EFF | The Libertarian Institute

Senate Votes to Endanger Sex Workers and Censor the Internet

by EFF | Mar 22, 2018 | Featured Articles, Justice

Today [March 21, 2018] was a dark day for the Internet. The U.S. Senate just voted 97-2 to pass the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA, H.R. 1865), a bill that silences online speech by forcing Internet platforms to censor their users. As lobbyists and members of Congress applaud themselves for enacting a law tackling the problem of trafficking, let’s be clear: Congress just made trafficking victims less safe, not more. The version of FOSTA that just passed the Senate combined an earlier version of FOSTA (what we call FOSTA 2.0) with the Stop Enabling Sex...

The End of the NSA’s ‘About’ Searches Is Just the Beginning

by EFF | May 1, 2017 | Featured Articles, Politics

The NSA is stopping its use of one controversial surveillance technique that impacts Americans' privacy. Make no mistake. This is good news for anyone who wants government surveillance to follow the law. But there’s much more to be done to rein in unconstitutional spying. Initially reported by The New York Times today and confirmed by the agency itself, the NSA will no longer conduct “about” searches of the full content of Internet communications, including to and from innocent Americans, that are "about" -- or mention -- a foreign intelligence target’s email address or other identifier. The...

Digital Privacy at the U.S Border: EFF’s New Guide

by EFF | Mar 10, 2017 | Featured Articles, Justice

Protect Yourself While Traveling To and From the U.S. San Francisco - Increasingly frequent and invasive searches at the U.S. border have raised questions for those of us who want to protect the private data on our computers, phones, and other digital devices. A new guide released today by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) gives travelers the facts they need in order to prepare for border crossings while protecting their digital information.“Digital Privacy at the U.S. Border” helps everyone do a risk assessment, evaluating personal factors like immigration status, travel history, and...

Digital Security Tips for Protesters

by EFF | Nov 20, 2016 | Featured Articles, Justice

After the election, individuals took to the streets across the country to express their outrage and disappointment at the result of the U.S. presidential election. Many protesters may not be aware of the unfortunate fact that exercising their First Amendment rights may open themselves up to certain risks. Those engaging in peaceful protest may be subject to search or arrest, have their movements and associations mapped, or otherwise become targets of surveillance and repression. It is important that in a democracy citizens exercise their right to peaceably assemble, and demonstrators should...