EFFector 36.4
No KOSA, No TikTok Ban
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In our 806th issue:
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Top Features
More than 5,000 young people answered our call to explain why the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) threatens their online freedom. These responses make clear that many, many young people also experience help, education, friendship, and a sense of belonging there — precisely because social media allows them to explore, something KOSA is likely to hinder. These kids are deeply engaged in the world around them through these platforms, and genuinely concerned that a law like KOSA could take that away from them and from other young people. Also, to ensure that everyone understands why EFF continues to oppose KOSA, we broke down our interpretation of the bill in more detail and compared our views to those of others—both advocates and critics.
EFF Updates
EFF’s award-winning podcast continues! Senator Ron Wyden — a driving force for free speech online and against warrantless surveillance of Americans — joins EFF’s Cindy Cohn and Jason Kelley to discuss a future in which the internet is first and foremost about empowering people, not big corporations and government.
You’d think that after San Francisco had to pay a $369,000 settlement in 2020 to a journalist whose home cops raided, the SFPD would’ve gotten a little more careful about throwing search warrants at journalists—but you’d be wrong. EFF recently provided pro bono assistance to help the San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center, commonly known as Indybay, fight off an unlawful SFPD search warrant and gag order.
The U.S. Senate is considering two bills that would enrich patent trolls, patent system insiders, and a few large companies that rely on flimsy patents, at the expense of everyone else. One would bring back some of the worst software patents we’ve seen, and even re-introduce types of patents on human genes that were banned years ago; another would shut out most of the public from even petitioning the government to reconsider wrongly granted patents. Please help us shut these bad bills down!
Welcome to the 10th annual Foilies, the “awards” given by EFF and MuckRock — and published in alt-weekies across the nation — for the most egregious violations of open-records laws. From book bans to marijuana redactions to poop in mailboxes, the Foilies have it all: the very worst in government transparency.
Here’s an audio version of EFFector. We hope you enjoy it!
Announcements
Join us for EFF's 8th annual Tech Trivia Night — the ULTIMATE technology quiz! — from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, May 9 at Public Works, 161 Erie Street, San Francisco. Explore the obscure minutiae of digital security, online rights, and internet culture while competing for the coveted 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies and EFF swag! It’s a great opportunity to connect with peers in the tech community, and to celebrate the movement for civil liberties and human rights online. It’s $55 per person but only $45 for Current EFF members, and with dinner and drinks included, this is sure to be a great night! Teams may have 3 to 8 people, so bring your friends (or make a few new ones)! Don't have a team? No problem, we'll help form cool and competitive teams!
Job Openings
MiniLinks
As we await Senate action on the bill, EFF’s David Greene explains why it’s unconstitutional.
The Ghanaian Parliament has passed the so-called "Family Values" bill, an ill-informed and malicious bill which criminalizes LGBTQ+ identity, allyship, and discussion of almost any kind—meaning it will ban an amazing array of online speech, art, and even sport. EFF’s Daly Barnett, Paige Collings, and Dave Maass explain why certain brands and celebrities might become personae non gratae in Ghana under this bigoted bill.
The South by Southwest conference and festival says it champions creativity, but when the Austin for Palestine Coalition parodied its marketing materials for political protest, SXSW was quick to threaten the group with trademark and copyright claims. EFF’s Cara Gagliano came to the rescue.
We’ve been saying for a long time that age verification laws violate people’s rights and have unintended consequences. EFF”s Hudson Hongo confirms that Texans are the first ones to flock to VPNs to get around such laws.
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