EFFector, Vol. 14, No. 28; Sep. 28, 2001

EFFector Vol. 14, No. 28 Sep. 28, 2001 editors@eff.org

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424

In the 188th Issue of EFFector (now with over 29,200 subscribers!):

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Proposed Anti-Terrorism Law Overbroad and Overreaching

Act Today and Ask Your Legislators to Remove Dangerous Provisions

Electronic Frontier Foundation ACTION ALERT

(Issued: Friday, September 28, 2001 / Deadline: Friday, October 7, 2001, unless extended)

Legislators are finally becoming aware of civil liberties concerns surrounding the draft Anti-Terrorism Act and related legislation. Our activism is paying off.

The House Judiciary Committee is preparing a draft revision that removes many of the ATA's most troubling provisions, and there may be more room later in the process to improve the final version of anti-terrorism legislation before it passes. While this is a good sign, this is not a time to slack off.

If you have not yet read and responded to EFF's prior action alerts on this issue, please do so as soon as possible. Much action on this legislation, perhaps even passage and signing into law, is expected next week.

About EFF:

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading civil liberties organization working to protect rights in the digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF actively encourages and challenges industry and government to support free expression, privacy, and openness in the information society. EFF is a member-supported organization and maintains one of the most linked-to Web sites in the world:
http://www.eff.org

Contact:

Find Out How Bush's Anti-Terrorism Legislation Will Affect Our Civil Liberties

Electronic Frontier Foundation's "BayFF" - Thursday, October 11th

WHO:
Ann Brick - Staff Attorney, ACLU of Northern California
Cindy Cohn - Legal Director, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Panel Moderator
Robert Rubin- Legal Director, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the SF Bay Area
Kevin Poulsen - Journalist, Security Focus Magazine
Lee Tien - Senior Staff Attorney, Electronic Frontier Foundation

WHAT:
"BayFF" Panel Discussion on the new Anti-Terrorism Legislation, and its effects on civil liberties

WHERE:
San Francisco Public Library
Room: Koret Auditorium
100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: 415-557-4400 (for directions only)

This event is free and open to the general public. Food and beverages will be available. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org) is the leading civil liberties organization working to protect rights in the digital world.

'In Defense of Freedom' Declaration

100,000 Signatures Needed in 100 Hours

In Defense of Freedom is a recent declaration currently signed and supported by 150 organizations, 300 lawyers, and 40 computer scientists. They need signatures urgently in the next 100 hours. Their statement and declaration is below.

We have 100 hours to get signatures for the IDOF statement from 100,000 people across the country. Please urge your members (and people on your lists) to express their support for the principles contained in the IDOF statement now. Send the message now.

1. On September 11, 2001 thousands of people lost their lives in a brutal assault on the American people and the American form of government. We mourn the loss of these innocent lives and insist that those who perpetrated these acts be held accountable.

2. This tragedy requires all Americans to examine carefully the steps our country may now take to reduce the risk of future terrorist attacks.

3. We need to consider proposals calmly and deliberately with a determination not to erode the liberties and freedoms that are at the core of the American way of life.

4. We need to ensure that actions by our government uphold the principles of a democratic society, accountable government and international law, and that all decisions are taken in a manner consistent with the Constitution.

6. We should resist the temptation to enact proposals in the mistaken belief that anything that may be called anti-terrorist will necessarily provide greater security.

7. We should resist efforts to target people because of their race, religion, ethnic background or appearance, including immigrants in general, Arab Americans and Muslims.

8. We affirm the right of peaceful dissent, protected by the First Amendment, now, when it is most at risk.

9. We should applaud our political leaders in the days ahead who have the courage to say that our freedoms should not be limited.

10. We must have faith in our democratic system and our Constitution, and in our ability to protect at the same time both the freedom and the security of all Americans

Webcast of EFF Music Share In Available

EFF's first annual music Share In took place on September 8th and was a great success. In the spirit of the 60s "Be Ins" that were held in Golden Gate Park, the Share In celebrated the free exchange of creative work and featured 11 bands from around the Bay Area performing on two separate stages in Golden Gate Park.

EFF co-founder John Perry Barlow and executive director Shari Steele hosted the stages along with activist-clown Wavy Gravy. They educated the audience on EFF's mission and work. They also explained our Open Audio License (OAL) and its importance in creating more choice for both musicians and music lovers.

EFF would like to thank all of the musicians who donated their performances to the Share In. They are: singer/songwriter Adrian West, the jazzy Alex Buccat Quartet featuring Sanaz, folk/pop band Atticus Scout, high altitude bluegrass string band Hot Buttered Rum, soulful solo performer Michael Musika, the political satirists of The Planning Commission, Berkeley-based party band Shady Lady, classical Indian instrumentalists Srini and Raja, children's performer Susie Tallman, acoustic rock performer Vanessa Lowe, and singer/songwriter Wendy Haynes.

Artists participating in the Share In permitted recording of their performances by those in attendance in support of the Open Audio License, and many shouted messages from the stage supporting the OAL and the importance of sharing music.

EFF would also like to thank Guitar Center, Berkeley Center for Law and Technology, Hertz Equipment Rental, and SF Bay Guardian for their generous sponsorship and support.

DMCA Threats Squelch Publication of Secret Church Document on Homosexuality

Citing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), publication of a secret document dealing with "curing homosexuality" is under attack and a free speech online archive has been gagged. The Mormon Church claims its publishing arm, Intellectual Reserve, owns the copyright in a leaked internal church document titled, "Understanding and Helping Individuals with Homosexual Problems," which the church uses for training its social service workers.

On September 19th, Attorneys for the church demanded that the controversial document be removed from the Web site, Cryptome.org, an archive that publishes information which governments or corporations attempt to suppress. The church's lawyers contacted the legal department of Cryptome's Internet Service Provider (ISP) Verio and ordered it to terminate access to the document according to Section 512 (c) of the DMCA, which only limits liability for ISPs who disable their customer's Web site upon receipt of a complaint of copyright infringement. Verio then required Cryptome to remove the document or face termination of its entire online archive, as required by the DMCA.

EFF Seeks Media Intern

The Electronic Frontier Foundation seeks a Media intern to focus on media tasks such as media interview assignments, media releases, media professional relationships, and mediabase and media coverage archival. Basic HTML skills and general computer competence helpful. Very helpful if you have your own laptop and/or home Internet access.

Interns will be in the San Francisco Bay Area, and in the EFF office at least two days per week. School credit may be available.

Timeframe: Needed immediately, for each semester. Minimum commitment 2 days per week for at least three months.

EFF Thanks Aspen Legal Media

EFF extends its gratitude to Matt Gallaway, Legal Editor at Aspen Legal Media, for arranging the donation of Prof. Paul Goldstein's 4 volume Copyright Law treatise.

Aspen Law & Business is an imprint of Aspen Publishers, Inc., which for more than 40 years has served the needs of legal, business, and health care professionals with timely books, periodicals, and information services by leading authorities. Today, Aspen publishes more than 400 journals, newsletters, electronic products, and looseleaf reference manuals and has more than 1,000 books in print.
http://www.aspenpublishers.com/

Administrivia

The Electronic Frontier Foundation
454 Shotwell Street
San Francisco CA 94110-1914 USA
+1 415 436 9333 (voice)
+1 415 436 9993 (fax)
http://www.eff.org/

Editors:
Katina Bishop, EFF Education & Offline Activism Director
Stanton McCandlish, EFF Technical Director/Webmaster
editors@eff.org

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