Access Express | 06/13/13
This past week has seen unprecedented revelations regarding the role of the U.S. National Security Agency's worldwide surveillance of global communications traffic in direct violation of our universal rights to privacy, free expression, and assembly.
Coalition of more than 80 organizations and companies call on U.S. Congress to end NSA spying
On Tuesday, Access and more than 80 organizations and internet companies sent a letter to Congress demanding an immediate halt to and investigation of the U.S. National Security Agency’s surveillance programs.
via accessnow 
Ongoing Revelations and Updates
FISA bill introduced to declassify court opinions used to justify surveillance
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced a bill Tuesday to require the attorney general to declassify legal opinions that have been used to justify the National Security Agency's broad surveillance programs.
via huffingtonpost
Microsoft and Twitter join Google and Facebook in seeking to disclose NSA requests
Microsoft and Twitter have joined calls made by Google and Facebook to be able to publish more detail about how many secret requests they receive to hand over user data under the controversial U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
via guardian
Invasion of privacy lawsuits usually a long-shot
Seven years ago, Mark Klein alleged that AT&T was allowing U.S. spies to siphon vast amounts of customer data without warrants. Dozens of lawsuits were launched. Only one remains in court, showing how difficult it will be to pursue any new lawsuits.
via capitolhillblue
Five ways to protect your content from the NSA
Access is working to demand that the U.S. Congress investigate and halt PRISM. Until this rights-abusing surveillance system is dismantled, here are some basic ways that you can protect the content of your internet communications from surveillance.
via accessnow
The World Responds to U.S. Snooping
Obama administration convinced E.U. to drop measure that would have blocked NSA spying
The Obama administration successfully lobbied the European Union’s executive body to drop an “anti-FISA clause” from its privacy legislation over a year ago, which could have blocked the U.S. requests for European citizens’ data made through PRISM.
via washingtonpost
Egyptians aren’t surprised about PRISM, just disappointed
Revelations about the U.S. surveillance program were met with a notable silence in a fast-changing Middle East. Newspapers in Egypt carried almost nothing about the case. For those who responded, the news came as a disappointment if not quite a surprise.
via blogs
Broad civil society coalition delivers statement to U.N. HRC on surveillance and human rights
On Monday, a statement was delivered to the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) by more than 90 organizations highlighting the need to protect the rights of whistleblowers and to prevent the establishment of a global internet surveillance system.
via accessnow
Europe warns U.S.: you must respect the privacy of our citizens
The European commission has sent U.S. attorney general Eric Holder Jr a letter demanding "swift and concrete answers" to their requests for assurances from the U.S. that its surveillance programmes do not breach the fundamental privacy rights of Europeans
via guardian
Germans accuse U.S. of Stasi tactics before Obama visit
German outrage over a U.S. internet spying program has broken out ahead of a visit by Barack Obama, with ministers demanding the president provide a full explanation when he lands in Berlin and one official likening the tactics to those of the Stasi.
via reuters
U.K. denies use of Prism to get around spy laws
Foreign Secretary William Hague says the U.K.'s electronic eavesdropping agency GCHQ operates within strict legal framework, insisting that British spies have not used US surveillance programmes to get around U.K. privacy laws.
via aljazeera
Across Asia, officials worry emails may be vulnerable to NSA
Government and security officials in parts of Asia have been sending sensitive information and policy documents via email services offered by U.S. web giants, and concerns are spreading that these may have been monitored and collected by the NSA.
via reuters
In Non-Snooping News
Singapore’s ‘largest blogger-led protest’ bats for media freedom
An estimated crowd of 2,000 people joined a protest in Singapore to oppose the government’s new licensing scheme for news websites. Organized by the ‘Free My Internet’ movement, it was reported to be the ‘largest blogger-led protest’ in Singapore.
via globalvoicesonline
Syrian creativity: Radio SouriaLi broadcasts over the internet
Radio SouriaLi is one of the many online projects and initiatives emerging from the need for expression and the attempt to reach out to all Syrians, regardless of their ethnic, intellectual and religious backgrounds.
via globalvoicesonline
The ongoing international struggle over internet governance
The WTPF, a three-day “non-treaty” meeting held in Geneva, provided a venue for governments and industry to discuss key Internet-related public policy. The events of the meeting reveal much about the future of internet governance.
via theinterdependent
Google detects Iran phishing attacks
Google says it has discovered thousands of "politically motivated" phishing attacks on Iranian email accounts ahead of Friday's presidential election.
via bbc
Access defends and extends the digital rights of users at risk around the world. By combining tech-driven policy, user engagement, and direct technical support, we fight for open and secure communications for all.