Privacy
Law enforcement agencies have been allowed, even encouraged, to follow the actions and movements of citizens more closely at a time when digital technologies have amplified their ability to do so, and laws to protect privacy and ensure that the wheels of justice are not rolling over our rights haven&
Government 2.0
"Freedom of Speech" by Norman Rockwell (1943) One of the most important moments in a piece of legislation's lifecycle is its public hearing. This is the opportunity for a bill to be formally considered by its assigned committee, and a decision made as to whether the
Events
Join the Electronic Frontier Foundation, EFF-Austin, and iSEC Partners for a special gathering to celebrate digital freedom! Learn, discuss, and network with online civil liberties supporters and meet the people behind the world's leading digital rights organizations. Raise a glass with us and discover what's
Events
In early January of this year, as the Texas state legislature inaugurated its 83rd biennial session, EFF-Austin connected with a group of citizen activists concerned about the hidden exchange of information between telecommunications companies and law enforcement agencies. Together with the ACLU of Texas, Texans for Accountable Government, and
Free Speech
Press release from EFF.org: The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) asked a federal judge today to protect the free speech rights of an online archive of laws and legal standards after a wrongheaded copyright claim forced the removal of a document detailing important technical standards required by the federal government
Events
Join EFF-Austin and Cory Doctorow on Friday, February 22 at the Tiniest Bar in Texas, 817 West Fifth Street in Austin, 7-10pm! We'll be jammin', talking about computers, freedom and privacy - with music by DJ Strangevibe and conversation with NY Times bestselling author Cory Doctorow!
Government 2.0
In late January, Aaron Greenspan announced "Operation Asymptote" to the influential Liberation Technologies mailing list: http://www.aarongreenspan.com/writing/essay.html?id=85http://www.plainsite.org/asymptote/index.html I looked into Operation Asymptote, and recommend it as an effective and poetic tribute to Aaron Swartz'
Events
Last week, I attended the monthly meeting for Open Austin, a group which has been around for several years promoting better governance through open technologies. I'm writing to draw attention to their recent successes and increasing importance to the City of Austin. There's an interesting history
Privacy
EFF-Austin is promoting new legislation to require police to obtain a warrant for cellphone tracking. Police can leverage the technology that allows cellphone signals to reach your phone, and that you can use to find your phone when it's lost, to track your movements. This requires the
Activism
See also http://weblogsky.com/2013/01/12/aaron-swartz-1986-2013/
Creativity and Innovation
From FreePress.net: "If the FCC proposal passes, one company could own the major daily newspaper, two TV stations and up to eight radio stations in your town. And that one company could be your Internet provider, too. What is the FCC thinking?!?"
Free Speech
Don't miss the two-week discussion with Rebecca MacKinnon, author of Consent of the Networked, about global online civil liberties, led by EFF-Austin's Jon Lebkowsky, currently in progress on the WELL. When it comes to legislation like the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)