Access Express | 08/08/13
U.S. government spying forces email service provider shutdowns
Encrypted email provider Lavabit shut down its services rather than “become complicit in crimes" against its users, but was legally prohibited from sharing more details. Shortly after, fellow email provider Silent Circle followed suit.
via informationweek 
Staff Picks
Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement threatens the open internet
The emerging Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement for 12 countries in the Pacific basin may threaten internet freedom, thanks to controversial intellectual property rights and copyright provisions pushed by the U.S. government.
via themalaysianinsider
Chinese authorities crackdown on “illegal” independent websites
Over 100 “illegal” websites have been shut down by Chinese authorities since early May. Many believe that the crackdown is aimed at independent watchdog sites in mainland China.
via globalvoicesonline
From the Access Community
Espionaje y derechos humanos: los límites a la intromisión de la intimidad
Después del escándalo de PRISM y la incapacidad de los estados para proteger los derechos humanos, organizaciones independientes están llenando el vacío, recomendando cuales deberían ser los límites éticos a la violación de la privacidad y otros derechos.
via eldiario
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NSA loophole allows warrantless search through U.S. citizens' traffic
The National Security Agency has a secret backdoor into its vast databases under a legal authority enabling it to search for U.S. citizens' email and phone calls without a warrant, despite earlier denials.
via theguardian
Agreement between Indian telcos and U.S. government oblige surveillance data sharing
Two major Indian telcos, Reliance and VSNL, entered into Network Security Agreements with U.S. surveillance programs, allowing the U.S. to access data of users in India flowing across the cables of these companies.
via frontline
Seven telcos named as providing fiber-optic cable access to U.K. spies
A German newspaper has published a list of seven international telecommunications companies, including Vodafone, BT, and Verizon, that provided British intelligence with direct access to their undersea fiber optic cables.
via arstechnica
U.S. FBI suspected in new malware that attacks Tor anonymity
Security researchers are poring over a piece of malicious software that takes advantage of a Firefox security vulnerability to identify some users of the privacy-protecting Tor anonymity network -- but they won't be calling in the FBI.
via wired
From the U.K. to Vietnam, internet censorship on the rise globally
A new Vietnamese law will make it illegal for citizens to post news or “general information” online, a restriction that sounds absurdly unenforceable but turns out to be more doable – and common – than you might expect.
via washingtonpost
Researchers advise HTTPS may be hacked in 30 seconds
Researchers revealed a new HTTPS man-in-the-middle exploit last week at the Black Hat hackers conference. Security experts are warning website operators to test whether their traffic is vulnerable to intercept and decryption.
via informationweek
German justice minister proposes ban for U.S. firms that don’t abide by privacy laws
Germany’s justice minister said she favored even stronger European Union rules that would enhance data protection, and that "United States companies that don't abide by these standards should be denied doing business in the European market."
via arstechnica
Google Chrome security flaw offers unrestricted password access
A flaw in the security of Google's Chrome browser lets anyone with access to a user's computer see all the passwords stored for email, social media and other sites, directly from the settings panel, all without a password.
via theguardian
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U.S. tax authority manual reveals law enforcement agencies secretly used NSA intel
A manual published by the U.S. IRS details how the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency funnels information from NSA intercepts, domestic wiretaps, and their own phone record database to federal agents -- and instructs them to alter the investigative trail.
via reuters
Russia seeking Snowden's help on data security
Russia's upper house of parliament is planning to ask former NSA contractor Edward Snowden to advise the country on improving Internet privacy and security.
via csmonitor
Obama administration recommends making streaming copyrighted content a felony
Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Internet Policy Task Force released a report on digital copyright policy that endorsed a provision of 2012's SOPA legislation: making streaming copyrighted works a felony.
via washingtonpost
So much for the U.S. "internet freedom" agenda?
Foreign surveillance programs may be legal, but that doesn't make them good policy. After the NSA revelations, other countries are even more skeptical of listening to the U.S. on how to govern the internet.
via theguardian
U.S. activists stage second national day of protest against NSA spying
Privacy campaigners in the U.S. held a second national day of protest against government surveillance programs on Sunday, August 4th -- a day they referred to as 1984 day.
via theguardian
This week's Express was curated by Lee Gensler. Have a tip for a story, or suggestion for an article? Let us know! Contact us at: info@accessnow.org
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