< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> The Federal Trade Commission announced a proposed settlement agreeing that General Motors and its subsidiary, OnStar, will be banned from selling geolocation and driver behavior data to…
Category: Deeplinks
VICTORY! Federal Court (Finally) Rules Backdoor Searches of 702 Data Unconstitutional
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> Better late than never: last night a federal district court held that backdoor searches of databases full of Americans’ private communications collected under Section 702 ordinarily require…
Protecting “Free Speech” Can’t Just Be About Targeting Political Opponents
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> The White House executive order “restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship,” published Monday, misses the mark on truly protecting Americans’ First Amendment rights. The order…
EFF Sends Transition Memo on Digital Policy Priorities to New Administration and Congress
Topics Include National Security Surveillance, Consumer Privacy, AI, Cybersecurity, and Many More < div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> SAN FRANCISCO—Standing up for technology users in 2025 and beyond requires careful thinking about government…
VPNs Are Not a Solution to Age Verification Laws
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> VPNs are having a moment. On January 1st, Florida joined 18 other states in implementing an age verification law that burdens Floridians’ access to sites that host adult content, including pornography…
EFF Statement on U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision to Uphold TikTok Ban
We are deeply disappointed that the Court failed to require the strict First Amendment scrutiny required in a case like this, which would’ve led to the inescapable conclusion that the government’s desire to prevent potential future harm had to be…
Mad at Meta? Don’t Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> If you’re fed up with Meta right now, you’re not alone. Google searches for deleting Facebook and Instagram spiked last week after Meta announced its latest policy…
Systemic Risk Reporting: A System in Crisis?
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> The first batch of reports assessing the so called “systemic risks” posed by the largest online platforms are in. These reports are a result of the Digital…
Police Use of Face Recognition Continues to Wrack Up Real-World Harms
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> Police have shown, time and time again, that they cannot be trusted with face recognition technology (FRT). It is too dangerous, invasive, and in the hands of…
Digital Rights and the New Administration | EFFector 37.1
It’s a new year and EFF is here to help you keep up with your New Year’s resolution to stay up-to-date on the latest digital rights news with our EFFector newsletter! This edition of the newsletter covers our tongue-in-cheek “awards”…
Platforms Systematically Removed a User Because He Made “Most Wanted CEO” Playing Cards
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> On December 14, James Harr, the owner of an online store called ComradeWorkwear, announced on social media that he planned to sell a deck of “Most Wanted…
Five Things to Know about the Supreme Court Case on Texas’ Age Verification Law, Free Speech Coalition v Paxton
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in a case that will determine whether states can violate adults’ First Amendment rights to access sexual content online…
Meta’s New Content Policy Will Harm Vulnerable Users. If It Really Valued Free Speech, It Would Make These Changes
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> Earlier this week, when Meta announced changes to their content moderation processes, we were hopeful that some of those changes—which we will address in more detail in…
EFF Statement on Meta’s Announcement of Revisions to Its Content Moderation Processes
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> In general, EFF supports moves that bring more freedom of expression and transparency to platforms—regardless of their political motivation. We’re encouraged by Meta’s recognition that automated flagging…
Last Call: The Combined Federal Campaign Pledge Period Closes on January 15!
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> The pledge period for the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) closes on Wednesday, January 15! If you’re a U.S. federal employee or retiree, now is the time to…
EFF Goes to Court to Uncover Police Surveillance Tech in California
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> Which surveillance technologies are California police using? Are they buying access to your location data? If so, how much are they paying? These are basic questions the Electronic Frontier Foundation is…
Online Behavioral Ads Fuel the Surveillance Industry—Here’s How
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> A global spy tool exposed the locations of billions of people to anyone willing to pay. A Catholic group bought location data about gay dating app users…
Deepening Government Use of AI and E-Government Transition in Latin America: 2024 in Review
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> < div class=”field__item even”> Policies aimed at fostering digital government processes are gaining traction in Latin America, at local and regional levels. While these initiatives can streamline access to public services,…
Decentralization Reaches a Turning Point: 2024 in review
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> The steady rise of decentralized networks this year is transforming social media. Platforms like Mastodon, Bluesky, and Threads are still in their infancy but have already shown that when users are…
Kids Online Safety Act Continues to Threaten Our Rights Online: 2024 in Review
< div class=”field field–name-body field–type-text-with-summary field–label-hidden”> < div class=”field__items”> At times this year, it seemed that Congress was going to give up its duty to protect our rights online—particularly when the Senate passed the dangerous Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)…