EFFector Vol. 21, No. 15 May 1, 2008 [email protected] A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : In our 468th issue: Digital privacy dangers at the border and Microsoft's DRM debacle * DIGITAL PRIVACY is at risk after a court ruling that permits customs officials to search laptop computers at the border without any suspicion or cause. In response, we've written a citizen's guide to protecting privacy at the border: http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/05/protecting-yourself-suspicionless-searches-while-t We're asking members of Congress to take action to protect travelers' rights: http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2008/05/01 Action Alert: Join in and tell legislators to protect digital privacy at the border and beyond: http://www.eff.org/action/bordersearch * IN YET ANOTHER egregious example of the risks of DRM, Microsoft is planning to betray its customers by locking listeners out of music bought from the MSN Music Store. We've written an open letter to Microsoft's CEO, Steve Ballmer, outlining five steps to make things right for MSN Music customers -- and regain the trust of customers of existing services that may yet suffer the same fate: http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2008/04/28 * AND FINALLY, you may have noticed a change in the EFFector layout. EFFector was becoming somewhat overgrown, so we took time to compose a new layout that was still informative and action-packed -- but less cluttered and more useful to the reader. : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : EFF Updates * Big Victory in Atlantic v. Howell: Court Rejects RIAA "Making Available" Theory http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/04/big-victory-atlantic-v-howell-court-rejects-making * Defending Anonymity Online: Legislation Would Give Does a New Weapon in Battle Against Frivolous Lawsuits http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/04/defending-anonymity-online-legislation-would-give- : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : Announcements * Check out EFF at Maker Faire Bay Area on May 3rd and 4th: http://www.eff.org/calendar/2008/05/03/eff-maker-faire-2008 * Early registration for Computers, Freedom, and Privacy 2008 Conference ends on Friday, May 2: http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/03/cfp-technology-policy-08 * Come Hear EFF Speakers at the SanFran MusicTech Summit on May 8: http://www.eff.org/calendar/2008/05/08/eff-speakers-sanfran-musictech-summit * New and renewing EFF members get an $8 gift card for Magnatune music downloads: https://secure.eff.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=DON_magnatune : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : miniLinks The week's noteworthy news, compressed. ~ Internet Users Have Expectation of Privacy The NJ Supreme Court ruled that people have a reasonable expectation of privacy while online. http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1208838925176980.xml&coll;=1 ~ Microsoft Helps Police Grab Digital Evidence The software giant has provided police with a device that quickly and easily extracts data -- without seizing the computer. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2004379751_msftlaw29.html ~ FBI Wants to Move Hunt for Criminals to Internet Backbone Jon Stokes unpacks FBI director Robert Mueller's testimony to the House Judiciary Committee, highlighting the Feds' desire to monitor and filter Internet traffic. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080424-fbi-wants-to-move-hunt-for-criminals-into-internet-backbone.html ~ NJ Judge Allows Examination of E-Voting Machines For the first time, voting rights advocates will have the opportunity to examine the programming of suspect voting machines. http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/25/nj-judge-allows-electronic-voting-machines-to-be-examined/ ~ How to Kill/Block an RFID Instructions on how to disable unwanted RFID tags. http://www.boingboing.net/2008/04/25/howto-killblock-an-r.html ~ P2P Throttling and A Net Neutrality Showdown in Canada An outcry from small, reseller ISPs brings traffic-shaping and deep packet inspection to the forefront in Canada. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080424-p2p-throttling-leading-to-net-neutrality-showdown-in-canada.html : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : Administrivia EFFector is published by: The Electronic Frontier Foundation http://www.eff.org/about Editor: Richard Esguerra, EFF Activist [email protected] Membership & donation queries: [email protected] General EFF, legal, policy, or online resources queries: [email protected] Current and back issues of EFFector are available via the Web at: http://www.eff.org/effector/