A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424
Dear EFFector readers,
It's been a banner week here at EFF, bringing news of a number of important victories for freedom and privacy. With the holidays approaching, Internet users have received some great early presents:
While these victories are sweet, the fight is far from over. If you would like to help support EFF in our efforts over the coming year, now is a good time to step forward. EFFector has nearly 50,000 subscribers and EFF has 12,000 members. Join your fellow EFFector readers in becoming a member today so that we can keep on delivering the good news to you every holiday season.
A happy holiday to you and yours, and thank you for your support!
Peace and good wishes,
Shari Steele
Executive Director
Electronic voting - and its problems - have been all over the news in recent months, and politicians are starting to listen. Three states have announced paper trail requirements for e-voting machines. The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act (H.R.2239) now has 94 cosponsors - largely thanks to the tens of thousands of letters that people like you have sent to your representatives. And now we have an opportunity to make the same impact in the Senate. Senator Bob Graham has introduced a companion to H.R.2239, and it needs your support. Tell your Senators that you want e-voting machines to be open and accountable!
Washington, D.C. - In a victory for Verizon and the privacy of Internet users, the D.C. Circuit Court on Friday dismissed the recording industry's subpoenas for user identities. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed nearly 3,000 subpoenas in Washington, D.C., as a prelude to lawsuits against 382 alleged filesharers. The court ruled that those subpoenas are not authorized by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
"Internet users are the winners in the Verizon case," said EFF Staff Attorney Wendy Seltzer. "The effect of the appeals court decision is that we do not lose our privacy simply by connecting to the Internet. The ruling stops the record labels from taking our free speech rights as collateral damage in the campaign against the American music fan."
EFF filed an amicus brief supporting Verizon on behalf of 45 consumer, privacy, and Internet industry groups.
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Forest Service announced that it is abandoning its plan to reject public comments from online action centers and other "duplicative" sources. EFF led a coalition of 19 diverse organizations, including the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the League of Conservation Voters and the AFL-CIO, that objected to the proposed rule.
"Allowing ordinary people to influence the rules that affect their lives through website 'action centers' is one of the best benefits of the technology revolution," said EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn. "The Forest Service is right to listen to the opposition presented by a broad coalition of groups and allow the public to continue to make its voice heard."
Deep Links features noteworthy news items from around the Internet.
For a complete listing of EFF speaking engagements (with locations and times), please visit our calendar.
January 10
Lee Tien and Fred von Lohmann speak at the ALA Midwinter Meeting
San Diego, CA.
- 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Lee Tien on RFIDs
- 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Fred von Lohmann on "Peer to Peer:
Implications for Information Policy."
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