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Defending Privacy, Daily - Anil Dash
a day 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
15 days 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
23 days 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
a month 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
a month 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

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