The EFFector Newsletter (on Facebook Privacy... and more)

EFFector Vol. 23, No. 12  April 28, 2010  editor@eff.org

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 535th issue:

* A SLEW OF NEW FACEBOOK SCHEMES THREATEN USERS' PRIVACY,
and EFF has created tools to help Facebook users protect
their information. One of the most radical changes is
"Instant Personalization," which gives other websites
(Yelp, Pandora, and Microsoft Docs, at the moment)
personal information from your Facebook profile as soon
as you visit their pages. Moreover, even if you opt out of
Instant Personalization, your friends can leak information
about you unless you block each application individually.

To completely opt out of Instant Personalization:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/how-opt-out-facebook-s-instant-personalization

For more on Facebook's plans to make your information
public:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/facebook-further-reduces-control-over-personal-information

* FINALLY, AFTER YEARS OF SECRECY, THE TEXT OF THE
ANTI-COUNTERFEITING TRADE AGREEMENT (ACTA) HAS BEEN
MADE PUBLIC. While this is a definitive victory for the
countless activists who pressed for transparency, the
officially released text makes it crystal clear that our
worst fears about this international agreement are real:
ACTA is not just about counterfeiting. ACTA targets
citizens' ability to use the Internet to communicate,
collaborate and create, and it poses significant concerns
for citizens' privacy, freedom of expression and fair
use rights.

For EFF's preliminary analysis of the official ACTA text:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/eff-analysis-officially-released-acta-text

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EFF Updates

* Film Company Takes Down Hitler Parodies on YouTube
Countless video creators brought Internet fame to a
scene from the German film, The Downfall, by cleverly
subtitling an emotional rant by Hitler. Constatin Film,
the copyright owner, has blithely decided to wipe out
all the remix videos, fair use notwithstanding.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/everyone-who-s-made-hitler-parody-leave-room

* Consumers International Video: When Copyright Goes Bad
The short film "When Copyright Goes Bad," featuring EFF
Senior Staff Attorney Fred von Lohmann, chronicles the
rise of copyright as a global consumer rights issue and
the ongoing fight for fairer copyright laws.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/consumers-international-video-when-copyright-goes-bad

* 2010 Global IP Watchlist Promotes Access to Knowledge
Featuring significant contributions from EFF, the consumer
rights-focused document presents a detailed survey of
global copyright laws and their impact on citizens'
freedom to communicate, learn, and exchange information.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/international-consumer-rights-group-publishes-2010

* Not-So-Gentle Persuasion: The Special 301 Report
For years, the Special 301 report gave US rightsholder
industries a way to intimidate other countries into
amping copyright laws. But for the first time in 2010,
groups interested in copyright reform were allowed to
submit comments -- will we see more balance?

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/shaping-ip-laws-not-so-gentle-persuasion-special

* Site Shows Government Information and Takedown Requests
Google's Government Requests tool is a tremendously
important first step towards informing the public about
the extent to which governments around the world seek
information about them.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/google-shows-government-information-and-takedown

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miniLinks

~ EFF Profile: Protecting Freedom & Privacy
The SF Chronicle profiled EFF with an interview with
Executive Director Shari Steele.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/24/BU2V1D2VCT.DTL

~ Senator Schumer Takes on Facebook
Senator Chuck Schumer calls on the FTC to investigate
"major privacy concerns" raised by recent Facebook
decisions.

http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/record.cfm?id=324175

~ Animator Nina Paley turns down Netflix Due to DRM
"DRM is designed to benefit Big Media conglomerates,
not artists."

http://blog.ninapaley.com/2010/04/23/turning-down-netflix/

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Announcements

* Party in Vegas with EFF's DEF CON Getaway Contest

EFF wants to help you get to DEF CON 18 and party
in style!

Register for the DEF CON Getaway Fundraising Contest,
and receive a personalized referral link. Send the link
to your friends and family, and tell them why they should
support EFF. The contestant(s) to raise the most money
for EFF between now and June 30, 2010, will win:

- two DEF CON 18 Human badges;
- a standard room at the Riviera Hotel for the nights of
  July 29-31;
- two tickets to the Vegas 2.0 Party at the Top of the
  Riv on July 29;
- two tickets to the iSEC Partners Party, location and
  date TBD; and
- two badges to the Ninja Networks Party, location TBD,
  on July 31.

There are prizes for second and third place winners,
as well. Visit www.eff.org/defcon for more information
and official contest rules. Contact aaron@eff.org with
any questions. See you in Sin City!

* Help EFF Go to SouthEast LinuxFest!

EFF is looking for donations of airline miles, flight
vouchers, and hotel points for travel to SouthEast
LinuxFest in Spartanburg, SC, as well as other conferences
and speaking engagements. If you have enough airline miles
for a free ticket and would like to send an EFF staffer
to a conference, let us know, and we will help you with
the process of making the reservation. Please note that
at this time we are unable to combine miles from multiple
individuals. We are also looking for hotel rewards points
to help reduce our overall travel costs.

As a thanks for your donation, we can offer a free
membership and a mention in EFFector (if you'd
like). Please contact aaron@eff.org if you can help!

* "Life 2.0" at the San Francisco International Film Fest

EFF is proud to be a presenter of Life 2.0, directed
by Jason Spingarn-Koff, at the 53rd San Francisco
International Film Festival (April 22-May 6). EFF
consulted with the filmmakers during the making of
this film.

Documented both online and in the real world, Life 2.0
examines the effects both humorous and unnerving of the
virtual world Second Life by focusing on the lives of
its users and chronicling their successes, failures,
lives and loves.

Showings at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas:
Friday, April 30 at 3:00 PM
Sunday, May 2 at 1:00 PM
Wednesday, May 5 at 9:15 PM

For more information on Life 2.0, visit
http://fest10.sffs.org/films/film_details.php?id=45

For tickets and more information on SFIFF53:
http://fest10.sffs.org

* EFF Seeking Staff Intellectual Property Attorney

Dream job alert:  EFF is seeking an intellectual property
staff attorney for its legal team. Responsibilities
include litigation, public speaking, media outreach,
plus legislative and regulatory advocacy, all in
connection with a variety of intellectual property and
high technology matters.

Qualified candidates should have at least four years of
legal experience, with knowledge in patent law and at
least one other IP specialty (copyright, trademark, trade
secret). Litigation experience is required, including
significant experience managing cases, both overall case
strategy and day-to-day projects and deadlines. Candidates
should have good communication skills and interest
in working with a team of highly motivated lawyers and
activists in a hard-working nonprofit environment. Strong
writing and analytical skills as well as the ability to be
self-motivated and focused are essential. Tech savvy
and familiarity with Internet civil liberties and high
tech public interest issues preferred. This position is
based in San Francisco.

Interested applicants should submit a resume, writing
sample, and references to ipjob@eff.org.

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* Administrivia

EFFector is published by:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
454 Shotwell Street
San Francisco CA 94110-1914 USA
+1 415 436 9333 (voice)
+1 415 436 9993 (fax)
http://www.eff.org/

Editor:
Richard Esguerra, EFF Activist
 richard@eff.org

Membership & donation queries:
 membership@eff.org

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 information@eff.org

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Press releases and EFF announcements & articles may be
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Current and back issues of EFFector are available via the
Web at:
 http://www.eff.org/effector/