Biometric National IDs and Passports: A False Sense of Security
People tend to think that digital copies of our biological features, stored in a government-run database, are problems of a dystopian future. But governments around the world are already using such technologies. Several countries are collecting massive amounts of biometric data for their national identity and passport...
New Trojan Spread Over Skype as Cat and Mouse Game Between Syrian Activists and Pro-Syrian-Government Hackers Continues
Want to Abolish Software Patents? Tell Us.
Today, EFF launched a new campaign against software patents (https://defendinnovation.org). In this campaign, we outline seven proposals that we think will address some of the greatest abuses of the current software patent system, including making sure that folks who independently arrived at an invention can’t be held liable for...
Defend Innovation
EFF Launches New Patent Reform Project to Defend Innovation
San Francisco - Patents are supposed to foster innovation, but modern software patents have been weaponized against inventors. Today the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is launching "Defend Innovation," a new patent reform project to promote seven fixes for America's patent system.
"The software patent system is broken. Patents are...
Bahrain Cracks Down on Social Media, Arresting Activists and Proposing New Laws
Bahrain's Minister of State for Information Affairs, Samira Rajab, has announced that the government is preparing to introduce tough new laws to combat the "misuse" of social media. Like many Gulf states, Bahrain is doubling down on state censorship in response to a year of ongoing protests connected to...
Schedule a meeting to talk with EFF about patents
EFF wants to hear from developers, engineers, and creators of all types. We're going to travel through Silicon Valley and beyond to talk with those who really feel the effects of today's flawed patent system: Internet companies. We want to have a conversation with you – find out how you are using patents, what you'd like to see in the patent system, where it is flawed and where it works. Some companies (like Twitter) are already hacking the patent system, and we want to hear what you think about that. We'll explain our proposals for repairing the system and hope to get your feedback.
UK Mass Surveillance Bill: The Return of a Bad Idea
Note: This article was originally published by Index on Censorship
This week the British government unveiled a bill that has a familiar ring to it. The Communications Data Bill would require all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and mobile phone network providers...
International Intellectual Property Expert Joins EFF
San Francisco - Carolina Rossini has joined the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) as its International Intellectual Property Director, bringing more than ten years of experience in global IP law and policy to EFF's international team.
Carolina Rossini is a Brazilian attorney focused on Internet and IP law and policy,...
This Week In Internet Censorship: Alarming Internet Decree in Vietnam, Arrests in Oman, and a Tribute to Ray Bradbury
New Draft of Vietnamese Internet Decree is Still Bad News for Freedom of Expression
The Vietnamese government’s draft of a new, problematic decree to regulate domestic Internet use is expected to become law at the end of the month. The 60-article document is filled with alarmingly vague language,...
