hackathon for the open wireless router at Riscure's San Francisco office. Join us!
April 18, 2015
San Francisco, CA

Digital Search & Seizure: Burning Issues After Riley v. California

EFF Senior Staff Attorney Hanni Fakhoury will discuss constitutional challenges to electronic searches and seizures following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2014 decision in Riley v. California at the Northern California Association of Law Librarians 2015 Spring Institute.
April 18, 2015
Oakland, CA

Data Security for Reporters

The Society of Professional Journalists’ 2015 Region 11 Conference will include skill-building workshops and engaging expert discussions, as well as several social and networking events and SPJ’s Mark of Excellence ceremony. Learn about the importance of safeguarding your online communications in a workshop from EFF's Eva Galperin and Freedom of the Press Foundation's Trevor Timm.
April 18, 2015
San Francisco CA

International Journalism Festival

Jillian C. York, EFF's Director for International Freedom of Expression, will be speaking at two events. The first examines how social media companies manipulate geopolitical reality, and the second is an exploration of the threats to individual privacy.
April 18, 2015
Perugia, Italy

Security BSidesSF

Join EFF at the 6th annual Security B-Sides San Francisco! Catch an array of talks on the cutting edge of infosec, including an "Ask EFF" panel on Sunday at 2:00 pm. Event registration will benefit EFF's online freedom work.
April 19-20, 2015
San Francisco, CA

Privay Policy Update

We've made a slight update to our privacy policy. It gives us the flexibility to use cloud services to spin up additional capacity when we're handling a lot of traffic (which sometimes happens with our big activism campaigns). Your information remains protected by the EFF privacy policy.

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