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NSA Spying Shirts Are Back Just In Time to Tell Congress to Reform Section 702
We’ve been challenging the National Security Agency's mass surveillance of ordinary people since we first became aware of it nearly twenty years ago. Now, Section 702 is back up for a major renewal since it was last approved in 2018, and we need to pull out all the stops to make sure it is not renew...
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is urging people to take action against the renewal of Section 702, a law that allows the NSA to conduct mass surveillance on US citizens.
Key points:
- Section 702, originally intended for targeted overseas surveillance, is seen as enabling mass domestic spying.
- EFF wants reforms and increased transparency before renewal.
- They are selling "NSA Spying" shirts to raise awareness and funds for their fight.
- You can also contact your representatives to oppose the renewal.
Call to action:
- Buy a shirt to show support.
- Contact your representatives.
- Donate to EFF.
New Privacy Badger Prevents Google From Mangling More of Your Links and Invading Your Privacy
We released a new version of Privacy Badger that updates how we fight “link tracking” across a number of Google products. With this update Privacy Badger removes tracking from links in Google Docs, Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Images results. Privacy Badger now also removes tracking from links add...
Summary
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has released a new version of Privacy Badger that updates how it fights "link tracking" across a number of Google products. With this update, Privacy Badger removes tracking from links in Google Docs, Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Images results. Privacy Badger now also removes tracking from links added after scrolling through Google Search results.
Link tracking is a technique that allows a company to follow you whenever you click on a link to leave its website. Google uses different techniques for link tracking in different browsers and products. One common approach is to surreptitiously redirect the outgoing request through the tracker's own servers.
The EFF says that there is virtually no benefit to you when this happens, and that the added complexity mostly just helps Google learn more about your browsing.
The new version of Privacy Badger works by blocking all Google link tracking requests at the network layer. This is a more reliable way to prevent tracking, but it is not compatible with Google's Manifest V3 (MV3) extension API.
The EFF says that it would like to see this important functionality gap resolved before MV3 becomes mandatory for all extensions.
Privacy Badger is a free and open-source browser extension that helps to protect your privacy online. It is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
More info and installation links: https://privacybadger.org/
California’s Middle Mile Network Must Bridge the Digital Divide, Not Reinforce It
When California unanimously passed S.B. 156 in 2021, we embarked on a multi-year, multi-billion dollar endeavor to bring affordable, 21st-century fiber to every Californian. Done correctly, this nearly $7 billion investment—further supplemented by $ 1.8 billion in federal funding—would help...
Summary
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California passed a law in 2021 to build a middle-mile fiber network to connect unserved and underserved communities.
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The California Department of Technology (CDT) is responsible for implementing the law.
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CDT recently released a new map of the middle-mile network, which omits much of the network that was previously promised to be built in low-income communities.
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The CDT has said that it cut back the middle mile network because inflation has increased building costs.
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However, critics say that the cuts disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color.
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They also say that the cuts waste government money and community time and energy.
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They are urging the CDT to work with those on the ground to create equitable middle-mile maps that close the digital divide.
Are there foundations similar to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, but with more international focus?
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/1819391
> I'm a member of the EFF, and its activities are great, but understandably have slightly more focus on USA-related matters. I say "but" just because I don't live in the USA. > > Are there similar foundations that operate and focus/prioritize more on an international level? I don't manage to find any, but probably I'm doing the wrong kind of search.
Facebook Apparently Will Ask for Consent Before Showing Behavioral Ads to Some Users
For many years now, EFF has argued that pervasive online behavioral surveillance, which powers the exploitative data broker industry as well as some of the largest online tech companies, should be banned. Companies should voluntarily make these changes to benefit their users, but EFF also strongly.....
Summary:
- EFF has long argued that companies should not be allowed to collect and process private behavioral data without opt-in consent from users.
- Meta, one of the largest collectors of behavioral data in the world, has announced that it will change the legal basis for its behavioral advertising in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland from "legitimate interests" to "consent."
- Meta has a history of trying to circumvent privacy laws, and it is not clear how the company will implement this change.
- Meta's announcement came after recent court interpretations of the GDPR, as well as the incoming Digital Markets Act (DMA).
- The GDPR requires companies to obtain opt-in consent to collect, retain, disclose, or use a person's data.