Electronic Frontier Foundation
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| FYI | Newsnote from the Electronic Frontier Foundation | July 20, 1992 |
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ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION'S
OPEN PLATFORM PROPOSAL AVAILABLE VIA FTP
The full text of the EFF's Open Platform Proposal is available in
its current draft via anonymous ftp from ftp.eff.org as
pub/EFF/papers/open-platform-proposal.
To retrieve this document via email (if you can't use ftp), send mail to
archive-server@eff.org, containing (in the body of the message) the
command 'send eff papers/open-platform-proposal'. This is the proposal
in its 4th draft and is up-to-date as of July 2.
HOWARD RHINEGOLD'S "VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES, 1992" AVAILABLE VIA FTP
This is the full text of Howard Rhinegold's illuminating essay "A Slice
of Life In My Virtual Community" that was serialized in EFFector Online.
You can retrieve this document via anonymous ftp from ftp.eff.org as
pub/EFF/papers/cyber/life-in-virtual-community. To retrieve it via
email (if you can't use ftp), send mail to archive-server@eff.org,
containing (in the body of the message) the command 'send eff
papers/cyber/life-in-virtual-community'.
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| EFF | 155 Second Street, Cambridge MA 02141 (617)864-0665 | eff@eff.org |
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| F.Y.I. |Newsnote from the Electronic Frontier Foundation |August 19,1992|
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EFF AWARDED DVORAK/ZOOM AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS
AT ONE BBSCON IN DENVER
On August 13, the Electronic Frontier Foundation was the recipient of
one of twelve Dvorak/Zoom Telecommunications Awards. The Dvorak/Zoom
awards are to be given annually in order to recognize individuals and
organizations that have made a difference to telecommunications and
the BBS conferencing industry.
The awards were given for the first time at a presentation ceremony
during One BBSCON in Denver. The EFF was cited for "helping to keep
telecommunications safe from the potential perils of out-of-control
legal departments and over zealous law enforcement agencies." The
award also noted that the EFF has become "an extremely important
advocacy group for online telecommunications users."
Also honored in the awards ceremony were:
The WELL
Channel 1 BBS
Tom Jennings of Fidonet
Chuck Forsberg for Zmodem
John Friel III for Qmodem
Phil Katz for PKZip
Ward Christensen for Xmodem
Ward Christensen and Randy Seuss for BBS 1
Tom Smith for Procomm for Windows
Marshall Dudley for Doorway
The Rockwell Design Team for First Single Package
V.32N.32bis Chipset
A more detailed report on the activities of ONE BBSCON will be the
subject of a forthcoming edition of EFFector Online.
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| EFF |155 Second Street, Cambridge MA 02141 (617)864-0665| eff@eff.org |
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| F.Y.I. |Newsnote from the Electronic Frontier Foundation|July 14,1992|
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CLIFF FIGALLO OF THE WELL NAMED DIRECTOR OF EFF's CAMBRIDGE OFFICE
Cambridge, Massachusetts July 14,1992
Cliff Figallo, former director of the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link (The
WELL), has accepted the position of Director of the Electronic Frontier
Foundation's Cambridge office. His duties will include developing that
office's outreach programs, increasing active EFF membership, and
expanding overall awareness of EFF's programs in the computer-
conferencing community and the world at large.
In announcing the appointment today, Mitchell Kapor, President of EFF,
said: "I'm delighted that Cliff Figallo will be joining the EFF to head
its Cambridge office. Cliff brings 20 years of experience in forming
both intentional and virtual communities. We know he will put these
skills to excellent use in helping EFF build its ties to the online
community.We're all looking forward to working with him closely."
Figallo is well-known in computer conferencing circles as the one who
from 1986 to the present guided the WELL through its formative years.
Working with a small staff, many volunteers and limited funding, he
helped develop the WELL into one of the world's most influential
computer conferencing systems. When EFF was founded it used the WELL as
its primary means of online communication.
Commenting on the appointment of Figallo, Stewart Brand, creator of The
Whole Earth Catalogue, one of the founders of The WELL and a member of
the EFF Board of Directors, said: "As an exemplary manager of EFF's
initial habitat, the WELL, Cliff brings great contextual experience to
his new job. Best of all for us on the WELL, he won't even be leaving,
electronically speaking. Cambridge is only several keystrokes from
Sausalito."
Contacted at his home in Mill Valley today, Figallo stated: "I'm very
thankful for the opportunity to take part one of the critical missions
of our time -- the opening of new channels of person-to-person
communication in the world, and the protection of existing channels from
naive or excessive regulation and restriction.
"Pioneers in electronic or telecommunications media are establishing new
definitions and structures for education, community, and co-operation
every day. They are developing tools and systems which may prove to be
vital to the salvation of the planet. This work must go on.
"I look forward to helping EFF communicate the importance of events on
the Electronic Frontier to current and future settlers, and to those who
would, through unwise use of power, stifle the continued exploration and
settling of this new realm of the mind and the human spirit."
Figallo will assume his duties in September of this year.
For more information contact:
Gerard Van der Leun
Electronic Frontier Foundation
155 Second Street
Cambridge, MA 02141
Phone: +1 617 864 0665
FAX: +1 617 864 0866
Internet: van@eff.org
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| EFF |155 Second Street, Cambridge MA 02141 (617)864-0665| eff@eff.org |
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| F.Y.I. | Newsnote from the Electronic Frontier Foundation | Oct 6, 1992 |
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ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION OPENS GOPHER SERVER TO THE INTERNET
The Electronic Frontier Foundation announced today that they now offer
access to their online document library via the Internet Gopher protocol,
developed at the University of Minnesota. Gopher access joins WAIS,
electronic mail service, and anonymous ftp as an electronic means of
access to EFF documents.
Gopher clients are available for Mac, NeXT, GNU Emacs, X11, VM/CMS, VMS,
and curses interfaces. Many of these are available for anonymous ftp from
boombox.micro.umn.edu in pub/gopher. Those without clients can telnet to
consultant.micro.umn.edu and login as "gopher" to try it out. (EFF's
Gopher server is listed under "Other Gopher and Information Servers".)
The EFF Gopher service is available on gopher.eff.org, port 70. WAIS
access is available on wais.eff.org, port 210. Anonymous ftp access to
the document library is available on ftp.eff.org, in directory pub/EFF.
Mail service is handled through archive-server@eff.org; use "index eff"
for a list of documents and document sections.
For more information on the EFF or online access to our documents, send
electronic or postal mail to the addresses below.
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| EFF | 155 Second Street, Cambridge MA 02141 +1 617 864 0665 | eff@eff.org |
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MAJOR CHANGES AT THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION
Cambridge, Massachusetts
eff@eff.org
Wednesday, January 13, 1993
The Electronic Frontier Foundation was founded in July, 1990 to assure
freedom of expression in digital media, with a particular emphasis on
applying the principles embodied in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
to computer-based communication.
EFF has met many of those challenges. We have defended civil liberties in
court. We have shaped the policy debate on emerging communications
infrastructure and regulation. We have increased awareness both on the Net
and among those law enforcement officials, policy makers, and corporations
whose insufficient understanding of the digital environment threatened the
freedom of Cyberspace.
But we've found that Cyberspace is huge. It extends not only beyond
constitutional jurisdiction but to the very limits of imagination. To
explore and understand all the new social and legal phenomena that
computerized media make possible is a task which grows faster than it can
be done.
Maintaining an office in Cambridge and another in Washington DC, has been
expensive, logistically difficult, and politically painful. Many functions
were duplicated. The two offices began to diverge philosophically and
culturally. We had more good ideas than efficient means for carrying them
out. And an unreasonable share of leadership and work fell on one of our
founders, Mitch Kapor.
These kinds of problems are common among fast-growing technology startups
in their early years, but we recognize that we have not always dealt with
them gracefully. Further, we didn't respond convincingly to those who began
to believe that EFF had lost sight of its founding vision.
Against that background, the EFF Board met in Cambridge on January 7, 8,
and 9 to revisit EFF's mission, set priorities for the Foundation's future
activities, adopt a new structure and staff to carry them out, and clarify
its relationship to others outside the organization.
1. EFF'S CAMBRIDGE OFFICE WILL CLOSE.
We will be shutting down our original Cambridge office over the next six
months, and moving all of EFF's staff functions to our office in
Washington.
2. JERRY BERMAN HAS BEEN NAMED EFF'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In December, we announced that Mitch Kapor would be leaving the job of
Executive Director. He wanted to devote more time and energy to specific
EFF projects, such as The Open Platform Initiative, focusing less on
administrative details and more on EFF's strategic vision. We also said
that we would conduct a search for his replacement, appointing Jerry Berman
as our Interim Director. Jerry's appointment is now permanent, and the
search is terminated.
3. CLIFF FIGALLO WILL MAINTAIN EFF'S PRESENCE ON-LINE, AND WILL DIRECT THE
TRANSITION PROCESS.
Cambridge Office Director Cliff Figallo will manage the EFF transition
process, working out of Cambridge. He is now considering a move to
Washington for organizational functions yet to be defined. In the meantime,
he will oversee our on-line presence and assure electronic accessibility.
4. STAFF COUNSEL MIKE GODWIN'S ROLE TO BE DETERMINED
We recognize the enormous resource represented by Mike Godwin. He probably
knows more about the forming Law of Cyberspace than anyone, but differences
of style and agenda created an impasse which left us little choice but to
remove him from his current position. EFF is committed to continuing the
services he has provided. We will discuss with him a new relationship which
would make it possible for him to continue providing them.
5. COMMUNICATIONS STAFFERS GERARD VAN DER LEUN AND RITA ROUVALIS WILL LEAVE
EFF.
Despite the departure of the Cambridge communications staff, we expect to
continue publishing EFFector Online on schedule as well as maintaining our
usual presence online. Both functions will be under the direction of Cliff
Figallo, who will be assisted by members of the Board and Washington staff.
6. JOHN PERRY BARLOW WILL ASSUME A GREATER LEADERSHIP ROLE.
John will replace Mitch Kapor as Chairman of EFF's Executive Committee,
which works closely with the Executive Director to manage day to day
operations. Mitch will remain as Board Chairman of EFF. All of the
directors have committed themselves to a more active role in EFF so that
decisions can be made responsively during this transition.
7. EFF WILL NOT SPONSOR LOCAL CHAPTERS, BUT WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH
INDEPENDENT REGIONAL GROUPS.
We have labored mightily and long over the whole concept of chapters, but,
in the end, the Board has decided not to form EFF chapters. Instead, EFF
will encourage the development of independent local organizations concerned
with Electronic Frontier issues. Such groups will be free to use the phrase
"Electronic Frontier" in their names (e.g., Omaha Electronic Frontier
Outpost), with the understanding that no obligation, formal or informal, is
implied in either direction between independent groups and EFF. While EFF
and any local groups that proliferate will remain organizationally
independent and autonomous, we hope to work closely with them in pursuit of
shared goals. The EFF Board still plans to meet with representatives of
regional groups in Atlanta next week to discuss ideas for future
cooperation.
8. WE CLARIFIED EFF'S MISSION AND ACTIVITIES
In undertaking these changes, the board is guided by the sense that our
mission is to understand the opportunities and challenges of digital
communications to foster openness, individual freedom, and community.
We expect to carry out our mission through activities in the following areas:
POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY. EFF has been working to promote an open
architecture for telecommunications by various means, including the Open
Platform Initiative, the fight against the FBI's Digital Telephony wiretap
proposal, and efforts to free robust encryption from NSA control.
FOSTERING COMMUNITY. Much of the work we have done in the Cambridge office
has been directed at fostering a sense of community in the online world.
These efforts will continue. We have realized that we know far less about
the conditions conducive to the formation of virtual communities than is
necessary to be effective in creating them. Therefore, we will devote a
large portion of our R & D resources to developing better understanding in
this area.
LEGAL SERVICES. We were born to defend the rights of computer users against
over-zealous and uninformed law enforcement officials. This will continue
to be an important focus of EFF's work. We expect to improve our legal
archiving and dissemination while continuing to provide legal information
to individuals who request it, and support for attorneys who are
litigating. Both the board and staff will go on writing and speaking about
these issues. Our continuing suit on behalf of Steve Jackson Games is
unaffected by these changes.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT. We have started many projects over the years as
their need became apparent. Going forward, EFF will allocate resources to
investigating and initiating new projects. To ensure that our projects have
the greatest impact and can reasonably be completed with the resources
available, EFF will sharpen its selection and review process.
IN CONCLUSION...
We expect that the foregoing may not sit well with many on the Net. We may
be accused of having "sold out" our bohemian birthright for a mess of
Washingtonian pottage. It may be widely, and perhaps hotly, asserted that
the "suits" have won and that EFF is about to become another handmaiden to
the large corporate interests which support our work on telecommunications
policy.
However plausible, these conclusions are wrong. We made these choices with
many of the same misgivings our members will feel. We have toiled for many
months to restore harmony between our two offices. But in some cases,
personal animosities had grown bitter. It seems clear that much of the
difficulty was structural. We believe that our decisions will go far to
focus EFF's work and make it more effective. The decision to locate our one
office in Washington was unavoidable; our policy work can only be done
effectively there.
Given the choice to centralize in Washington, the decision to permanently
appoint Jerry Berman as our Executive Director was natural. Jerry has, in a
very short time, built an extremely effective team there, so our confidence
in his managerial abilities is high. But we are also convinced of his
commitment to and growing understanding of the EFF programs which extend
beyond the policy establishment in Fortress Washington.
We recognize that inside the Beltway there lies a very powerful reality
distortion field, but we have a great deal of faith in the ability of the
online world to keep us honest. We know that we can't succeed in insightful
policy work without a deep and current understanding of the networks as
they evolve -- technically, culturally, and personally.
To those who believe that we've become too corporate, we can only say that
we founded EFF because we didn't feel that large, formal organizations
could be trusted with the future of Cyberspace. We have no intention of
becoming one ourselves.
Some will read between these lines and draw the conclusion that Mitch Kapor
is withdrawing from EFF. That is absolutely not the case. Mitch remains
thoroughly committed to serving EFF's agenda. We believe however, that his
energies are better devoted to strategy and to developing a compelling
vision of future human communications than in day to day management.
The difficult decision to reject direct chapter affiliation was based on a
belief that no organization which believes so strongly in
self-determination should be giving orders or taking them. Nevertheless, we
are eager to see the development of many outposts on the Electronic
Frontier, whether or not they agree with us or one another on every
particular. After all, EFF is about the preservation of diversity.
This has been a hard passage. We have had to fire good friends, and this is
personally painful to us. We are deeply concerned that, in moving to
Washington, EFF is in peril for its soul. But we are also convinced that we
have made the best decisions possible under the circumstances, and that EFF
will be stronger as a result. Please cut us some slack during the
transition. And please tell us (either collectively at eff@eff.org or
individually at the addresses below) when we aren't meeting your
expectations. In detail and with examples. We don't promise to fix
everything, but we are interested in listening and working on the issues
that affect us all.
The Board of Directors of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
Mitch Kapor, mkapor@eff.org
John Perry Barlow, barlow@eff.org
John Gilmore, gnu@toad.com
Stewart Brand, sbb@well.sf.ca.us
Esther Dyson, edyson@mcimail.com
Dave Farber, farber@cis.upenn.edu
Jerry Berman, jberman@eff.org
Cliff Figallo, fig@eff.org
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| F.Y.I. |Newsnote from the Electronic Frontier Foundation |July 9,1992|
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FEDERAL HACKING INDICTMENTS ISSUED AGAINST FIVE IN NEW YORK CITY
Yesterday, Federal officials indicted five people in New York City for
computer crime. The indictments name Mark Abene (Phiber Optik), Julio
Fernandez (Outlaw), John Lee (Corrupt), Elias Ladopoulos (Acid Phreak),
and Paul Stria (Scorpion). The indictments charge that the accused used
their computers to access credit bureaus, other computer systems, and
make free long-distance calls.
Prosecutors revealed they relied on court-approved wiretaps to obtain
much of the evidence for their multiple-count indictment for wire fraud,
illegal wiretapping and conspiracy. Each count is punishable by up to 5
years in prison. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in
Manhattan Federal Court on July 16. If found guilty on all counts the
defendants could face a maximum term of 50 years in prison and fines of
$2.5 million.
Otto Obermaier, U.S. Attorney, discounted suggestions that the acts
alleged in the indictment were only "pranks" and asserted that they
represented "the crime of the future." He also stated that one purpose
of the indictment was to send a message that "this kind of conduct will
not be tolerated."
Mark Abene, known to the computer community as Phiber Optik, denied any
wrongdoing.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation's staff counsel in Cambridge, Mike
Godwin is carefully reviewing the indictments. Mitchell Kapor, EFF
President, stated today that: "EFF's position on unauthorized access to
computer systems is, and has always been, that it is wrong."
"Nevertheless," Kapor continued, "we have on previous occasions
discovered that allegations contained in Federal indictments can also be
wrong, and that civil liberties can be easily infringed in the
information age. Because of this, we will be examining this case
closely to establish the facts."
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| EFF |155 Second Street, Cambridge MA 02141 (617)864-0665| eff@eff.org |
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| F.Y.I. | Newsnote from the Electronic Frontier Foundation | Nov 1, 1992 |
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ELECTION RESULTS ONLINE
After the polls close on Tuesday, the Middlesex News Election Network will
provide the latest results from the presidential race, Massachusetts
ballot questions and Congressional races and MetroWest legislative
contests. Internet users can
finger election@world.std.com.
If you don't have Internet access, use your computer to call one of the
direct-dial lines: (508) 872-8461, 626-3835 and 620-6124 (Framingham);
(508) 429-8385 (Holliston, five lines); (508) 529-0801 (Upton, two lines);
or (617) 739-9753 (Brookline, a whole lot of lines).
On the 508 lines, log on as Election 1992, with a password of "vote" (but
without the quotation marks). On the 617 number, log on as election (all
lower case), no password needed.
Results will be updated every 20-30 minutes.
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| EFF | 155 Second Street, Cambridge MA 02141 +1 617 864 0665 | eff@eff.org |
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| F.Y.I. |Newsnote from the Electronic Frontier Foundation |Sep 17,1992|
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JOINT INDUSTRY/PUBLIC INTEREST COALITION RELEASES WHITE PAPER OPPOSING
FBI DIGITAL TELEPHONY LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), on behalf
of a coalition of industry, trade associations, computer users, and
privacy and consumer representatives, today released a white paper
entitled, "Analysis of the FBI Proposal Regarding Digital Telephony."
The FBI has proposed legislation which would require that all
telecommunications equipment be designed to allow law enforcement
monitoring and is seeking passage in the last few weeks of this
congress. The organizations that signed the paper believe that the
proposal would cost consumers millions of dollars, damage U.S.
competitiveness in the telecommunications marketplace, threaten national
security interests, and deny American consumers and American businesses
of much-wanted security and privacy on voice and data communications.
"Basically, the FBI's legislative proposal is premature. We hope that
the white paper demonstrates that there are too many potential dangers
inherent in the legislative proposal and that there are other means of
addressing this situation," said Jerry Berman, Executive Director of the
Washington office of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Over the past decade a host of new digital communication technologies
have been introduced and more are being developed. New telephone
services, such as call-forwarding and last number re-dial, are now being
offered. The FBI is concerned about the impact these services -- and
other digital communications techniques -- will have on its ability to
wiretap. In the future, the vast majority of computer communications
will also use this technology to transfer information and documents.
Signatories included major telecommunications equipment manufacturers,
such as AT&T; computer manufacturers, such as IBM and Digital Equipment
Corporation; software producers, such as Microsoft and Lotus; network
providers, such as Prodigy and Advanced Network and Services, Inc.;
trade associations in the telecommunications, computer and electronic
mail businesses; and public interest groups, such as the Electronic
Frontier Foundation and the ACLU. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a
group of 955 members of the computer community, has been coordinating an
industry/public interest working group on digital telephony.
The working group has met with the FBI over a number of months in an
effort to work out mutually-agreeable solutions to the challenge that
the development of new communications technologies poses to the FBI.
David Johnson, a partner at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, drafted the
white paper for the working group and serves as its legal advisor.
"We have made significant progress and both sides better understand the
other's needs and concerns. The bottom line, however, is that those who
signed the paper do not see broad-based legislation as the right
approach to this challenge. We have worked with the FBI to develop
practical, technical solutions to the problems they are anticipating and
intend to continue to do so," said John Podesta, of Podesta Associates,
Inc., who coordinates the working group on behalf of EFF.
# # #
For a copy of the white paper, please call +1 202 544-6906, or use
anonymous ftp to ftp.eff.org, file pub/EFF/legal-issues/eff-fbi-analysis.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 1992
For more information contact: John Podesta 202/544-6906
Jerry Berman 202/544-9237
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| EFF |155 Second Street, Cambridge MA 02141 (617)864-0665| eff@eff.org |
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