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EFFector - Volume 27, Issue 1 - Today, we remember Aaron

EFFECTOR

EFFector - Volume 27, Issue 1 - Today, we remember Aaron

 
 
EFFector! Electronic Frontier Foundation
 
 

In our 653rd issue:

EFF Updates

Today, We Remember Aaron.

One year ago today the digital rights movement lost one of our most powerful activists and closest friends. Aaron fought for open access to publicly funded research. He worked against censorship and to defend a free and open internet. Aaron was a brilliant technologist who pioneered the development of the open source software that would become SecureDrop. He also helped launch Creative Commons, founded Demand Progress, and co-founded Reddit.

And as the Internet community confronted massive new challenges to privacy and free speech in 2013, there were many moments when we wondered quietly about what Aaron would have said and done.

Today, we remember Aaron. It is in his memory that we continue to fight for the rights of users around the world. At the time of Aaron's death, he was being harshly prosecuted for violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, an outdated law full of vague language that broadly criminalizes accessing a computer without "authorization," but doesn't explain what that actually means.

In 2014 we renew our vow to fight in Aaron's honor. As we move forward with our goal of ensuring our rights go with us when we go online, EFF remembers everything Aaron Swartz did to defend openness, innovation, and online freedom.

miniLinks

2013 in Review: Revelations, Tragedy, and Fighting Back

Last year will long be remembered for the revelations confirming that the United States government is spying on millions of innocent people both domestically and across the world. EFF responded to these disclosures by launching a new lawsuit against the NSA and by continuing to fight and bring new evidence into on our long-standing Jewel v. NSA case.

That's just the start, though. In 2013 we took on patent trolls in Congress and helped to propel the passage of the Innovation Act out of the House of Representatives. EFF has been monitoring the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and ardently pushing for transparency in the secret trade negotiations. We fought for the rights of users to unlock their phones, and continue to urge Congress to embrace meaningful copyright reform. Our efforts at promoting encryption and HTTPS Everywhere have seen massive success, as more companies and individuals adopt online security practices.

Read our series highlighting the ups and downs of one of the most momentous years in the history of digital rights.

Tragedy Brings CFAA Into the Spotlight

The Next Great Copyright Act

The Year the NSA Finally Admitted Its "Collect It All" Strategy

What a Year for Patent Reform

The Worrying Trend of Internet Shutdowns

Encrypting the Web Takes a Huge Leap Forward

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

EFF Convinces Court to Declare National Secruity Letters Unconstitutional - President's Panel Agrees

As Governments in the Arab World Crack Down, Activists Fight Back

EFF's Battle Against Privacy Invasive "Cybersecurity" Bill

A Principled Fight Against Global Mass Surveillance

"Voluntary" Copyright Agreements

CDA 230 and Recurring Threats to Strong Online Speech Protections

States Stepping Up Digital Privacy Protection

Positive Developments in the Fight to Open Access to Research

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.

If you aren't already, please consider becoming an EFF member today.

Donate Today

Administrivia

Editor: April Glaser, Activist
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

Copyright Week


We're taking part in a week of action to fix copyright. We're laying out six simple principles for how copyright can work for all of us––join us next week!
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The Electronic Frontier Foundation is pleased to join leading scholars at the 2014 Joint Mathematics Meetings. Be sure to visit EFF at booth #330 to discuss our latest projects and learn more about how you can help protect digital freedom.
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Big Surveillance Demands Big Privacy

EFF Activism Director Rainey Reitman joins Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner Dr. Ann Cavoukian and esteemed guests as they address issues of privacy, surveillance, and freedom on International Privacy Day.
January 28, 2014
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Terms and Conditions May Apply

EFF Activism Director Rainey Reitman will lead a Q&A on privacy and surveillance in the Internet age following a screening of the new documentary Terms and Conditions May Apply.
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New and Not So New Technology Statutes

At the California Public Defenders Association's annual "New Statutes Seminar," EFF Staff Attorney Hanni Fakhoury will speak about new—and not so new—technology statutes.
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Trolling Effects' New Privacy Policy

Trolling Effects' privacy policy was updated on December 3, 2013, to include language on how we interact with third-party services and APIs. This arose when we used a third party, Twilio, to connect your calls to Congress in support of the Innovation Act. The policy was updated to include that, where appropriate, we will provide specific notice of third-party services at the point of interaction (which we did for the Twilio service on the calling page).

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