Rick Falkvinge over at the Private Internet Access blog makes an interesting point. He notes that when we complain about paywalls, we typically think of them in terms of the impact they have on journalism and the news industry. I would also add that in academia we debate about paywalled research articles and the wider social, cultural, political, and economic implications this … [Read more...] about Putting IT Standards Behind Paywalls Jeopardizes Our Security
surveillance
NSA Collects 151 Million American Phone Records Based on Just 42 Warrants
The U.S. National Security Agency collected more than 151 million records of Americans' phone calls last year, even after Congress limited its ability to collect bulk phone records, according to an annual report issued on Tuesday by the top U.S. intelligence officer. The report from the office of Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats was the first measure of … [Read more...] about NSA Collects 151 Million American Phone Records Based on Just 42 Warrants
Judge Rules Phone Passcodes Are Not Protected By 5th Amendment
The big question: Can authorities access potentially incriminating information on your phone by compelling you to reveal your passcode? Or is access to your phone's secrets protected under the Constitution? The answer, at least in this case, is that phone passcodes are not protected, a judge ruled Wednesday. Source: 'Sextortion' case fuels legal debate over phone … [Read more...] about Judge Rules Phone Passcodes Are Not Protected By 5th Amendment
Anti-Porn Law Gives UK Police Power to Disable Phones on a Whim
UK police have quietly acquired a new power. Last Friday, the Digital Economy Act became law, much of which focuses around restricting access to online pornography, and what sort of sexual acts can legally be included in porn. But with the legislation's passing, law enforcement agencies can remotely disable or restrict a mobile phone if it is suspected of being used for drug … [Read more...] about Anti-Porn Law Gives UK Police Power to Disable Phones on a Whim
The Law that Could Allow Trump to Shut Down the U.S. Internet
In a pair of recent essays, Timothy Edgar, the academic director of law and policy at Brown University's Executive Master in Cybersecurity program, has outlined the legal basis for how a President Donald Trump could potentially shut down the U.S. internet in response to a national security crisis. Edger's concerns stem from Trump's statements on the campaign trail about "the … [Read more...] about The Law that Could Allow Trump to Shut Down the U.S. Internet