Notices by Electronic Frontier Foundation (eff@mastodon.social)

EFF's Cooper Quintin spoke with NBC News about what Rednote users should consider, and how "people who are thirsty for platforms that aren’t controlled by the same few oligarchs will happily jump to another platform even if it presents new, unknown risks.” Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/chinese-app-rednote-pose-greater-security-risks-tiktok-rcna187619

It is no surprise that Google searches for VPNs in Florida have skyrocketed. But as more states and countries pass age verification laws, it is crucial to recognize the broader implications these measures have on privacy. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/01/vpns-are-not-solution-age-verification-laws

As for other speech that governments might try to restrict if SCOTUS upholds the Texas law, “pick the speech that’s under attack right now,” EFF’s @davidgreene told @WashPost – perhaps it'll be info on reproductive health or immigrants’ rights. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/16/scotus-texas-age-verification-porn/

Fed up with Meta? Avoiding Instagram or Facebook isn’t enough to stop Meta from harvesting and profiting from your private information. Here’s how to limit Meta’s ability to monetize your personal data. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/01/mad-meta-dont-let-them-collect-and-monetize-your-personal-data

Risk reports alone cannot provide definitive answers on the potential implications of large online services on complex societal processes. The recent Romanian election shows us why.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/01/systemic-risk-reporting-system-crisis

"The Texas law robs adult internet users of anonymity, exposes them to serious privacy and security risks, and blocks some adults entirely from accessing sexual content that’s protected under the First Amendment," EFF’s Lisa Femia told @Mashable. https://mashable.com/article/free-speech-coalition-v-paxton-age-verification-hearing

EFF Statement on U.S. Supreme Court's Decision to Uphold TikTok Ban:

Lastly, it can be easy to assume that there is no way to protect privacy, and that surveillance gets worse every year. Don’t give up hope — there are many reasons to be optimistic. Here are just a few: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/02/privacy-isnt-dead-far-it

Individuals must tell their legislators to pass a comprehensive privacy law. But there are also actions YOU can take right now to protect yourself from data surveillance by U.S. and foreign companies and governments. Visit our Surveillance Self-Defense Guide to learn more. ssd.eff.org

Some states have passed strong privacy laws, but so far, we do not have a federal law. In our view, the discussion of how banning TikTok fails to protect privacy has made it more likely that we can reach a privacy law, because legislators are waking up to the reality of the surveillance ecosystem. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/12/eff-statement-us-supreme-courts-decision-consider-tiktok-ban

Rednote shares data with Facebook and Google ad networks, so using it doesn’t protect your data from US-based companies. It also has more pervasive censorship than similar apps. What we really need isn’t a new app—it’s a federal privacy law. https://www.eff.org/wp/privacy-first-better-way-address-online-harms#Legislation

There are steps you can take, and steps that we believe legislators should take, to protect our privacy in the future. Things CAN be better. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/02/privacy-isnt-dead-far-it

Many people are suggesting that it's impossible to protect privacy, so it doesn't matter which app you use.

Others are trying Rednote because they are, reasonably, tired of tech oligarchies.

Both are understandable reactions to the surveillance capitalism ecosystem. But there's more we can do. 🧵

Texas “continued to incorrectly suggest that online age verification–which requires millions of internet users to upload and submit identifying information–is no different than quick, one-on-one, in-person ID checks," EFF’s Lisa Femia told @texastribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/15/texas-porn-site-ban-us-supreme-court/

“People looking for alternative social media apps should be cautious about the privacy implications of sharing information with an app that has not yet seen substantial public scrutiny outside of China,” EFF’s @cooperq told @verge. https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/16/24345245/rednote-xiaohongshu-tiktok-ban-privacy

Livestream number 2️⃣ incoming! Join this session hosted by EFF, ACLU Cal Action, TransLatin@ Coalition, and Oakland Privacy where we'll be discussing California's new legislative session and the impacts of digital speech proposals on various communities. https://livestream.eff.org

Minors’ rights to access information are being attacked by policy makers across the political spectrum, and adults need to be champions for them even if they think kids use social media too much, EFF’s @davidgreene said. https://www.kalw.org/2025-01-15/the-bay-agenda-the-future-of-press-freedom

TikTok users could try to access a web-based browser version on a VPN, but that would lack some of the app’s features and personalization, EFF’s @jgkelley told @Reuters. "It won't be a good service for you, and it won't be a profitable service for them.” https://www.reuters.com/technology/how-tiktok-ban-would-work-why-user-workarounds-wont-2025-01-16/

Platforms shouldn’t silence people for drawing attention to the influence those platforms, and other large companies, have. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/01/platforms-systematically-removed-user-because-he-made-most-wanted-ceo-playing

T-MINUS ONE HOUR UNTIL EFF'S LIVESTREAM 🚀 Join us at 10 AM pacific time for a discussion about your rights to privacy and free expression under Trump and the 119th Congress: https://livestream.eff.org