Forwarded from Interesting People. Not strictly about cryptography, but...
>Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 17:31:05 -0400 >From: Ari Schwartz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: CDT Calls on Internet Activists to Urge Support for Feingold >Amendments to Anti-Terrorism Bills >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Reply-To: Ari Schwartz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >CDT has sent out a message to Internet activists across the country asking >them to urge their Senators to support Senator Russell Feingold's (D-WI) >amendments to the Senate Anti-Terrorism Bill. > >Sen. Feingold is planning to offer amendments Thursday morning that will >address some of the privacy concerns raised by the pending bills, by >requiring government surveillance to be more focused and subject to >meaningful judicial controls. > >The message sent to CDT's lists of activists; is available below; and is >posted on the CDT site. > > >----- > >Dear Activist: > >Things are moving very fast on Capitol Hill. Legislation to expand >government surveillance will be considered by the Senate (and maybe the >House) on Thursday, October 11. > >In the Senate, Sen. Russ Feingold is planning to offer amendments Thursday >morning that will address some of the privacy concerns raised by the pending >bills, by requiring government surveillance to be more focused and subject >to meaningful judicial controls. CDT supports the Feingold amendments. > >You can make a difference. Call your Senators in Washington right away and >let them know that you think civil liberties should be part of the balance >as we move forward to protect our country from terrorism. Urge them to >support the Feingold privacy amendments > >BACKGROUND > >Following the horrendous attacks of September 11, it is clear that US anti- >terrorism efforts need to be improved. Unfortunately, there has been little >time to develop a response that is effective and does not unnecessarily >infringe civil liberties. Legislation moving quickly through Congress >involves some fundamental changes in the surveillance laws. Most of the >changes are not limited to terrorism cases, but concern all crimes and all >intelligence investigations. > >Among other things, the bills would: > >* Allow FBI to seize any and all stored records (medical records, >educational records, stored e-mail) in intelligence cases without a search >warrant. > >* Allow computer system operators to authorize government surveillance >without a court order (the computer trespasser provision). > >* Authorize roving taps in intelligence cases without clear guidelines, >allowing government to monitor pay phones, library computers, cell phones >without first determining who is using the device. > >* Allow secret searches (searches without notice at the time of the search) >in all criminal cases. > >* Extend government surveillance under minimal standards to broad categories >of Internet data - all "routing, addressing and signaling information" (the >"pen register" provision). > >For full background the current civil liberties issues with the bill, please >see CDT's latest policy post -- http://www.cdt.org/publications/ >pp_7.10.shtml > >Also, the New York Times on October 10 explained the current situation in >the Senate and Sen Feingold's concerns-- http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/10/ >national/10RIGH.html > > >WHAT YOU CAN DO--MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD > >1. Call your your Senators > > - Sen. XXX at (202) 224-3121 > >Tell the person who answers the phone that you hope your Senator will >support the Feingold privacy amendment to the terrorism bill, so that it >adequately protects civil liberties when giving the government new >surveillance powers. > >Use these words if you feel tongue-tied: > >Staffer: Hello, Sen. XXX's office. > >You: Hello. I'm a constituent calling to urge the Senator to support the >Feingold privacy amendments to the anti-terrorism bill. Government needs to >fight terrorism, but the bill fails to protect privacy. I'm concerned about >the provisions on Internet surveillance and roving wiretaps. I support the >Feingold amendments setting clear limits on government surveillance. > >Staffer: I'll tell the Senator. Thanks, bye! > >2. Let CDT know how it went! Go to > http://www.cdt.org/action/feedback.cgi?membid=wijr, and use > the feedback form to tell us what happened. Or you can send an email > back to me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >3. Lastly, please forward this message to other individuals interested in > protecting privacy and free expression on the Internet . They can find >information about their Senators at http://www.cdt.org/action/. But they >need to act right away. > >PLEASE NOTE: We are asking you to call your Representatives in Washington >because studies have shown that this is the most effective way to make a >difference over a short period of time. By the time the office reads your >email or letter it will probably be too late and a call into the district >office does not have the same impact when the Senator is in Washington. > >-- >To subscribe to CDT's Activist Network, sign up at: > http://www.cdt.org/join/ > >If you ever wish to remove yourself from the list, unsubscribe at: > http://www.cdt.org/action/unsubscribe.shtml > >If you just want to change your address, you should unsubscribe >yourself and then sign up again or contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >--- > >---------------------------------- >CDT Update Subscription Information > >E-mail questions, comments, or requests to subscribe or unsubscribe >to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call (202) 637-9800. > >Detailed information about online civil liberties issues may be found >at http://www.cdt.org/ > >----------------------------------- >Ari Schwartz >Center for Democracy and Technology >1634 Eye Street NW, Suite 1100 >Washington, DC 20006 >202 637 9800 >fax 202 637 0968 >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >http://www.cdt.org >----------------------------------- -- Perry E. Metzger [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- "Ask not what your country can force other people to do for you..." --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Cryptography Mailing List Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe cryptography" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]