[Infowarrior] - Today We Fight Back Against Mass Surveillance

[Richard Forno]

February 11, 2014 | By Adi Kamdar

Today We Fight Back Against Mass Surveillance

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/02/today-we-fight-back-against-mass-surveillance

Since June, ongoing revelations about the NSA's activities have shown us the expanding scope of government surveillance. Today is the day people around the world are demanding an end to mass spying.

A broad coalition of organizations, companies, and individuals are loudly voicing their stance against unwarranted mass spying—over 6,000 websites have joined together today to demand reform. EFF stands by millions of users—represented by groups like Demand Progress, ACLU, PEN, and Access as well as companies like Google, Twitter, Mozilla, and reddit—to reform governmental collection of innocent users' information.

Over the past few years, we've seen the Internet as a political force make waves in Washington. From our defeat of the Internet censorship bill SOPA to our battles over CISPA, TPP, and patent reform, history has shown that we can activate our networks to beat back legislation that threatens our ability to connect, as well as champion bills that will further our rights online.

We can win this. We can stop mass spying. With public opinion polls on our side, unprecedented pressure from presidential panels and oversight boards, and millions of people speaking out around the world, we've got a chance now to change surveillance policy for good.

Last year, we were presented with a new opportunity—an opportunity in the form of leaks that showed us the truth about deeply invasive surveillance programs around the world. This is the year we make good on that opportunity. Let's ensure that sacrifices made by whistleblowers and risks taken by brave journalists were not done in vain.

Join us in fighting back. We've laid out below how you can speak out against mass spying.

In the US? Call Congress today.

Dial 202-552-0505 or click here to enter your phone number and have our call tool connect you

Privacy Info: This telephone calling service is operated by Twilio and will connect you to your representatives. Information about your call, including your phone number and the time and length of your call, will be collected by Twilio and subject to Twilio's privacy policy.

Calling Congress takes just five minutes and is the most effective action you can take right now to let your elected officials know that mass surveillance must end.

Here's what you should say:

I'd like Senator/Representative __ to support and co-sponsor H.R. 3361/S. 1599, the USA Freedom Act. I would also like you to oppose S. 1631, the so-called FISA Improvements Act. Moreover, I'd like you to work to prevent the NSA from undermining encryption standards and to protect the privacy rights of non-Americans.

Outside the US? Take action now.

Mass spying affects all of us worldwide. Demand an end to mass surveillance by signing the 13 Principles petition.

More ways to get involved

After you have called Congress or signed the 13 Principles, share this action widely.

Join me in demanding an end to illegal mass surveillance. Take action now: https://thedaywefightback.org/?r=eff #StoptheNSA

On your social network of choice, be sure to use the hashtag #StoptheNSA.

There are also a handful of in-person events occurring around the world—protests, discussions, cryptoparties, and more. Don't see one in your area? It's not too late to throw one together today.

Today we fight back

This fight is more important than ever. Our world has radically changed since last June, when newspapers started reporting on mass spying based on documents revealed by Edward Snowden. Today, it is widely known that the international spy agencies collect users' phone calls, emails, address books, buddy lists, calling records, online video game chats, financial documents, browsing history, text messages, and calendar data. We also know that the security agencies have hacked deep into the backbone of the Internet and disrupted international encryption standards. These activities compromise the confidence and safety of countless people, organizations, and companies.

The President's NSA review group has demanded expansive reforms to NSA surveillance programs. The Congressionally mandated Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has condemned NSA surveillance programs as illegal. And recent polls have shown that a majority of Americans oppose governmental mass collection of phone and Internet data.

It's time to turn this momentum into action. Call Congress today, or if you're abroad, make your voice heard.

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