Author: HAX

Henrik “HAX” Alexandersson is a Swedish writer, thinker and political evangelist. Between 2009 and 2014 he worked in the European Parliament for the Swedish Pirate Party.

“World’s largest internet exchange sues Germany over mass surveillance”

The world’s largest internet exchange point is suing the German government for tapping its communications systems.

DE-CIX runs a number of critical exchange points – most of them in Germany, but with others in France, Spain and the United States – and has sued the German interior ministry over orders from the German security services to allow them to tap its exchange centers.

The goal of the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Leipzig, is to reach a “judicial clarification” over whether the German government’s actions are legal, the company said (in German), and “in particular, legal certainty for our customers and our company.”

The Register: World’s largest internet exchange sues Germany over mass surveillance»

The Case Against a Golden Key

What I have learned over the past 25 years is that encryption saves the lives of people who are working to protect human rights and advance freedom around the world. It is clear that the FBI is willing to compromise the security of our national electronic infrastructure and to risk the lives of activists to advance their short-term institutional interests. The question for the rest of us, for the White House and for Congress, and also for the American people, is are we willing to massively degrade security for everyone, and weaken journalists and independent groups, simply to add to the FBI’s already enormous powers?

The work of independent, nongovernmental groups moves us all forward toward a more just and respectful world. This is, by far, the best defense against terrorism, particularly against the terror wreaked by the police and militaries that commit the majority of the world’s violence against civilians. Today, putting people’s physical security first—whether it’s against repressive governments, cybercriminals, or even nongovernmental terrorists—requires strong digital security.

Patrick Ball in Foreign Affairs: The Case Against a Golden Key »

Just in: Assange to stay under arrest

A Swedish regional high court today decided that Wikileaks editor in chief Julian Assange is to stay under arrest.

However, an interview to decide if Assange is to be charged will be conducted in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, by an Ecuadorian prosecutor and in the presence of a Swedish prosecutor. This interview is to be held mid-October.

EU: Mixed signals on open Wi-Fi networks

Europe’s top court has ruled that Wi-Fi providers aren’t liable for any copyright infringements that take place on their network—it has also created uncertainty about users’ anonymity.

Businesses such as coffee shops that offer a wireless network free of charge to their customers aren’t liable for copyright infringements committed by users of that network, the ruling states—which, in part, chimes with an earlier advocate general’s opinion. But hotspot operators may be required, following a court injunction, to password-protect their Wi-Fi networks to stop or prevent such violations. (…)

The implications are obvious: no more free and anonymous Wi-Fi access in bars, cafes, or hotels in countries within the 28-member-state bloc that can now use existing law to demand that users hand over their ID first.

Ars Technica: Wi-Fi providers not liable for copyright infringements, rules top EU court »

5 July podcast 17: EU copyright reform, free city WiFi and Mozillas web developer conference

The 5 July podcast – your channel to information about what’s going on when it comes to Internet politics, mass surveillance and civil rights.

On EU copyright “reform”, free city WiFi and Mozilla’s web developer conference in Berlin. Now in English.

More information and episode notes at Soundcloud.

Soundcloud » | Youtube » | Download (MP3) »

Feedback and comments (MP3) to: karl[at]5july.org

EU: Junckers’ mixed signals on mobile networks

Today the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, gave his “State of the Union” speech in the European Parliament.

EU Observer reports…

Every city in the EU will offer free wireless internet access in its centre by 2020, EU commission president Juncker promised in his state of the EU speech on Wednesday. “We need to be connected. Our economy needs it. People need it,” said Juncker. He also said that a faster mobile network, known as 5G, should be “fully deployed” in the EU by 2025.

Two reflections:

First, it is becoming ever harder for cafés, restaurants, and others to provide free internet access for their customers. The reason is that they can become liable for any copyright infringements their customers may commit. (Mainly because of EU regulations.)

Doesn’t this apply for “cities” as well? Will there be separate rules for free WiFi provided by private and public entities?

Second, there is the matter of what you see and what you don’t see. Free WiFi sounds like a good idea for most people. But what will the effects be on commercial networks? As you cannot compete with free (or rather stuff paid for by the taxpayers) – will this hamper the deployment of e.g. “faster mobile networks”? It seems like Juncker is sending mixed and conflicting signals.

Finally, one must put free, public networks into the context of mass surveillance. Exactly who will operate them – and what law enforcement agencies will these operators collaborate with?

/ HAX