Americans Are Uncomfortable with Automated Decision-Making

Imagine a company you recently applied to work at used an artificial intelligence program to analyze your application to help expedite the review process. Does that creep you out? Well, you’re not alone. Consumer Reports recently released a national survey finding that Americans are uncomfortable with use of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic decision-making in […]

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Backyard Privacy in the Age of Drones

This article was originally published by The Legal Aid Society’s Decrypting a Defense Newsletter on August 5, 2024 and is reprinted here with permission. Police departments and law enforcement agencies are increasingly collecting personal information using drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition to high-resolution photographic and video cameras, police drones may be […]

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Broad Scope Will Authorize Cross-Border Spying for Acts of Expression: Why You Should Oppose Draft UN Cybercrime Treaty

The draft UN Cybercrime Convention was supposed to help tackle serious online threats like ransomware attacks, which cost billions of dollars in damages every year. But, after two and a half years of negotiations among UN Member States, the draft treaty’s broad rules for collecting evidence across borders may turn it into a tool for […]

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Atlanta Police Must Stop High-Tech Spying on Political Movements

The Atlanta Police Department has been snooping on social media to closely monitor the meetings, protests, canvassing–even book clubs and pizza parties–of the political movement to stop “Cop City,” a police training center that would destroy part of an urban forest. Activists already believed they were likely under surveillance by the Atlanta Police Department due […]

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Digital Apartheid in Gaza: Big Tech Must Reveal Their Roles in Tech Used in Human Rights Abuses

This is part two of an ongoing series. Part one on unjust content moderation is here.  Since the start of the Israeli military response to Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack, U.S.-based companies like Google and Amazon have been under pressure to reveal more about the services they provide and the nature of their relationships with […]

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EFF Benefit Poker Tournament at DEF CON 32

“Shuffle up and deal!” announced Cory Doctorow and the sound of playing cards and poker chips filled the room. The sci-fi author and EFF special advisor was this year’s Celebrity Emcee for the 3rd annual EFF Benefit Poker Tournament, an official contest at the DEF CON computer hacking conference hosted by Red Queen Dynamics CEO […]

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Driving Progress: Botswana prepares for historic UN conference on landlocked countries

At the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, known as LLDC3, innovative solutions and strategic partnerships will be outlined and leveraged to “unlock the full potential of these nations.” LLDC3 is set to take place from 10-13 December. Here’s what you need to know about LLDCs and plans for this year’s conference: What are LLDCs? […]

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EFF and Partners to EU Commissioner: Prioritize User Rights, Avoid Politicized Enforcement of DSA Rules

EFF, Access Now, and Article 19 have written to EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton calling on him to clarify his understanding of “systemic risks” under the Digital Services Act, and to set a high standard for the protection of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and of information. The letter was in response […]

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UN chief urges climate justice for Pacific nations beset by rising oceans

Speaking in Samoa, where he met residents uprooted from their homes by sea level rise and coastal erosion, Mr. Guterres said that Pacific islanders had refused to be victims of climate change. But their ambitious plans to resist this “existential threat for millions” had been put on hold, amid a lack of promised funding, he […]

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Geofence Warrants Are ‘Categorically’ Unconstitutional | EFFector 36.11

School is back in session, so prepare for your first lesson from EFF! Today you’ll learn about the latest court ruling on the dangers of geofence warrants, our letter urging Bumble to require opt-in consent to sell user data, and the continued fight against the UN Cybercrime Treaty. If you’d like future lessons about the […]

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