#Digital privacy

[ahb-writes]

(from The Mitchells vs. the Machines, 2021)

[allthecanadianpolitics]

The Supreme Court of Canada made a key privacy ruling Friday that means police must now first have a warrant or court order to obtain the numbers making up a person or organization's IP address.

The top court was asked to consider whether an IP address alone, without any of the personal information attached to it, was protected by an expectation of privacy under the Charter.

In a five-four split decision, the court said a reasonable expectation of privacy is attached to the numbers making up a person's IP address, and just getting those numbers alone constitutes a search.

Full article

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[magz]

(Mostly relevant for U.S. followers)

Article Title: It’s not worth paying to be removed from people-finder sites, study says

Article Date: August 8, 2024.

Article blurb:

The best removal rate was less than 70%, and that didn't beat manual opt-outs. [...]

"[O]ur study shows that many of these services fall short of providing the kind of help and performance you'd expect, especially at the price levels some of them are charging," said Yael Grauer, program manager for CR, in a statement. [...]

Finding a total of 332 instances of identifying information profiles on those sites, Consumer Reports found that only 117 profiles were removed within four months using all the services, or 35 percent. The services varied in efficacy, with EasyOptOuts notably performing the second-best at a 65 percent removal rate after four months. But if your goal is to remove entirely others' ability to find out about you, no service Consumer Reports tested truly gets you there.

Manual opt-outs were the most effective removal method, at 70 percent removed within one week, which is both a higher elimination rate and quicker turn-around than all the automated services.

The study noted close ties between the people-search sites and the services that purport to clean them. [...]

Magz Note: If you're going to pay for a service to opt-out, then "EasyOptOuts" seems fine for being the least costly at $20 a year, and is notably not associated with the people-search sites. The cheapest service without manually going thru hundreds of people-search sites multiple times to ask for opt-out.

[botgal]

If you're living in California and are concerned about the recent passing of the minor social media ban in Florida, then I urge you to write and call in to your state senators and assembly members in rejection of CA Senate Bill 976, the Social Media Youth Addiction Law.

While this law doesn't go specifically as far as the Florida law of outright banning anyone 14 and under from using social media and requiring a form of ID in order to have access to an account within the state, the law does pose troubling potential future legal repercussions.

This bill's primary focus is on the "protection" of young people who use social media from "addictive" features for the sake of their mental health. However, it intends to do this by implementing strict features such as parental controls which would require all minor users to have parental controls overseeing their accounts to limit their access to "addictive" feed features, as well as enforcing time periods where minor users will not receive notifications as well as mandatory time limits on how long minors can access social media that are restricted by the parents.

I need not tell you that this is a dangerous undertaking considering the only way that companies under this regulation could 100% ensure this level of compliance would likely be to follow the same ID verification systems which are feared to come about in Florida within the next year.

So if you live in California and don't want us to fall into the same trap which could strip away social media privacy and rights, I'd urge you to find your state representatives (state senators especially) and urge them to vote NO on CA SB 976, the Social Media Youth Addiction Law.

Source 1

Source 2

Website to help you find your CA state reps

[ecrivainsolitaire]

We need to open more conversations about software, intellectual property and tech literacy because every time something new happens on the internet everyone enters into crisis mode without actually knowing what to do about it. A lot of the moral panic over AI is this: nitpicking about names and scaremongering about art theft without really understanding any of the technology or legal frameworks they're discussing. (This is not to say AI is without its criticisms but people have been dropping the ball on this because they're focused on the wrong part of the equation.) A lot of the talk about NFTs and Twitter has been the same: dunking on technological changes without really understanding the root of the problem, mostly for clout and virtue signalling. We need to bring back the discussions of the early internet: freedom of information, privacy rights, right to repair, open source and public domain sustainability. Tumblr is mostly worried about moral righteousness and support, and those are all good things, but in this cyberpunk dystopia it's more important than ever to have a handle on the way technology influences our lives and how we can control it. Freedom of information is mutual aid. Digital autonomy is fighting the tech monopolies. Data gathering is the first step of capitalist propaganda. We can only crush our oppressors if we learn how to stop depending on them.

[wwarborday]

So, good news/bad news.

Good news; a lot of people have been very vocal about their hatred of KOSA. Yay!

Bad news; Jesus Christ They Made Another Bill.

Welcome to “Protecting Kids On Social Media,” which, according to the EFF, has five major components:

“Mandate that social media companies verify the ages of all account holders, including adults

Ban on children under age 13 using social media at all

Mandate that social media companies obtain parent or guardian consent before minors over 12 years old and under 18 years old may use social media

Ban on the data of minors (anyone over 12 years old and under 18 years old) being used to inform a social media platform’s content recommendation algorithm

Creation of a digital ID pilot program, instituted by the Department of Commerce, for citizens and legal residents, to verify ages and parent/guardian-minor relationships”

Cool! The government wants to have a database of who everyone is and exactly how they’re related! That’s a bad time, babes!

If you can, please call your reps and tell them to cut this shit out, now. Congress is back in session after Labor Day, and while this bill would have to pass the house/senate/White House, it’s best to be vocal about it while we can still maintain that anti KOSA rage.

[the-sleepy-archivist]

Blocking Ads on Mobile Devices

Blocking ads on our phones is way harder than it should be so I figured I'd make some recommendations. These are not the only options out there, just the ones that I know and use.

Please note that browser-level and system-level adblocking are complementary; you'll have the best experience if you use both of them together as they each block different things in different places. If you want a basic idea of how effective your combined adblocking setup is, you can visit this website in your mobile browser.

Lastly, there is some additional advice/info under the readmore if you're curious (EDIT: updated June 2024 to add info about sideloading altered versions of social media apps that don't contain ads on Android and iOS).

Android

Browser-Level

uBlock Origin (for Firefox)

System-Level (works in all apps, not just browsers)

AdGuard

Blokada 5 (completely free version) OR Blokada 6 (has some newer features but they require a subscription)

iPhone/iPad

Browser-Level

AdGuard (Safari extension; free for basic browser-level blocking, requires a subscription for custom filters)

System-Level (works in all apps, not just browsers)

AdGuard (requires subscription for system-level blocking)

AdGuard DNS only (this is free and does not require the AdGuard app, BUT I would only recommend it for advanced users, as you can't easily turn it off like you can with the app. Credit to this Reddit thread for the DNS profile)

Some additional info: browser-level blocking is a browser addon or extension, like you might be used to from a desktop computer. This inspects the HTML code returned by websites and searches for patterns that identify the presence of an ad or other annoyance (popup videos, cookie agreements, etc.). System-level blocking is almost always DNS-based. Basically whenever an app asks your phone's OS to make a connection to a website that is known for serving ads, the system-level blocker replies "sorry, I don't know her 🤷‍♂️💅" and the ad doesn't get downloaded. This works in most places, not just a browser, but be warned that it might make your battery drain a little faster depending on the app/setup.

Each of those types of blocking has strengths and weaknesses. System-level DNS blocking blocks ads in all apps, but companies that own advertising networks AND the websites those ads are served on can combine their services into the same domain to render DNS blocking useless; you can’t block ads served by Facebook/Meta domains without also blocking all of Facebook and Instagram as well because they made sure their ads are served from the same domain as all the user posts you actually want to see. Similarly, browser-level blocking can recognize ads by appearance and content, regardless of what domain they’re served from, so it can block them on Instagram and Facebook. However, it needs to be able to inspect the content being loaded in order to look for ads, and there’s no way to do that in non-browser apps. That’s why using both together will get you the best results.

These limitations do mean that you can’t block ads in the Facebook or Instagram apps, unfortunately, only in the website versions of them visited in your browser. It also means ads served by meta’s/facebook’s ad network in other apps can’t be blocked either (unless you're one of the rare beasts who doesn't use facebook or instagram or threads, in which case feel free to blacklist all Meta/FB domains and watch your ads disappear 😍; I'm jealous and in awe of you lol).

One note: some apps may behave unpredictably when they can't download ads. For example, the Tumblr app has big black spaces where the ads are, and sometimes those spaces collapse as you scroll past them and it messes up scrolling for a few seconds (UPDATE: looks like the scrolling issue may have actually been a Tumblr bug that they have now fixed, at least on iOS). Still way less annoying than getting ads for Draco Malfoy seduction roleplay AI chatbots imo though. And honestly *most* apps handle this fairly gracefully, like a mobile game I play just throws error messages like "ad is not ready" and then continues like normal.

One final note: on Android, you may actually be able to find hacked versions of Meta’s apps that have the ad frameworks removed. In some cases they are a little janky (unsurprisingly, apps don’t always take kindly to having some of their innards ripped out by a third-party), and they are often out of date. BUT in return you get an Instagram app with no ads whatsoever, and some of them even add additional features like buttons for saving IG videos and photos to your phone. However, use these apps at your own risk, as there is functionally no way to validate the code that the third-parties have added or removed from the app. Example altered IG app (I have not vetted this altered app, it's just a popular option): link.

It is technically possible to install altered apps on iOS as well, but Apple makes it much, much harder to do (unless you are jailbroken, which is a whole different ballgame). I'm not going to cover sideloading or jailbreaking here because even I as a very techy person eventually grew tired of messing with it or having to pay for it. If you're interested you can read more about the different ways to do sideloading on iOS here.

[redwolftrash]

i swear to fucking god

i would rather kiss a 12 gauge shotgun than watch another unskippable bass boosted SHEIN ad with the worst music i've ever heard in my life.

how do i get rid of this dumb fucking pop-up? or is it because i'm using opera for these videos and they dickride google on the tip? bc i have my shit on with vivaldi and have no issues...was regretting the switch, but now opera can keep shoving youtube's fist up their fucking ass for all i care.

[stormofneurosis]

Discord recordings

In case you haven't heard, the new discord update includes the ability to record your voice if you use voice chats

It is enabled by default

If you want to turn it off, there are instructions below the cut

Open discord

Look for your USER SETTINGS

with a mac this is under both "Discord" > "Preferences" (command ,) and the universal cog in the bottom left of your Discord window. All other versions seem to only have the cog.

In USER SETTINGS you are looking for the option CLIPS

Under CLIPS there is one setting. Toggle this off to disable your voice being clipped

Exit the settings with your permission to record revoked

[hellyeahscarleteen]

Technology can be a double-edged sword. For those seeking abortion information or care, it can be a way to connect to vital resources like abortion funds, abortion providers or supportive friends. On the other hand, things like our phones and laptops can store a ton of information about us and what we’ve been doing with them.

As more and more states criminalize abortion, the amount of surveillance, and the negative consequences of that surveillance, are going to increase. That’s just a sad fact. With that in mind, we’ve put together some basics on how to protect your privacy during each step of the process of seeking abortion help. We made this with reproductive care in mind, but many of the steps here also apply to situations like abusive relationships and the increased criminalization of trans people, families and healthcare.

[reasonsforhope]

Non-paywalled version here.

“The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday [May 3rd] announced a plan to bar Facebook parent company Meta from monetizing the data of children and teens under the age of 18, citing allegations that the company misled parents about their ability to control their children’s communications in its Messenger Kids app.

The agency is seeking to update a landmark 2020 privacy settlement with Meta, which it says the company has already violated. The $5 billion order required the company to keep close watch over how third-party companies accessed users’ data and submit to regular privacy audits.

The FTC alleges that the company continued to give app developers’ access to users’ private information, after it promised to cut off access in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, which revealed the political consultancy improperly gained access to the data of millions of Facebook users.

FTC Chair Lina Khan (D), a prominent tech industry critic, has promised to use the agency’s tools to more strictly monitor whether big companies are adhering to privacy agreements with the agency. Many Democrats criticized the FTC’s historic $5 billion settlement following Cambridge Analytica for not being tough enough. Now with a 3-0 majority at the agency, the party is newly emboldened to pursue tougher penalties.

The announcement comes as policymakers from both parties grow increasingly concerned about the impact of social media on children and teens. On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of senators revived multiple bills aimed at protecting kids and teens online...

Under the FTC’s new proposal, Meta would only be allowed to collect and use data about users under the age of 18 to provide services or for security purposes. It would not be able to use that data for commercial gain. The company would also be barred from launching new products or services until after they get a written assessment that they’re fully complying with the company’s privacy program. The rules would apply to any company that Meta acquires, including in virtual reality.

The announcement is just the first step in an administrative process to modify the 2020 order. Meta will have 30 days to respond to the agency’s plan.”

-via Washington Post, 5/3/23

[humanrightsconnected]

Read an article by the civic technology organization Pollicy to learn about the biggest challenges to digital rights for women and discover the different ways to advance women’s digital rights!

👉 http://bit.ly/3YJkUpb 

📸 by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash

[magz]

Mullvad VPN and TOR collaborated, made a privacy-focused open-source browser that use alongside VPN instead of TOR network.

One more option to protect against surveillance. (example of growing surveillance attempts: "Restrict Act" for U.S.)

Is based on Firefox source-code, but "hardened" for security and privacy.

Read link above for more information.

Both Mullvad browser and TOR browser for normal anonymization and "being indistinguishable from anyone else".

Mullvad browser not ideal use case for identifiable information like account logins, but better for everything else on the "clear web" if find it necessary. (Meaning: can use for clear web browsing like watching TikTok and Youtube videos and Twitter browsing, for example, but not as effective for logged in activity while using those and other accounts.)

--

Download link.

Github.

Get Mullvad VPN for €5 a month

--

Optional:

Privacy Guide's introduction to "Threat modeling" and digital privacy (site with article and tool reccomendation)

Techlore's Youtube playlist "Go Incognito: A guide to security, privacy, and anonymity" (video. free version of digital privacy course)

[tentacledtechnomancer]

There's a new alternative to the awful KOSA legislation going through Congress. The new bill is S. 1291, called the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act. We need to stop this one. States absolutely will use this to target trans and queer people online. https://www.techdirt.com/2023/08/31/the-protecting-kids-on-social-media-act-is-a-terrible-alternative-to-kosa/

I have emailed my legislators using https://act.eff.org/action/stop-the-protecting-kids-on-social-media-act

And I have called them using https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials/ to find them.

[kesarijournal]

The Arrest of Pavel Durov: A Watershed Moment in the Global Battle for Free Speech

In a dramatic turn of events, Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of the encrypted messaging platform Telegram, was arrested on August 24 at Le Bourget airport near Paris. His detainment has sent shockwaves through the tech world, igniting fierce debate and sparking a wave of outrage across social media. With charges ranging from money laundering to aiding terrorism, the real story behind Durov’s…

[ragana62]

Hey, this isn’t a fic but it is important to the genre (and to art and creative expression of any sort, and community, and digital privacy, and everything else really) but if you live in the US and haven’t written to your lawmakers to stop KOSA, you need to. This bill (yes, even in its latest form) will give state governments (and we all know how messy those are right now in terms of their track record on basic human decency) the right to censor the internet, it will kill digital privacy by giving companies even more access to sensitive data (that we all already know is regularly sold to Data Brokers and is frequently mishandled), and at the end of the day it will kill a lot of small platforms (and medium ones) for community organization, information sharing, and art and creative expression and solidify existing tech monopolies further while homogenizing the internet. None of those are good things. None of those protect children online. The link below is to the Fight for the Future Stop KOSA template, please take the few seconds it takes to tell your legislators that this is just actively horrible and harmful, particularly for artists and creatives, particularly for already marginalized groups.

https://stopkosa.com/?source=direct_link&