digital rights

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Chatcontrol ediția 2025 pe scurt (română) - Bert Hubert's writings
2 months ago
- A Danish initiative calls for EU member states to force WhatsApp, Signal, and similar apps to use AI to scan all photos and links for potential child pornography.
- If the AI has any doubt about content, the user's photo, location, phone number, and other details will be reported to Europol and local police, leading to potential consequences like police questioning.
- The regulation has a low threshold for reporting, requiring only a 'manifestly unfounded' exception, and even legal content may have copies retained in databases.
- Users who deny permission for AI scanning may lose the ability to send photos and links, and Signal may stop accepting EU users to avoid implementing the law.
- Police and child protection experts report being overwhelmed, suggesting that resources are not being directed to criminal investigation, training, or international cooperation.
- The law may create a massive US-owned surveillance center, with history showing surveillance capabilities often expand in scope, and governments have exempted their own police and military.
- Germany is poised to support the legislation, potentially making it law, and other governments appear to follow suit.
Defending Privacy, Daily - Anil Dash
2 months ago
- Cindy Cohn, executive director of EFF, appeared on The Daily Show to discuss digital privacy and civil liberties.
- She made technical and legal topics about privacy accessible and engaging for a broader audience.
- Cohn's book 'Privacy's Defender' chronicles her three-decade fight against digital surveillance.
- The interview highlights growing threats to digital rights from government overreach and big tech.
- The author urges support for EFF through donations and membership, and promotes an upcoming event in NYC.
Stop the GUARD Act and age verification laws worldwide
2 months ago
- Age verification laws are often justified as protecting children, but may not effectively solve the intended problems and can have severe consequences for digital freedoms.
- The GUARD Act in the U.S. would mandate age verification for chatbot services, potentially enabling surveillance and threatening software freedom, including free machine learning development.
- Age verification requirements could force even small free software projects to implement restrictive technologies, undermining Freedom 0—the right to use software for any purpose.
- Activists urge calling senators to oppose such legislation and highlight upcoming International Day Against DRM on July 17th to raise awareness and seek support.
Android is almost dead – OSnews
3 months ago
- Google's Android Developer Verifier (ADV) process acts as a virus installed on Android 8+ devices, awaiting remote activation.
- ADV runs as a system service with root privileges, cannot be blocked or removed, and is spread via Play Protect.
- Once activated, ADV blocks software from developers not approved by Google, threatening F-Droid and open-source repositories.
- Concerns include the end of openness on Android, increased pressure from the Google-Apple duopoly, and loss of user control.
- Potential responses include EU regulation, but skepticism exists due to global acceptance of Apple's restrictions.
- Discussion of new mobile OSes, but hardware lockdowns (like fused roots) and government approvals hinder alternatives.
- MicroG is a FOSS replacement for Google Play Services, but third-party apps often require Google services, limiting its use.
- Debate ties into broader issues: digital IDs, government surveillance, and corporate control over computing freedoms.
- Comparisons note Windows and x86 PCs as currently more open than Android or macOS in running unsigned executables.
- Strategies to avoid Google reliance include skipping login, disabling Google apps, using F-Droid, and avoiding bank apps on Android.
Say No to Online Age Verification
3 months ago
- Age verification systems require submitting sensitive personal data to third-party companies to access certain online content, starting with adult sites and expanding to social media and beyond.
- Anonymous speech is essential for protecting vulnerable groups like whistleblowers and political dissidents; age verification leads to self-censorship and chills free expression.
- Privacy is compromised as data breaches expose IDs, selfies, and other personal information, with systems enabling surveillance under the guise of child safety.
- Laws mandating age verification have spread globally from Louisiana in 2023 to multiple countries, targeting increasingly broad areas like AI chatbots and VPNs.
- Children's rights to access information and free speech are undermined by age verification, which restricts their ability to explore ideas and seek knowledge online.
- Counterarguments highlight that age verification expands in scope, creates surveillance infrastructure, and fails to protect data, with alternatives like privacy laws and parental controls being more effective.
- Action steps include contacting lawmakers to oppose age verification mandates, using provided email templates to advocate for free expression and privacy.
EU to legislate about Chat Control behind closed doors
3 months ago
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola's push to resurrect 'Chat Control 1.0' disregards the Parliament's earlier rejection, threatening democratic processes.
- Final trilogue negotiations on 'Chat Control 2.0' risk concessions leading to mass scanning of private messages, warrantless scanning orders, and the end of anonymous communications.
- Civil society has relaunched fightchatcontrol.eu to enable citizens to email EU lawmakers, opposing undemocratic backroom deals and advocating for privacy and fundamental rights.

digital rights

Chatcontrol ediția 2025 pe scurt (română) - Bert Hubert's writings

Defending Privacy, Daily - Anil Dash

Stop the GUARD Act and age verification laws worldwide

Android is almost dead – OSnews

Say No to Online Age Verification

EU to legislate about Chat Control behind closed doors