Internet Freedom

Spy Agencies Have Tools To Manipulate Internet

July 15, 2014 Glenn Greenwald, www.firstlook.org Educate! FCC, Internet Freedom, Privacy, Surveillance

The secretive British spy agency GCHQ has developed covert tools to seed the internet with false information, including the ability to manipulate the results of online polls, artificially inflate pageview counts on web sites, “amplif[y]” sanctioned messages on YouTube, and censor video content judged to be “extremist.” The capabilities, detailed in documents provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, even include an old standby for pre-adolescent prank callers everywhere: A way to connect two unsuspecting phone users together in a call. The tools were created by GCHQ’s Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group (JTRIG), and constitute some of the most startling methods of propaganda and internet deception contained within the Snowden archive. Previously disclosed documents have detailed JTRIG’s use of “fake victim blog posts,” “false flag operations,” “honey traps” and psychological manipulation to target online activists, monitor visitors to WikiLeaks, and spy on YouTube and Facebook users.

Investors Urge FCC to Protect Net Neutrality

July 15, 2014 Open Mic, www.openmic.org Educate! FCC, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality, Shareholder activism

A group of investment firms and foundations with widely-diversified investment portfolios today called upon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt network neutrality rules that would protect an open Internet. They recommended reclassification of broadband Internet service under Title II of the Communications Act, giving the FCC clear regulatory authority over the Internet network infrastructure that serves millions of individuals, entrepreneurs and established businesses throughout the U.S. Network neutrality is the principle that all Internet content and applications should be treated equally regardless of the source. It prohibits blocking and discrimination and bars Internet service providers from offering paid priority “fast lanes” for some content. “We believe open Internet policies help drive the economy, encourage innovation and reward investors,” the group said. The FCC filing highlighted the importance of network neutrality rules for start-up and technology companies as well as small and medium-sized businesses and companies that address critical needs such as healthcare, education and banking.

Major Internet Corporations Call For Net Neutrality

July 15, 2014 Educate! Corporations, FCC, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality

The Internet Association today submitted its comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging Commissioners to take strong and decisive action to guarantee an open Internet for the future. The Internet Association’s comments mark the first time that more than two dozen of the world’s most-recognizable and successful Internet companies have spoken with a unified voice on the issue of Net Neutrality. “Segregation of the Internet into fast lanes and slow lanes will distort the market, discourage innovation and harm Internet users,” said Michael Beckerman, President and CEO of The Internet Association. “The FCC must act to create strong, enforceable net neutrality rules and apply them equally to both wireless and wireline providers. The Internet Association’s comments to the FCC can be distilled into three key tenets necessary to secure and preserve an open Internet for the future: 1. Internet Users Should Get What They Want, When They Want It The Internet should be free from censorship, discrimination and anticompetitive behavior, protected by simple and enforceable rules that ensure a consumer’s equal access to the content they want.

The Senate Is Secretly Giving More Power To The NSA

July 14, 2014 Trevor Trimm, www.theguardian.com Educate! CISPA, Internet Freedom, Privacy, Surveillance

One of the most underrated benefits of Edward Snowden's leaks was how they forced the US Congress to shelve the dangerous, privacy-destroying legislation– then known as Cispa – that so many politicians had been so eager to pass under the guise of "cybersecurity". Now a version of the bill is back, and apparently its authors want to keep you in the dark about it for as long as possible. Now it's called the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (Cisa), and it is a nightmare for civil liberties. Indeed, it's unclear how this kind of law would even improve cybersecurity. The bill was marked up and modified by the Senate intelligence committee in complete secrecy this week, and only afterward was the public allowed to see many of the provisions passed under its name. Cisa is what Senator Dianne Feinstein, the bill's chief backer and the chair of the committee, calls an "information-sharing" law that's supposed to help the government and tech and telecom companies better hand information back and forth to the government about “cyberthreat” data, such as malware.

There Might Be A Second Edward Snowden Out There

July 11, 2014 Tom McKay, www.mic.com Educate! Edward Snowden, Internet Freedom, NSA, Privacy, Surveillance

The news: Newly leaked source code has revealed just what the NSA considers justification for storing your web browsing data indefinitely — and it probably didn't come from Edward Snowden. Lena Kampf, Jacob Appelbaum and John Goetz (who are all associated with the Tor Project) wrote on the German site Tagessschau that they have seen the "deep packet inspection" rules used in the NSA's XKeyScore program to determine which targets are worthy of deep surveillance. The rules are much broader than the NSA would like you to believe; for example, the NSA targets anyone who searches for information online about Tails or Tor. Anyone using Tor is also flagged for long-term surveillance. People deemed worthy of such intensive surveillance never have their data removed from NSA servers. What is the NSA trying to do? Their main goal seems to be separating the technological know-hows from folks who wouldn't know what an Onion router was if it hit them in the face. After making this distinction, the NSA will keep track of the former group, in case they ever become a potential threat.

Join Us To Tell FCC: ‘The Internet Is A Common Carrier’

July 10, 2014 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, , www.PopularResistance.org Organize! Democracy, Economic Democracy, FCC, Internet, Internet Freedom, Media

This is not the time for expedience or for working within the confines of what is perceived as politically possible. This rulemaking is about the future of the most important communication tool in history. The Internet already has tremendous economic, social, cultural and political impact and will have an even greater impact in all of those areas in the future. Popular Resistance urges the FCC to reclassify the Internet Under Title II as a Common Carrier so real net neutrality rules can be put in place and we can be assured that the Internet will remain an Open Internet with equal access for all and no discrimination. Only in this way can the full potential of the Internet be realized.

The Extent Of Electronic Communications Surveillance

July 9, 2014 Lauren Regan, www.monthlyreview.org Strategize! Internet Freedom, Law, Privacy, Surveillance

“I think you’re misunderstanding the perceived problem here, Mr. President. No one is saying you broke any laws. We’re just saying it’s a little bit weird that you didn’t have to.”—John Oliver on The Daily Show1 The government is collecting information on millions of citizens. Phone, Internet, and email habits, credit card and bank records—virtually all information that is communicated electronically is subject to the watchful eye of the state. The government is even building a nifty, 1.5 million square foot facility in Utah to house all of this data.2 With the recent exposure of the NSA’s PRISM program by whistleblower Edward Snowden, many people—especially activists—are wondering: How much privacy do we actually have? Well, as far as electronic privacy, the short answer is: None. None at all. There are a few ways to protect yourself, but ultimately, nothing in electronic communications is absolutely protected. In the United States, surveillance of electronic communications is governed primarily by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA), which is an extension of the 1968 Federal Wiretap act (also called “Title III”) and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Other legislation, such as the USA PATRIOT Act and the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), supplement both the ECPA and FISA.

Cartoon: Understanding Net Neutrality

July 8, 2014 Michael Goodwin, www.economixcomix.com Educate! Corporatism, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality

Net neutrality doesn't sound very exciting, but if we lose it, a lot of people will be upset. Michael Goodwin, in collaboration with artist Ian Akin, explains just what net neutrality means and why we should all care about it in the following cartoon. Right now, the Internet is a place we can all go an explore. It is a place where we can find information, share ideas, communicate and collaborate and importantly for Popular Resistance, organize. It is an essential tool in our lives where people find things they need and sign up for services. Can you imagine if instead of a public highway, it started to function as a restricted toll road? We have until July 15 to submit comments to the Federal Communications Commission to tell them that the Internet was created with public dollars and it belongs to all of us. Go to FCC.gov/comments and click on proceeding 14-28.

Kickstarter Explains Why FCC Must Protect Internet

July 5, 2014 Yancey Strickler, www.washingtonpost.com Resist! FCC, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality

The world was introduced to Kickstarter when our Web site went live in 2009. But the idea had been around much longer: Company co-founder Perry Chen came up with it in 2001. The eight intervening years were spent doggedly trying to overcome the many obstacles that stood in its way. One thing we didn’t have to worry about: access to the Internet. We didn’t have to negotiate a deal with a cable company or other Internet service provider (ISP). We didn’t have to hire lawyers to appeal to the Federal Communications Commission when we were offered an unfair price. We didn’t have to worry about whether our site’s content would be slower than a competitor that had some kind of exclusive “fast lane” deal. Such roadblocks would have created enormous logistical and financial hurdles — ones so big they might have shut us down before we got started. But that’s the world that start-ups will be born into if the FCC moves forward with its proposed rules allowing paid prioritization — a system where Internet carriers can charge for access to a “fast lane.”

Which Side Are You On, Tom Wheeler?

July 3, 2014 Aitza Haddad, www.freepress.net Resist! FCC, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality, Protest, Tom Wheeler

Net Neutrality activists had one simple question for the FCC chairman yesterday: What side are you on, Tom? Net Neutrality supporters Popular Resistance organized political street theater outside the FCC on Tuesday. The goal: Urge Chairman Tom Wheeler to reclassify Internet service providers (ISPs) as common carriers. It's the only real way to protect Net Neutrality and ban a play-for-play Internet. They were joined by Code Pink, Free Press, the Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press and other Net Neutrality activists outside the FCC. Net Neutrality activists held signs high: "HONK for Net Neutrality," "One Internet for Everyone," "Reclassify the Internet as a Common Carrier," and "NO to Internet Discrimination." Many FCC staffers looked on as they headed out for lunch. Activists also sung chants, which included a remix of a popular Queen song: Tom, are you a slick man, bought man Lobby for your fat cat friends, slipping tiered net rules End Neutrality No equality Just profits for the telecom industry We will, we will, rock you.

See The Story Of Aaron Swartz Now

July 2, 2014 Takepart, www.takepart.com Educate! Aaron Swartz, Arts, Documentary, Internet Freedom

The Internet’s Own Boy follows the story of programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz. From Swartz's help in the development of the basic internet protocol RSS to his co-founding of Reddit, his fingerprints are all over the internet. But it was Swartz's groundbreaking work in social justice and political organizing combined with his aggressive approach to information access that ensnared him in a two-year legal nightmare. It was a battle that ended with the taking of his own life at the age of 26. Aaron's story touched a nerve with people far beyond the online communities in which he was a celebrity. This film is a personal story about what we lose when we are tone deaf about technology and its relationship to our civil liberties.

FCC Internet Proposal: The Contemporary Pillage Of The Commons

June 30, 2014 Rivera Sun, www.truth-out.org Educate! Commons, FCC, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality

Seething below the surface of citizens' outrage at the FCC proposal to create a tiered, pay-to-play internet structure lays a story people know so well, it could be encoded in our DNA. The rich and powerful are stealing the commons of the people. Comcast, Verizon and other telecom giants are the new Lairds of the Highlands, the Marie Antoinettes, the Robber Barons of the 1890s. The Commons are no longer large tracks of land or public grazing grounds or local self-governance - those have already been stolen. The Commons under assault is the internet. As with every achievement of humanity, individual sectors of the populace try to take credit and ownership of the internet, saying, "I created this" or "I provide the infrastructure for your access." This is akin to saying, "I built the Empire State Building" instead of "thousands of hardworking, impoverished Americans poured the concrete and scaled the steel trusses; countless educators and inventors passed the knowledge of engineering to the designers; and the banks financed the construction with funds from war profiteering that was made on the bloodshed of millions."

Greenwald: NSA Is Attack On Our Dissent

June 29, 2014 Diego Ibanez, www.wagingnonviolence.org Educate! Dissent, Glenn Greenwald, Internet Freedom, NSA, Surveillance

“Good people don’t hide; bad people have to hide because they are planning evil things like trying to bomb this auditorium,” said Glenn Greenwald during a presentation at Carnegie Hall in New York City earlier this week. He explained that he took that line from former CIA director Michael Hayden, who kept on repeating that warning during a debate in Toronto a couple months ago.” In that debate, Greenwald took on two grumpy old men, one who looked like Eric Forman’s father from That ‘70s Show and the other who claimed to be a liberal democrat who believes that we can have enough surveillance that is consistent with liberty. Needless to say, Greenwald destroyed them both with his secret weapon: the NSA’s own files, which he received from Edward Snowden in what has become one of the greatest government leaks in history. Truth be told, I didn’t really know or care much about Glenn Greenwald until I heard Facebook rumors that Bolivian president Evo Morales’s plane had been stopped and frisked in Austria. From there, I began to read about him, including about his reaction to the nine-hour detention and questioning of his partner in the London airport.

Take Action: Tell Google Join Net Neutrality Campaign

June 26, 2014 Fight For The Future, www.fight4future.tumblr.com Organize! Google, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality, Protesters Arrested

Net neutrality protesters arrested late last night at Google headquarters. Fight for the Future supports actions for net freedom, asks Google to dialogue with activists. On Tuesday, June 24th, a group of activists set up tents and banners in front of Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, CA, announcing their protest online at http://OccupyGoogle.org and tweeting from @OccupyGoogl Late last night, 10 activists, including a journalist who was livestreaming the event, were arrested for trespassing. We at Fight for the Future congratulate these people who are speaking out at this important time. It gives us hope for the future of the web to see young Internet freedom activists so passionate about this issue — and we hope that Google will sit down and talk with them and listen to what they have to say, rather than resort to involving law enforcement.

Occupy Google, Defend Net Neutrality!

June 25, 2014 Occupy Google, www.occupygoogle.org Resist! Google, Internet Freedom, Net Neutrality, Occupy

A U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in January gave Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Verizon, Comcast and AT&T the power to slow down or block Internet traffic. ISPs can now discriminate between data on any grounds, charging different rates based on content, or censoring webpages altogether, effectively ending free speech on the Internet. ISPs have something that companies like Facebook and Google don't - direct control over your physical connection to the Internet. Now that there are no legal restraints to stop them, ISPs are free to monitor everything you do and say online, and sell your information to the highest bidder. In 2012, Google created a petition as part of a campaign against the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act that collected over 7 million signatures. The massive online resistance in opposition to these two monstrous bills stopped them from becoming a reality. Today, the internet is once again under attack, this time by ISP’s who wish to capitalize on content providers and eliminate net neutrality. Though Google and other major companies such as Netflix, Amazon and Microsoft have come out in support of preserving a free and open web, we believe much more can be done.

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