PRIVACY AND SAFETY QUESTIONS LOOM OVER FEDERAL PROGRAM TO TRACK PRESCHOOLERS

 

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
ISSN 1062-9424
effector: n, Computer Sci. A device for producing a
desired change.
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In our 548th issue:
*  PRIVACY AND SAFETY QUESTIONS LOOM OVER FEDERAL PROGRAM
   TO TRACK PRESCHOOLERS
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the ACLU of
Northern California (ACLU-NC) are calling for answers to
critical privacy and safety questions that loom over a
controversial federal program to track Head Start
preschoolers with radio frequency identification (RFID)
chips in Richmond, California. In an open letter sent this
week, we have asked officials to disclose what technical
and security measures are employed to safeguard students,
among other important questions.
For more information on this go to:
https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2010/09/13
For the full open letter:
http://www.eff.org/files/filenode/rfid/RFIDletter_full.pdf
* SECURITY ALERT - STOP USING HAYSTACK SOFTWARE NOW
Based on announcement made by The Censorship Research
Center, we recommend that users stop using all versions of
the Haystack anti-censorship software immediately.
To learn more:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/09/breaking-news-security-alert-stop-using-haystack
* EFF MEMBERS-ONLY SPEAKEASY SEPTEMBER 28, 2010
Join EFF staff members for a special Bay Area happy hour on
Tuesday, September 28th! EFF's Speakeasy is a free
gathering for current members only and space is limited.
Members will receive a personal email invitation with
location details on Monday, September 20th. For more
information, contact membership@eff.org.
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EFF Updates
* John Doe Strikes Back in the US Copyright Group Cases
After months of dragnet litigation and intimidation, some
of the thousands of  "John Doe" Defendants targeted in mass
copyright lawsuits are fighting back in earnest.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/09/john-doe-strikes-back-new-developments-us
* EFF Says Violating Company Policies Is Not a Computer
  Crime
EFF urged a federal appeals court to dismiss charges that
would turn any employee use of company computers in
violation of corporate policy into a federal crime.
https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2010/09/14
* Sarah Palin Revisited: Why Terms of Use Shouldn't Be
  Enforced Through Computer Crime Law
Facebook's response to an EFF blogpost about employing
ghostwriters bolsters our argument that violating a site's
terms of use should not be a criminal act.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/09/sarah-palin-revisited
* Revised Opinion in Privacy Case Blurs Clear Limits to
  Digital Search and Seizure
The Ninth Circuit issued an unfortunate revised opinion in
United States v. Comprehensive Drug Testing Inc., a case
featuring blatantly unconstitutional government action.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/09/revised-opinion-privacy-case-blurs-clear-limits
* Jack-Booted Thugs and Copyright Enforcement
When it comes to copyright enforcement and the government,
EFF frequently warns that giving government agents a reason
to censor, search, seize, and indict must be taken very
seriously.  The New York Times reported on a frightening
object lesson from Russia.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/09/jack-booted-thugs-and-copyright-enforcement
* 9th Circuit's Troubling New State Secrets Decision
  Demonstrates Need for Reform
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, ruling en banc in a case
called Mohamed v. Jeppesen Dataplan, adopted the Bush and
Obama Administration's joint Executive Branch power grab in
the form of the state secrets privilege.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/09/9th-circuits-troubling-new-state-secrets-decision
* EFF Welcomes New Attorneys to Transparency Team
EFF is pleased to announce two new additions to our FOIA
Litigation for Accountable Government (FLAG) Project: Staff
Attorney Jennifer Lynch and Open Government Legal Fellow
Mark Rumold.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/eff-welcomes-new-attorney-foia-team
* "Magic Words" Trump User Rights: Ninth Circuit Ruling in
  Vernor v. Autodesk
In a major blow to user rights, the Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals has issued a decision that will go a long way
toward ensuring that software buyers will rarely be
software owners.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/09/magic-words-trump-user-rights-ninth-circuit-ruling