The Washington Post argues in an editorial that president Obama should not pardon NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
This is rather odd.
The newspaper is turning against one of its own sources, as the WP was more than happy to be one of the media partners publishing Snowden’s material. This even landed them a Pulitzer prize.
Washington Post: No pardon for Edward Snowden »
The Intercept: WashPost Makes History: First Paper to Call for Prosecution of Its Own Source (After Accepting Pulitzer) »
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»
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 »
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.
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 »
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.
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Feedback and comments (MP3) to: karl[at]5july.org
Torrent Freak: EU Commission Proposes Mandatory Piracy Filters For Online Services »
“We need a copyright reform to make Europe fit for the 21st century. We now have a proposal that is poison for European’s free speech, poison for European business and poison for creativity. It could not conceivably be worse.”
– Joe McNamee, Executive Director of European Digital Rights
EDRi Press Release: New copyright directive fails at every level »
It’s hard to understand why the European Commission thinks that an EU-wide snippet tax will work when it has failed spectacularly not once, but twice.
Glyn Moody in Ars Technica: EU copyright plans a big win for old media, but public concerns ignored »
Sign the letter and urge President Obama to pardon Edward Snowden before leaving office »
