EFF Experts to Speak at Privacy Roundtable in Washington, D.C.: Via EFF.org Updates.

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, March 17, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is hosting its final public roundtable on technology privacy challenges in Washington, D.C. Two experts from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) are taking part.

EFF Senior Staff Technologist Peter Eckersley and EFF Boardmember Edward W. Felten will discuss "Internet Architecture and Privacy" at the first panel of the day. Later panels will cover health information privacy and issues around other sensitive information, as well as lessons learned so far and future plans for privacy protection.

For more information on attending the roundtable including a full agenda, visit http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/privacyroundtables/index.shtml

WHAT:
FTC Roundtable "Internet Architecture and Privacy"

WHEN:
Wednesday, March 17
9:15 a.m. [ Read more ... ]

International Women's Day: A Celebration of a World Advancing Women's Human Rights: Via Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Every year on March 8, we celebrate the triumphs and struggles of women around the world. In my home country of Australia, the day is always special — and it's not unusual for a stranger to wish you a "happy women's day!" on your way to work. For the past 10 years or so my friends and I have made it a ritual to get up ridiculously early to mark the occasion with a women's breakfast. I always leave these events inspired by the past achievements that we as young women benefit from, and filled with a sense of purpose for the work that is still yet to be done. [ Read more ... ]

EFF Panel in Pittsburgh: Architecture Is Policy: Via EFF.org Updates.

Pittsburgh - On Monday, March 8, at 4 p.m., board members of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) will discuss the societal impact of technology design in a panel at Carnegie Mellon University.

Technology design can maximize or decimate our basic rights to free speech, privacy, property ownership, and creative thought. The panel will discuss some good and bad design decisions through the years and the ramifications of those decisions.

Monday's panel is free and open to the public.

WHAT:
Architecture Is Policy: The Legal and Social Impact of Technical Design Decisions

WHEN:
4 p.m.
Monday, March 8 [ Read more ... ]

ACLU’s Jameel Jaffer at New School Conference: Via Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union.

This week, The New School in New York City will be hosting a conference, on "Limiting Knowledge in a Democracy," which will assess where America is today with respect to limits on our access to information. The two-day conference will explore the issues of citizens’ right to free public information, the ways in which the government and other political organizations restrict or manipulate the flow of information, and the importance of investigative journalism in upholding democracy and calling for accountability.

The ACLU’s National Security Project Director, Jameel Jaffer, will participate in a session on “Arguments for and Against Limits on Knowledge in a Democracy” to discuss the disadvantages of limits on knowledge. The session, which takes place on Thursday, February 25, 2010 from 2:15 pm – 5:00 pm, [ Read more ... ]

Whistleblowing Can't Wait: Via Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union.

We ask a lot of whistleblowers. We ask them to stand up for what's right, and to sacrifice much along the way. They risk losing their jobs, alienating their friends, family, and coworkers, face lawsuits and threats to their personal safety.

Wednesday night, the Government Accountability Project (GAP) and Participant Media presented a panel discussion about the importance of government and corporate whistleblowers. The headliners: Frank Serpico, who exposed corruption inside the New York Police Department in 1970 (and was unforgettably portrayed by Al Pacino in the eponymous film); and Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times in 1971, forever changing public opinion about the Vietnam War.

They were joined by more recent whistleblowers, including Kit Foshee, a former meat inspector who exposed that his company was adding ammonia to its ground beef, and Coleen Rowley, who called out the FBI's mishandling of early information it had about Zacarias Mossaoui. Many gave first-hand accounts of exposing corruption, lies and cover-ups, and how being a whistleblower has changed their lives. You can watch the entire panel discussion online . [ Read more ... ]

Minds for Sale | Berkman Center: Via The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School.

Minds for Sale

Jonathan Zittrain, Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and co-founder of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society

Monday, February 22, 5:30PM
Austin East Classroom, Austin Hall, Harvard Law School (Map)
Register Here for Harvard Alumni (Alumni / Friends $5)
For Community Members, email haa_alumnieducation@harvard.edu or call 617-495-1920.
This event will be webcast live and archived on our site shortly after. [ Read more ... ]

Philly authorities target Facebook, Twitter after snowball fight turns ugly: Via The Social - CNET News.

Two members of Philadelphia's city council are considering legal action against Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace in the wake of a "flash mob" earlier this week that turned violent, according to a letter sent to the city's mayor and obtained by CNET. They claim that social-media sites don't do enough to keep tabs on violence that could be organized through their communication channels.

No charges have been drawn up, in the letter the councilmembers ask the permission of Mayor Michael Nutter to "pursue the possibility" of a lawsuit. [ Read more ... ]

The Informants! Need Protections: Via Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Matt Damon is funny. No, really, it's true. For all his serious emoting in Good Will Hunting and action-hero pyrotechnics in the Jason Bourne movies, the man knows how to generate a giggle. In The Informant! Mr. Damon is a mild-mannered corporate whistleblower, dressed up in nondescript glasses and a funny moustache. And he's pretty hilarious, bumbling his way through corporate intrigue and exposing abuses of power along the way. After all, nothing is more fun than good ol' corporate corruption and the lengths to which people will go to cover it up.

But all jokes aside, whistleblowers are real-life heroes — people brave enough to speak up when they see wrongdoing and demand change. Sometimes they take on corporations, sometimes they take on the government, but no matter how large or small the obstacle, it takes true courage to take on the establishment, especially if doing so costs them their jobs or their freedom. That courage should be rewarded with meaningful legal protections, [ Read more ... ]

The Science of Liberty: Democracy, Reason, and the Laws of Nature: Via Cato Institute: Book Forum.

BOOK FORUM
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Noon (Luncheon to Follow)

Featuring the author, Timothy Ferris, with comments by Jason Kuznicki, Research Fellow, Cato Institute. Moderated by Brink Lindsey, Vice President for Research, Cato Institute.

Award-winning author Timothy Ferris discusses the relationship between science and liberal government, arguing that the fortunes of science and liberty rise and fall together. The scientific revolutions of the 17th and 18th centuries were, he argues, a powerful inspiration for the concurrent revolutions in government; together, they produced what we know as the modern world. [ Read more ... ]

Film Premiere: 10 Rules for Dealing with Police: Via Cato Institute .

FILM PREMIERE
Friday, February 12, 2010 (rescheduled to a new date yet to be determined)
Cato Institute 
1000 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. 
Washington, D.C.

With comments from William "Billy" Murphy, Attorney and 10 Rules Narrator and Neill Franklin, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Moderated by Tim Lynch, Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute.

Editor: Due to the weather conditions, we are unable to hold the film premiere. The event will be rescheduled for a future date and new invitations will be sent. You can also check back here at cato.org for updates. [ Read more ... ]

Anonymous Unfurls ‘Operation Titstorm’: Via Threat Level.

Several Australian government websites were slowly recovering Wednesday hours after the online prankster group, Anonymous, unleashed a massive distributed denial-of-service attack to protest the country’s evolution toward internet censorship.

The group, which has brought down Scientology’s websites and undertaken a host of other online pranks, dubbed the attack “Operation Titstorm” to protest the government’s move to require the filtering of pornography hosting adult actors if they appeared under age. Other violent material targeting children is also to be censored.

Anonymous, whose past targets include uncool virtual worlds, an epilepsy message board and a Neo-Nazi webcaster,  sent Australian media e-mail messages warning of the attack, the Sydney Morning Herald said. [ Read more ... ]

EFF Fights for Cell Phone Users' Privacy in Thursday Hearing: Via EFF.org Updates.

Philadelphia - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) will be arguing this Thursday before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Philadelphia, urging the court to block a government attempt to seize telephone company records detailing a cell phone user's past locations without first getting a search warrant. [ Read more ... ]

ShmooCon: P2P snoopers know what's in your wallet: Via Computerworld Privacy News.

People send their most sensitive personal information out over P2P networks, and the bad guys are watching.

Being security researchers and all, Larry Pesce and Mick Douglas thought it would be a hoot to take a look at some of the information people send out over peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. They were taken aback by what they found.

At the 2010 ShmooCon security conference Friday, the duo showed off the extremely sensitive information they've been able to intercept, including driver's licenses and passports, tax return forms with Social Security numbers; someone's last will and testament and information on one man's secret activities that could potentially be exploited by terrorists. [ Read more ... ]

FTC Roundtable: Technology's Impact on Privacy: Via CDT - Center for Democracy & Technology.

In her opening remarks at the second of the FTC’s roundtables in its Exploring Privacy series, FTC Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour was characteristically observant in noting that the mobile space is “crying out for greater privacy.” She reminded us of the 100,000 mobile apps that have been developed for just one mobile platform (the iPhone) among many, but aptly noted that “there’s no app” to give users greater control over their mobile data and the ways that data generated by mobile devices can be used for consumer tracking. Across all the most popular mobile applications platforms (including iPhone and Android), there are nearly 3000 location-based applications, and surely only a fraction, if any, are designed to enhance location privacy rather than invade it. [ Read more ... ]

Today is Data Privacy Day: Via CDT - Center for Democracy & Technology.

Today is Data Privacy Day – an international celebration of the dignity of the individual expressed through their personal information. This is exactly what "Take Back Your Privacy" is all about as we work with supporters, businesses and legislators to increase user control of their personal data.
 
To help celebrate Data Privacy Day, we urge you to do any number of the following activities to show your support for protecting digital privacy:
  [ Read more ... ]

World Privacy Day and the Madrid Privacy Declaration: Via Schneier on Security.

Today is World Privacy Day. (I know; it's odd to me, too.) You can celebrate by signing on to the Madrid Privacy Declaration, either as an individual or as an organization.

Me, I'm celebrating -- but I'm not going to tell you how.

Read Original Article:(Via Schneier on Security.)

FTC - Exploring Privacy: A Roundtable Series: Via FTC - Federal Trade Commission.

The Federal Trade Commission will host a series of day-long public roundtable discussions to explore the privacy challenges posed by the vast array of 21st century technology and business practices that collect and use consumer data. Such practices include social networking, cloud computing, online behavioral advertising, mobile marketing, and the collection and use of information by retailers, data brokers, third-party applications, and other diverse businesses. The goal of the roundtables is to determine how best to protect consumer privacy while supporting beneficial uses of the information and technological innovation. [ Read more ... ]

Happy Data Privacy Day!: Via Privacy Lives.

January 28 is Data Privacy Day. Take the time to think about how privacy is important in your life and how you can protect your rights from being infringed upon. Also, please donate to any number of organizations out there trying to protect your rights generally.

Visit the official site to find events near your area. Here are a few highlights in the United States and internationally:

United States: [ Read more ... ]

EFF Experts to Speak at FTC Privacy Roundtable: Via EFF.org Updates.

Berkeley, CA - On Thursday, January 28, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is hosting a day-long public roundtable in Berkeley, California, exploring the privacy challenges posted by new developments in technology. Three experts from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) are taking part.

Panels at Thursday's roundtable include "Technology and Privacy," where EFF Staff Technologist Peter Eckersley will discuss the arms race between tracking technologies and privacy-enhancing technologies. Also on the agenda is "Privacy Implications of Mobile Computing" with EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kevin Bankston addressing privacy issues of location-based services and "Technology and Policy" with EFF Senior Staff Attorney Lee Tien discussing how privacy can be designed into new products. Other panels will tackle social networking services and cloud computing.

For more information on attending the roundtable including a full agenda, visit http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/privacyroundtables/index.shtml [ Read more ... ]

EFF Turns 20 With Adam Savage and Friends: Via EFF.org Updates.

Every year we put together a birthday fund-raiser to commemorate another 365 days of fighting for your digital civil liberties. This year, we're celebrating two decades of determined advocacy for freedom wherever bits are found, and the revelry will be unmatched by celebrations past!

So on February 10, 2010, come join the celebration of EFF's 20th year defending your digital rights! The fundraiser will be hosted by beloved TV geek Adam Savage at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco, where he will celebrate EFF's two decades as only he can, with the help of many EFF legends and luminaries. [ Read more ... ]

John Morris will speak at a National Town Hall Webcast on Net Neutrality, Copyright Protection and the National Broadband Plan: Via CDT - Center for Democracy & Technology.

January 19, 2010 - 8:00am - 11:00am

John Morris

Internet Openness & Standards

Internet Neutrality

John Morris will speak at a National Town Hall Webcast on Net Neutrality, Copyright Protection and the National Broadband Plan.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has confirmed that he will offer video remarks to kick off the Town Hall Webcast, by BroadbandBreakfast.com. [ Read more ... ]

Ari Schwartz will participate in Great Debate, PBS: Our Lives Online: Safe or Not?: Via CDT - Center for Democracy & Technology

February 5, 2010 - 4:00pm - 5:30pm

The Texas Lyceum
San Antonio, TX

Ari Schwartz will participate in Great Debate, PBS:  Our Lives Online: Safe or Not? The debate, to be televised statewide via public television, will tackle the thorny issue of whether existing laws and technologies adequately protect our data and identities in an online world.  Panelists will represent opposing viewpoints in this debate – hackers and privacy advocates who will likely argue these protections are inadequate, and security leaders and government leaders who will argue that laws and technologies are closing the gap. 

Read Original Article:(Via CDT - Center for Democracy & Technology.)

Quantum Cryptography Cracked: Via Schneier on Security.

Impressive:

This presentation will show the first experimental implementation of an eavesdropper for quantum cryptosystem. Although quantum cryptography has been proven unconditionally secure, by exploiting physical imperfections (detector vulnerability) we have successfully built an intercept-resend attack and demonstrated eavesdropping under realistic conditions on an installed quantum key distribution line. The actual eavesdropping hardware we have built will be shown during the conference.

While I am very interested in quantum cryptography, I have never been optimistic about its practicality. And it's always interesting to see provably secure cryptosystems broken.

Read Original Article:(Via Schneier on Security.)

Hackers show it's easy to snoop on a GSM call: Via Computerworld Security News.

Computer security researchers say that the GSM phones used by the majority of the world's mobile-phone users can be listened in on with just a few thousand dollars worth of hardware and some free open-source tools.

In a presentation given Sunday at the Chaos Communication Conference in Berlin, researcher Karsten Nohl said that he had compiled 2 terabytes worth of data -- cracking tables that can be used as a kind of reverse phone-book to determine the encryption key used to secure a GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) telephone conversation or text message.

While Nohl stopped short of releasing a GSM-cracking device -- that would be illegal in many countries, including the U.S. -- he said he divulged information that has been common knowledge in academic circles and made it "practically useable." [ Read more ... ]

I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

Here's hoping that next year is even better than this one. [ Read more ... ]