From: edi...@eff.org
Subject: EFFector Online 08.08 - June 9 '95 - ALERT: Net Censorship Galore
Date: 1995/06/09
Message-ID: <3rao6c$bqd@eff.org>
X-Deja-AN: 104162421
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distribution: world
approved: edi...@eff.org
sender: m...@eff.org
followup-to: comp.org.eff.talk,alt.politics.datahighway,misc.legal.computing,
alt.privacy,alt.activism.d,alt.society.civil-liberty,
alt.society.civil-libertiesalt.bbs.allsysop
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summary: IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED: 4 Imminent Net Censorship Bills - Only One
Alertnative
organization: Electronic Frontier Foundation
x-url: http://www.eff.org/pub/EFF/Newsletters/EFFector/
keywords: EFF EFFector activism activist Senator Sen Sen. Exon Leahy Gorton
Dole Grassley Lott Feinstein terrorism terrorist Communications Decency Act
indecency CDA censor censorship free speech freedom of S. S 314 652 714 735 892
H.R. HR 1004 S.314 S.652 S.714 S.735 S.892 H.R.1004 S314 S652 S714 S735 S892
HR1004 bomb bombmaking ban
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newsgroups: comp.org.eff.news,comp.org.eff.talk,alt.politics.datahighway,
misc.legal,misc.legal.computing,alt.activism,alt.activism.d,alt.censorship,
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EFFector Online Volume 08 No. 08 June 9, 1995 edit...@eff.org
A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424
IN THIS ISSUE:
ALERT: 4 Internet Censorship Bills - Time Is Running out!
The Latest News
What You Can Do Now -- U.S. and non-U.S. citizens
Senate Contact List
For More Information
Newsbytes
New Draft of Comm. Decency Bill - Update
The Other Side of the Coin: Feinstein Bill v. Bomb Material Online - Update
Sen. Coats Gets in on the Act, Sen. Lott Takes a Bow
Dole/Grassley Legislation No Longer a Draft - Introduced as S.892
Errata
Calendar of Events
Quote of the Week
What YOU Can Do
* See http://www.eff.org/Alerts/ or ftp.eff.org, /pub/Alerts/ for more
information on current EFF activities and online activism alerts! *
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: ALERT: 4 Internet Censorship Bills - Time Is Running out!
------------------------------------------------------------------
As you'll see in this issues' Newsbytes section, the Senate has shown its
willingness to pass unconstitutional bills that threaten YOUR privacy
and freedom of speech. There are four more such efforts under
consideration now. Please act immediately on the action alert below.
You may be comforted by the idea that you don't need to act, because the
Supreme Court will overturn all of this stuff. Don't be fooled. The
Supreme Court *might* do that, if it's in a receptive mood and if anyone has
several million dollars to throw away pushing a test case through many years
of legal battles. In the interim, the Internet as we know it in the US will
cease to exist, replaced by a national censorship network, while innocent
parties will be fined and imprisoned for "harassing" and "profane" material
they did not create. If this sounds like a regime you'd be uncomfortable
living under, please, take the few minutes it will require to phone or
fax your Senator, or (if not a US citizen) the Vice-President, who is
also the President of the US Senate.
________________________________________________________________________
CAMPAIGN TO STOP THE EXON/GORTON COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT
Update: -Senate currently considering four Internet censorship
bills. You need to act now.
-What You Can Do Now (US and non-US citizens)
CAMPAIGN TO STOP THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT
June 8, 1995
PLEASE WIDELY REDISTRIBUTE THIS DOCUMENT WITH THIS BANNER INTACT
REDISTRIBUTE ONLY UNTIL June 25, 1995
REPRODUCE THIS ALERT ONLY IN RELEVANT FORUMS
Distributed by the Voters Telecommunications Watch (v...@vtw.org)
________________________________________________________________________
CONTENTS
The Latest News
What You Can Do Now -- U.S. and non-U.S. citizens
Senate Contact List
For More Information
List Of Participating Organizations
________________________________________________________________________
[Note that this week is going to be a stressful one, as the Telecomm
Reform bill is on the Senate floor and things are moving *very quickly*.
We're trying very hard to minimize the numbers of letters we send out,
and the size of the alerts.
If you feel they're coming too fast and are thinking about unsubscribing,
please consider waiting until the end of next week, when the traffic
will die down again. -Shabbir]
THE LATEST NEWS
First there was the Exon/Gorton Internet Censorship bill. Then, there
was the Dole/Grassley bill, which would criminalize "profane" speech
among other things. Then came the Lott amendment, which would make
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) liable for the traffic of their
users. Now, Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) has announced his intention to
introduce his very own legislation. Since obscenity is already
illegal, it's unclear what benefits Coats' legislation will bring.
However given the tradition of the Senate's attempts at restricting the
Internet (Exon/Gorton, Feinstein, Dole/Grassley, and Lott) it's
becoming clear that few people are taking the First Amendment into
account when drafting their legislation.
As you read this, the Telecommunications Reform bill is being debated
on the Senate floor. The Exon/Gorton Internet Censorship language
is *in that bill*.
If the net as a whole doesn't do anything, the Exon bill will become
a reality.
Even if it's found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court several years
from now, the damage it will do in terms of BBS seizures and chilling
speech in the meantime will make online systems a very different and
sad place.
A few days ago we put out an alert asking people to call Congress and
Vice President Gore. This generated significant support and we've
even seen Senator's offices take notice of the fact that lots of computer-
literate individuals are calling to point out the problems with the
Exon/Gorton bill.
If you already called, *thank you*. Your comments warmed the hearts of
several of us, who have been swamped trying to process all the mail
you sent. You have done your country proud. Just as heart-warming
have been the letters from those abroad, who took the time to email
(and even call!) Vice President Gore. We hope we can return the
favor somehow someday.
However, many of us have not called or faxed. If you haven't done so
yet, take a moment to do that now. Make your voice heard in
Washington. Remind the Senate, which is paying more attention now to
voters than it has in several years, that you care about this new
medium that enables us to communicate in such an unprecedented
many-to-many fashion. Demand the *exact same* rights and
responsibilities for speech in the digital world as we expect in
print media, no more, no less.
________________________________________________________________________
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW -- U.S. and non-U.S. citizens
The Telecomm Reform Bill currently includes the Exon/Gorton Internet
Censorship bill. Leahy intends to offer a swap, to remove the Exon
language in exchange for his bill which advocates a study of the issue,
with an emphasis on the preservation of the First Amendment and
parental control. The other proposals could become involved as well.
It is essential that the Leahy language be substituted for Exon's, and
therefore it is essential:
1. That all citizens call or fax their Senators as soon as possible.
There is no time for written letters and email is too easily
discounted or ignored. Non-U.S. citizens should contact Vice
President Gore. Note, if you decide to send a fax, you'll want to
write an expanded version of the statement below.
It's very important that you always be cool, collected, and polite.
U.S. citizens:
<call your Senators' offices, contact info below>
"Hello, Senator ________'s office"
"Hi, I'm a constituent and would like to register my
opinion on the Telecommunications Reform bill to the
Senator. May I please speak to the technology staffer,
_________?"
"Hold On please. Alright, go ahead."
"Please oppose the Exon/Gorton bill (Title 4 of the Telecomm
bill) and other bills for censoring the Internet. Please
support the Leahy alternative (S714) which examines these
issues. My name and address are ________."
"Thanks for calling."
<click>
Non-U.S. citizens:
<call, fax, or send email to Vice President Gore>
"Dear Vice President Gore,
The world looks to the United States as one of the leaders in
developing a Global Information Infrastructure. Title 4 of
the Telecomm Reform bill and other Internet censorship bills
imperil that leadership. Please work to remove them from the
Telecomm Reform bill (S652) and support Senator Leahy's
sensible alternative (S714). I'm calling from ____________."
2. Send VTW a note telling us what you did. If you contacted your two
Senators, send a letter to v...@vtw.org with a subject line of
"XX ack" where "XX" is your state. For example:
To: v...@vtw.org
Subject: OH ack
I called my Ohio Senators and expressed my opinion.
If you contact Senators outside your state, please let us know what
state you're from.
If you contacted Vice President Gore, send a letter to v...@vtw.org with
a subject line of "gore ack". For example:
To: v...@vtw.org
Subject: gore ack
I called VP Gore and expressed my opinion. I'm from France.
An automatic responder will return an updated contact tally.
3. Forward this alert to relevant forums on other online services and
BBS's. Check the letter you get back to see which Senators are
underrepresented by citizen contacts. Forward the Alert to any
friends and colleagues in those states.
4. If you haven't yet signed the petition to support Sen. Leahy,
do so now at http://www.cdt.org/petition.html. If you don't have
WWW access, send mail to v...@vtw.org with a subject line of
"send petition" for directions.
5. Congratulate yourself! Your two-minute activism joins that of many
thousands of others over the past two months.
________________________________________________________________________
SENATE CONTACT LIST
Vice President Gore can be reached at:
White House comment line
Telephone: (202) 456-1111 (M-F 9-5 EST)
Facsimile: (202) 456-2461 (M-F 9-5 EST)
Email: vice-presid...@whitehouse.gov
*** Note that we have included names of the several Senators ***
*** Telecommunications Policy staffers below. Please attempt ***
*** to speak to them when you call. ***
US Senate Listing:
D ST Name (Party) Phone Fax
= == ============ ===== ===
R AK Murkowski, Frank H. 1-202-224-6665 1-202-224-5301
R AK Stevens, Ted 1-202-224-3004 1-202-224-1044
Earl Comstock - Technology staffer
D AL Heflin, Howell T. 1-202-224-4124 1-202-224-3149
R AL Shelby, Richard C. 1-202-224-5744 1-202-224-3416
D AR Bumpers, Dale 1-202-224-4843 1-202-224-6435
Thomas Walls - Technology staffer
D AR Pryor, David 1-202-224-2353 1-202-224-8261
R AZ Kyl, Jon 1-202-224-4521 1-602-840-4848
R AZ McCain, John 1-202-224-2235 1-602-952-8702
Mark Buse - Technology staffer
D CA Boxer, Barbara 1-202-224-3553 na
Leanne Shimabukuro - Technology staffer
D CA Feinstein, Dianne 1-202-224-3841 1-202-228-3954
Robert Mestman - Technology staffer
D CO Campbell, Ben N. 1-202-224-5852 1-202-225-0228
Lori Fox - Technology staffer
R CO Brown, Henry 1-202-224-5941 1-202-224-6471
Liz Woodard - Technology staffer
D CT Dodd, Christopher J. 1-202-224-2823 na
D CT Lieberman, Joseph I. 1-202-224-4041 1-202-224-9750
D DE Biden Jr., Joseph R. 1-202-224-5042 1-202-224-0139
Demetra Lambros/Michelle Deguerin - Technology staffer
R DE Roth Jr. William V. 1-202-224-2441 1-202-224-2805
D FL Graham, Robert 1-202-224-3041 1-202-224-2237
R FL Mack, Connie 1-202-224-5274 1-202-224-8022
Victoria Anderson - Technology staffer
D GA Nunn, Samuel 1-202-224-3521 1-202-224-0072
Jonathan Reif - Technology staffer
R GA Coverdell, Paul 1-202-224-3643 1-202-228-3783
Therese Marie Delgadillo - Technology staffer
D HI Akaka, Daniel K. 1-202-224-6361 1-202-224-2126
Nanci Langley - Technology staffer
D HI Inouye, Daniel K. 1-202-224-3934 1-202-224-6747
Margaret Cummisky - Technology staffer
D IA Harkin, Thomas 1-202-224-3254 1-202-224-7431
Phil Buchan - Technology staffer
R IA Grassley, Charles E. 1-202-224-3744 1-202-224-6020
John McNickle - Technology staffer
R ID Craig, Larry E. 1-202-224-2752 1-202-224-2573
Elizabeth Criner - Technology staffer
R ID Kempthorne, Dirk 1-202-224-6142 1-202-224-5893
D IL Moseley-Braun, Carol 1-202-224-2854 1-202-224-2626
Bill Mattea - Technology staffer
D IL Simon, Paul 1-202-224-2152 1-202-224-0868
Susan Kaplan - Technology staffer
R IN Coats, Daniel R. 1-202-224-5623 1-202-224-8964
David Crane - Technology staffer
R IN Lugar, Richard G. 1-202-224-4814 1-202-224-7877
Walt Luken - Technology staffer
R KS Dole, Robert 1-202-224-6521 1-202-224-8952
R KS Kassebaum, Nancy L. 1-202-224-4774 1-202-224-3514
Ed Bolen - Technology staffer
D KY Ford, Wendell H. 1-202-224-4343 1-202-224-0046
Martha Maloney - Technology staffer
R KY McConnell, Mitch 1-202-224-2541 1-202-224-2499
D LA Breaux, John B. 1-202-224-4623 na
Thomas Moore - Technology staffer
D LA Johnston, J. Bennett 1-202-224-5824 1-202-224-2952
Michael Gougisha - Technology staffer
D MA Kennedy, Edward M. 1-202-224-4543 1-202-224-2417
Jeff Blattner - Technology staffer
D MA Kerry, John F. 1-202-224-2742 1-202-224-8525
Scott Bunton - Technology staffer
D MD Mikulski, Barbara A. 1-202-224-4654 1-202-224-8858
D MD Sarbanes, Paul S. 1-202-224-4524 1-202-224-1651
Fred Millhiser - Technology staffer
R ME Snowe, Olympia 1-202-224-5344 1-202-224-6853
Angela Campbell - Technology staffer
R ME Cohen, William S. 1-202-224-2523 1-202-224-2693
Kelly Metcalf - Technology staffer
D MI Levin, Carl 1-202-224-6221 na
R MI Abraham, Spencer 1-202-224-4822 1-202-224-8834
D MN Wellstone, Paul 1-202-224-5641 1-202-224-8438
Mike Epstein - Technology staffer
R MN Grams, Rod 1-202-224-3244 na
R MO Bond, Christopher S. 1-202-224-5721 1-202-224-8149
R MO Ashcroft, John 1-202-224-6154 na
R MS Cochran, Thad 1-202-224-5054 1-202-224-3576
R MS Lott, Trent 1-202-224-6253 1-202-224-2262
Chip Pickering - Technology staffer
D MT Baucus, Max 1-202-224-2651 na
Brian Cavey - Technology staffer
R MT Burns, Conrad R. 1-202-224-2644 1-202-224-8594
Mark Baker - Technology staffer
R NC Faircloth, D. M. 1-202-224-3154 1-202-224-7406
R NC Helms, Jesse 1-202-224-6342 1-202-224-7588
D ND Conrad, Kent 1-202-224-2043 1-202-224-7776
Steve Super - Technology staffer
D ND Dorgan, Byron L. 1-202-224-2551 1-202-224-1193
Greg Rhode - Technology staffer
D NE Exon, J. J. 1-202-224-4224 1-202-224-5213
Christopher MacLean - Technology staffer
D NE Kerrey, Bob 1-202-224-6551 1-202-224-7645
Carol Ann Bischoff - Technology staffer
R NH Gregg, Judd 1-202-224-3324 1-202-224-4952
R NH Smith, Robert 1-202-224-2841 1-202-224-1353
D NJ Bradley, William 1-202-224-3224 1-202-224-8567
Mark Schmitt - Technology staffer
D NJ Lautenberg, Frank R. 1-202-224-4744 1-202-224-9707
Bruce King - Technology staffer
D NM Bingaman, Jeff 1-202-224-5521 na
Wayne Propst - Technology staffer
R NM Domenici, Pete V. 1-202-224-6621 1-202-224-7371
D NV Bryan, Richard H. 1-202-224-6244 1-202-224-1867
Andrew Vermilye - Technology staffer
D NV Reid, Harry 1-202-224-3542 1-202-224-7327
D NY Moynihan, Daniel P. 1-202-224-4451 na
R NY D'Amato, Alfonse M. 1-202-224-6542 1-202-224-5871
Kraig Siracuse - Technology staffer
D OH Glenn, John 1-202-224-3353 1-202-224-7983
Susan Palmer - Technology staffer
R OH Dewine, Michael 1-202-224-2315 1-202-224-6519
Josh Ruben - Technology staffer
R OK Inhofe, James 1-202-224-4721
R OK Nickles, Donald 1-202-224-5754 1-202-224-6008
R OR Hatfield, Mark O. 1-202-224-3753 1-202-224-0276
R OR Packwood, Robert 1-202-224-5244 1-202-228-3576
Hans Haney - Technology staffer
R PA Santorum, Rick 1-202-224-6324 1-202-228-4991
R PA Specter, Arlen 1-202-224-4254 na
Dan Renberg - Technology staffer
D RI Pell, Claiborne 1-202-224-4642 1-202-224-4680
R RI Chafee, John H. 1-202-224-2921 na
D SC Hollings, Ernest F. 1-202-224-6121 1-202-224-4293
Kevin Josephs - Technology staffer
R SC Thurmond, Strom 1-202-224-5972 1-202-224-1300
D SD Daschle, Thomas A. 1-202-224-2321 1-202-224-2047
R SD Pressler, Larry 1-202-224-5842 1-202-224-1259*
Katie King - Technology staffer
R TN Thompson, Fred 1-202-224-4944 1-202-228-3679
Kevin Moxley - Technology staffer
R TN Frist, Bill 1-202-224-3344 1-202-224-8062
Dave Berson - Technology staffer
R TX Hutchison, Kay Bailey 1-202-224-5922 1-202-224-0776
Amy Henderson - Technology staffer
R TX Gramm, Phil 1-202-224-2934 1-202-228-2856
R UT Bennett, Robert 1-202-224-5444 1-202-224-6717
Amy Henderson - Technology staffer
R UT Hatch, Orrin G. 1-202-224-5251 1-202-224-6331
Mike O'Neill - Technology staffer
D VA Robb, Charles S. 1-202-224-4024 1-202-224-8689
Bill Owens - Technology staffer
R VA Warner, John W. 1-202-224-2023 1-202-224-6295
Russel Wilkerson - Technology staffer
D VT Leahy, Patrick J. 1-202-224-4242 1-202-224-3595
Beryl Howell - Technology staffer
R VT Jeffords, James M. 1-202-224-5141 na
Bill Testerman - Technology staffer
D WA Murray, Patty 1-202-224-2621 1-202-224-0238
Mike Egan - Technology staffer
R WA Gorton, Slade 1-202-224-3441 1-202-224-9393
Terri Claffey - Technology staffer
D WI Feingold, Russell 1-202-224-5323 na
Jeannine Kenney - Technology staffer
D WI Kohl, Herbert H. 1-202-224-5653 1-202-224-9787
Jon Liebowitz - Technology staffer
D WV Byrd, Robert C. 1-202-224-3954 1-202-224-4025
D WV Rockefeller, John D. 1-202-224-6472 na
Cheryl Bruner - Technology staffer
R WY Simpson, Alan K. 1-202-224-3424 1-202-224-1315
Michael Stull - Technology staffer
R WY Thomas, Craig 1-202-224-6441 1-202-224-3230
________________________________________________________________________
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the Communications Decency Act, visit the
following resources:
Web Sites
URL:http://www.panix.com/vtw/exon/
URL:http://epic.org/
URL:http://www.eff.org/pub/Alerts/
URL:http://www.cdt.org/cda.html
FTP Archives
URL:ftp://ftp.cdt.org/pub/cdt/policy/freespeech/00-INDEX.FREESPEECH
URL:ftp://ftp.eff.org/pub/Alerts/
Gopher Archives:
URL:gopher://gopher.panix.com/11/vtw/exon
URL:gopher://gopher.eff.org/11/Alerts
Email:
v...@vtw.org (put "send help" in the subject line)
cda-i...@cdt.org (General CDA information)
cda-s...@cdt.org (Current status of the CDA)
________________________________________________________________________
LIST OF PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
In order to use the net more effectively, several organizations have
joined forces on a single Congressional net campaign to stop the
Communications Decency Act.
Please send a message to v...@vtw.org with "send orgs" in the subject
line to receive a list of these organizations.
[End Alert]
------------------------------
Subject: Newsbytes
------------------
* New Draft of Comm. Decency Bill - Update
As noted last issue, Sen. Exon, the Dept. of Justice, and some unnamed
online service providers have attempted to fix the "bugs" in the
Exon/Gorton Communications Decency Act, recently folded into the Senate
telecom reform bill, S.652. All in all, the amendment fixes only
superficial problems, leaving the core faults of the bill intact.
Whether the DoJ or other lobbyists that worked on this draft have
accepted is has not been confirmed, but Exon has adopted it.
Exon attempted to have his amendment added to the en blac amendments
(the Chairman's mark) for quick and easy passage, but was headed
off by Leahy, who objected, putting Exon back in the position of having
to propose his new language as a separate amendment to be debated and
voted upon. Senate business concluded around 3pm, and that was that.
The amendment, and Leahy's alternative, are expected to be debated
on Mon. or Tue. It will probably be a serious floor battle - the
unconstitutional provisions of Exon and possibly Coats v. the more
reasonable and reasoned Leahy bill.
Another source erroneously reported that Exon's language was accepted as an
amendment to the Senate telecom reform bill by unanimous consent. Senate
staffers confirm that this did not occur.
The Exon legislation revised by this draft amendment will remain
unconstitutional, as it still attempts to ban expression protected by the
First Amendment. Even the regulation of indecency has been limited by
the courts to very narrowly defined circumstances - none of which apply
to online media. Additionally, the new version introduces a new problem:
It protects only large commercial service providers from more-restrictive
state laws, leaving individuals, schools, non-profits, and other groups
open targets for state-level censorship.
Why any of this is important: Exon's new revision is more "palatable" to
some parties. If it is kept out of the bill, it will be easier to defeat
the Exon language that currently resides in S.652, and have it replaced
with Leahy's language. If the new draft replaces the old Exon language, it
will be much more likely to pass and convincing the Senate to exise it in
favor of Leahy's bill (S.714) will be more difficult.
The draft changes to the Exon bill, showing what was deleted and what was
added, are available at:
http://www.eff.org/pub/Legislation/Bills_by_number/s652_051995_amend.draft
ftp.eff.org, /pub/Legislation/Bills_by_number/s652_051995_amend.draft
gopher.eff.org, 1/EFF/Legislation/Bills_by_number, s652_051995_amend.draft
* The Other Side of the Coin: Feinstein Bill v. Bomb Material Online - Update
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) proposed and got her amendment to the Senate
Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention bill, S.735, of Sen. Dole. The Feinstein
provisions "prohibit the dissemination of information on the making of
explosive materials with intent or knowledge that such information will
be used for a criminal purpose." Though the legislation does not directly
mention the Internet, it is certainly drafted to apply to online media,
and was inspired by what Feinstein perceives as tools for terrorism on
computer networks.
Sadly, we must report that not only was the amendment accepted, but the
Terrorism bill passed. Worse yet, it passed with the "roving wiretaps"
section intact, calling for police wiretaps of entire areas
simultaneously, so law enforcement can catch mobile members of the Four
Horsement of the Infobahn ("drug dealers, organized crime, child
molesters & pornographers, and terrorists"). This is pretty bad but is
not yet a total disaster. This bill has quite a long way to go before it
becomes law, and there are many opportunities to head it off at the pass.
Also, the Feinstein provisions were watered down. Rough analysis
suggests that it is even constititional, and in actually does not
illegalize anything that's not already covered by current law, making it
worthless ego legislation that simply exists to attract publicity and
further the sponsors' political agenda. Don't take this as gospel however.
Neither EFF nor other organizations in the Stop314 Coalition have the
full text of the bill as it passed yet, and have not yet been able to do
a full and careful analysis of it.
The full text of the Feinstein *draft* can be found at:
http://www.eff.org/Bills_by_number/s735_95_feinstein_amend.draft
ftp.eff.org, /pub/Legislation/Bills_by_number/s735_95_feinstein_amend.draft
gopher.eff.org, 1/Legislation/Bills_by_number, s735_95_feinstein_amend.draft
NOTE: This is *not* the version that passed, but the original. It's
still a good read, if you enjoy horror stories.
There's plenty more to worry about from this and other anti-terrorism
legislation, most of which proposes one or more unconstitional
"solutions" to perceived problems, and many of which seek to expand, in
some cases radically, law enforcement and intelligence wiretapping
authority and abilities. These bills, archived by bill number, are
also available in the Bills_by_number directory at the sites above.
* Sen. Coats Gets in on the Act, Sen. Lott Takes a Bow
Catching the new wave, Sen. Daniel Coats (R-IN) has announced his own
Internet-censoring legislation, which is expected to be proferred as an
amendment to the Senate telecom reform bill, just like everyone elses.
Details of this amendment are sketchy, but expect the worst. This
represents the most Far-Right net censorship paradigm yet. Sen. Lott
has stated that he will not be introducing his amendment to make the Exon
legislation even worse (by stipping all liablity protections for system
operators). No reasons were given.
* Dole/Grassley Legislation No Longer a Draft - Introduced as S.892
A bill even worse than Exon's, a true unconstitutional nightmare, was
introduced shortly after last issue of EFFector: "The Protection of
Children from Computer Pornography Act". This is not intended as an
amendment to the telecom bill, but is stand-alone legislation.
The bill's been referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The *draft* version is available at:
http://www.eff.org/Bills_by_number/s892_95_bill.draft
ftp.eff.org, /pub/Legislation/Bills_by_number/s892_95_bill.draft
gopher.eff.org, 1/Legislation/Bills_by_number, s892_95_bill.draft
NOTE: This is *not* the version as introduced (we'll have that up in same
directory as s892_95.bill when available), though it may be identical.
------------------------------
Subject: Errata
---------------
Last issue, EFFector reported that:
>> Prodigy filed a motion for summary judgment, asking to be dismissed from
>> the case on the claim that Prodigy could not be held responsible for the
>> postings of its users.
Bill Schneck, Associate Senior Counsel for Prodigy corrected us:
>In fact, the ruling was issued in response to a motion for partial
>summary judgment made by the *plaintiffs*. Prodigy did not move for summary
>judgment.
We apologize for the error, and hope it did not confuse or inconvenience
anyone.
------------------------------
Subject: Calendar of Events
---------------------------
This schedule lists EFF events, and those we feel might be of interest to
our members. EFF events (those sponsored by us or featuring an EFF speaker)
are marked with a "*" instead of a "-" after the date. Simlarly, government
events, such as deadlines for comments on reports or testimony submission, are
marked with "!" in place of the "-" after the date.
If you know of an event of some sort that should be listed here, please
send info about it to Stanton McCandlish (m...@eff.org)
The latest full version of this calendar, which includes material for
later in the year as well as the next couple of months, is available from:
ftp: ftp.eff.org, /pub/EFF/calendar.eff
gopher: gopher.eff.org, 1/EFF, calendar.eff
http://www.eff.org/pub/EFF/calendar.eff
Updated: Jun. 6, 1995
1995
----
June 11-
14 - Society & the Future of Computing (SFC'95); Tamarron Lodge,
Durango, Colorado. Sponsored by the Assoc. for Computing
Machinery, LANL, U. of Md., IEEE. Speakers will include Phil Agre
(UCSD), Leslie Sandberg (Institute for Telemedicine), Wm.
Halverson (PacBell), Don Norman (Apple), Linda Garcia
(Congressional Office of Technology Assessment), John
Cherniavsky (Natl. Science Found.) and several others.
Email: sf...@lanl.gov
WWW: http://www.lanl.gov/LANLNews/Conferences/.sfc95/sfcHome.html/
June 13-
15 - IDT 95 - 12th Congress on Information Markets and Industries;
Paris, France. Organized by ADBS (a society of information
professionals), ANRT (National Association of Technological
Research), and GFII (French association of information industries).
Contact: +33 1 43 72 25 25 (voice), +33 1 43 72 30 41 (fax)
June 17-
19 - NECC'95: Emerging Technologies and Lifelong Learning: 16th Annual
National Educational Computing Conf., sponsored by International
Society for Technology in Education; Baltimore, Maryland.
VP Gore and Sec'y. of Labor Robert Reich invited as keynote
speakers. Other speakers include: John Phillipo (CELT), Frank
Knott (MGITB)
Contact: +1 503 346 2834 (voice), +1 503 346 5890 (fax)
Email: nec...@ccmail.uoregon.edu
June 18-
21 - ED-MEDIA'95; Graz, Austria. A world conference on educational
multimedia and hypermedia. Sponsor: The Association for the
Advancement of Computing.
Contact: +1 804 973 3987 (voice)
Email: a...@virginia.edu.
June 24-
28 - Workshop on Ethical & Professional Issues in Computing;
Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY. Deadline for submissions:
Apr. 15.
Contact: +1 518 276 8503 (voice), +1 518 276 2659 (fax)
Email: che...@rpi.edu
June 27-
29 - Women in Technology Conference: Channels for Change; Santa Clara
Conv. Ctr., Santa Clara, Calif. Speakers include: Gloria Steinem.
Sponsored by Int'l. Network of Women in Technology (WITI).
Contact: +1 818 990 1987 (voice), +1 818 906 3299 (fax)
Email: w...@crl.com
June 28-
30 - INET '95 Internet Society 5th Ann. International Networking
Conf.; Honolulu, Hawaii. Sponsored by Internet Society (ISoc).
See Jan. 13 for proposal deadline
Contact: +1 703 648 9888 (voice)
FTP: ftp.isoc.org, /isoc/inet95/
Gopher: gopher.isoc.org, 1/isoc/inet95
WWW: http://www.isoc.org/inet95.html
Email: ine...@isoc.org
July 5-
7 - Key Players in the Introduction of Information Technology: Their
Social Responsibility & Professional Training; Namur, Belgium.
Sponsored by CREIS.
Email: no...@ccr.jussieu.fr, clo...@info.fundp.ac.be
July 5-
8 - Alliance for Community Media International Conference and Trade
Show. [See Jan. 31 for proposal submission deadline info].
Contact: Alliance c/o MATV, 145 Pleasant St., Malden, MA 02148
Fax: (617) 321-7121; Voice: Rika Welsh (617) 321-6400
Email: m...@world.std.com
July 5-
8 - 18th International Conf. on Research & Development in Information
Retrieval; Sheraton Hotel, Seattle, Wash.
Email: sigi...@u.washington.edu
July 6-
7 ! Interoperability & the Economics of Information Infrastructure;
Freedom Forum, Rosslyn, Virginia. IITF/NSF/Harvard/FFMSC joint
workshop to "analyze and evaluate economic incentives and
impediments to achieving interoperability in the National
Information Infrastructure. The goal is to help agencies,
associations, the Administration, and the Congress to develop
sound policies for realizing the vision of a seamless,
interoperating NII. Deadline for proposals: Mar. 17. Deadline
for submissions: June 15.
Contact: +1 617 495 8903 (voice), +1 617 495 5776 (fax)
Email: ka...@harvard.edu
July 11-
15 - '95 Joint International Conference: Association for Computers and
the Humanties, and Association for Literacy and Linguistic
Computing; UCSB, Santa Barbara, Calif. Will highlight the
development of new computing methodologies for research and
teaching in the humanities
Contact: Eric Dahlin, +1 805 687 5003 (voice)
Email: hcf1d...@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu
July 22-
26 - Syllabus'95; Sonoma State U., Rohnert Park, Calif.
"The premier conference covering the use of technology in the
curriculum"
Contact: 1-800-773-0670 (voice, US-only), +1 408 746 200 (voice,
elsewhere)
Email: sylla...@netcom.com
------------------------------
Subject: Quote of the Week
--------------------------
"It's going to be an uphill fight...This will all come down to
the debate. Tell people to call and write their Senators. They need to
know. Now."
- An aide for Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT), from _Cyberwire_Dispatch_ article
by Brock Meeks, June 9, 1995. Leahy strongly opposes the
Communications Decency legislation and has offered a reasoned
alternative.
Find yourself wondering if your privacy and freedom of speech are safe
when bills to censor the Internet are swimming about in a sea of of
surveillance legislation and anti-terrorism hysteria? Worried that in
the rush to protect us from ourselves that our government representatives
may deprive us of our essential civil liberties?
Join EFF!
------------------------------
Subject: What YOU Can Do
------------------------
* The Internet Censorship Bills
Contact your Senators IMMEDIATELY. See lead article for phone/fax list,
and sample messages.
For more information on what you can do to help stop this and other
dangerous legislation, see:
ftp.eff.org, /pub/Alerts/
gopher.eff.org, 1/Alerts
http://www.eff.org/pub/Alerts/
If you do not have full internet access, send your request
for information to a...@eff.org.
* Find Out Who Your Congresspersons Are
Writing letters to, faxing, and phoning your representatives in Congress
is one very important strategy of activism, and an essential way of
making sure YOUR voice is heard on vital issues.
EFF has lists of the Senate and House with contact information, as well
as lists of Congressional committees. These lists are available at:
ftp.eff.org, /pub/Activism/Congress_cmtes/
gopher.eff.org, 1/EFF/Issues/Activism/Congress_cmtes
http://www.eff.org/pub/Activism/Congress_cmtes/
The full Senate and House lists are senate.list and hr.list, respectively.
Those not in the U.S. should seek out similar information about their
own legislative bodies. EFF will be happy to archive any such
information provided. If you do not know who your Representatives are,
you should contact you local League of Women Voters, who typically maintain
databases that can help you find out.
* Join EFF!
You *know* privacy, freedom of speech and ability to make your voice heard
in government are important. You have probably participated in our online
campaigns and forums. Have you become a member of EFF yet? The best way to
protect your online rights is to be fully informed and to make your
opinions heard. EFF members are informed and are making a difference. Join
EFF today!
For EFF membership info, send queries to members...@eff.org, or send any
message to i...@eff.org for basic EFF info, and a membership form.
------------------------------
Administrivia
=============
EFFector Online is published by:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
1667 K St. NW, Suite 801
Washington DC 20006-1605 USA
+1 202 861 7700 (voice)
+1 202 861 1258 (fax)
+1 202 861 1223 (BBS - 16.8k ZyXEL)
+1 202 861 1224 (BBS - 14.4k V.32bis)
Membership & donations: members...@eff.org
Legal services: sste...@eff.org
Hardcopy publications: p...@eff.org
General EFF, legal, policy or online resources queries: a...@eff.org
Editor:
Stanton McCandlish, Online Services Mgr./Activist/Archivist (m...@eff.org)
This newsletter printed on 100% recycled electrons.
Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged. Signed
articles do not necessarily represent the views of EFF. To reproduce
signed articles individually, please contact the authors for their express
permission. Press releases and EFF announcements may be reproduced individ-
ually at will.
To subscribe to EFFector via email, send message body of "subscribe
effector-online" (without the "quotes") to lists...@eff.org, which will add
you to a subscription list for EFFector.
Back issues are available at:
ftp.eff.org, /pub/EFF/Newsletters/EFFector/
gopher.eff.org, 1/EFF/Newsletters/EFFector
http://www.eff.org/pub/EFF/Newsletters/EFFector/
To get the latest issue, send any message to effector-reflec...@eff.org (or
e...@eff.org), and it will be mailed to you automagically. You can also get
the file "current" from the EFFector directory at the above sites at any
time for a copy of the current issue. HTML editions available at:
http://www.eff.org/pub/EFF/Newsletters/EFFector/HTML/
at EFFweb.
------------------------------
End of EFFector Online v08 #08 Digest
*************************************
$$
--
<A HREF="http://www.eff.org/~mech/"> Stanton McCandlish
</A><HR><A HREF="mailto:m...@eff.org"> m...@eff.org
</A><P><A HREF="http://www.eff.org/"> Electronic Frontier Foundation
</A><P><A HREF="http://www.eff.org/1.html"> Online Services Mgr. </A>