EFF Campaigns

Prevent Copyright Trolling: Tell the Senate That Copyright Claims Can’t Be Treated Like Traffic Tickets

The way copyright works in the United States does need changing. But the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act), which will treat certain copyright claims like traffic tickets, does nothing to make any useful changes. Instead, it would invite abuse, magnify the existing problem of copyright’s unpredictable damages, and would give a lot of authority to a new, quasi-judicial body in the Copyright Office, not the actual courts.

The CASE Act doesn't fix the problems of copyright, it just gives new tools to copyright trolls.

California: No Face Recognition on Body-Worn Cameras

Today, we stand at a crossroads as face recognition technology can now be interfaced with body-worn cameras in real time.

Recognizing the impending threat to our fundamental rights, California Assemblymember Phil Ting introduced A.B. 1215. It will prohibit the use of face recognition, or other forms of biometric technology, such as gait recognition or tattoo recognition, on a camera worn or carried by a police officer.

Massachusetts: Hit the Pause Button on Face Surveillance

Massachusetts has a long history of standing up for liberty. Right now, it has the opportunity to become a national leader in fighting government use of face surveillance. Face surveillance poses a threat to our privacy, chills protest in public places, and gives law enforcement unregulated power to undermine due process. Massachusetts bills S.1385 and H.1538 would place a moratorium on government use of face surveillance, until the legislature passes measures to regulate these technologies, protect civil liberties, and ensure oversight of face surveillance use.

Join Marc Maron and Hold the Line Against Patent Trolls

In 2013, a patent troll called Personal Audio tried to shake down podcasters, big and small, for licensing fees. With help from Marc Maron and WTF podcast fans, we challenged the podcasting patent in the Patent Office and in the courts.

Now that patent trolls are losing ground in court, they're looking to get a boost in Congress. Working together with lobbyists for big pharma and IP lawyers' groups, patent trolls are working on a bill that will destroy some of our best legal tools for fighting patent trolls.

We're asking for your help: join Marc, and tell Congress that more bad patents won't help.

Tell Congress: We Don’t Need More Bad Patents

Right now, Senators are working to remove key legal protections that protect people from patent trolls and other abusers of the patent system.

Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) have published a draft bill that will undermine protections of Section 101 of the U.S. Patent Act.

Section 101 puts important limits on what can be patented. For instance, it bans patents on abstract ideas, natural phenomena, and laws of nature. Our patent laws are supposed to keep those basic ideas unpatented—they are the building blocks of scientific progress, available to all.

End the NSA's Call Detail Records Program Once and for All

Over nearly two decades, the NSA has searched millions of Americans’ telephone call records—all without a warrant or, for the vast majority of these calls, any suspicion of wrongdoing.

It’s time to end the mass telephone Call Detail Records (CDR) program once and for all. Tell your members of Congress to support the Ending Mass Collection of Americans’ Phone Records Act (S. 936, H.R. 1942).

Tell the Senate to Restore Full Net Neutrality Protections

In December 2017, the FCC voted to roll back the 2015 Open Internet Order, giving Internet service providers (ISPs) free reign to engage in unfair and discriminatory data practices. This year, the House of Representatives voted in favor of the Save the Internet Act, which would restore the 2015 net neutrality protections and make them permanent. Tell the Senate to do the same and stand up for real net neutrality!

California: Tell Your Legislator Not to Abandon Oversight of the Broadband Monopolies

At a time when we are fighting to keep the future of broadband access from reverting back towards a monopoly, the recently introduced A.B. 1366 mirrors the FCC’s abandonment of consumers.

Tell California's lawmakers to oppose A.B. 1366, and instead promote competition and access—not abandon Californians to their broadband monopoly.

Prevent Copyright Trolling: Tell Congress that Copyright Claims Can’t Be Treated Like Traffic Tickets

The way copyright works in the United States does need changing. But the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act), which will treat certain copyright claims like traffic tickets, does nothing to make any useful changes. Instead, it would invite abuse, magnify the existing problem of copyright’s unpredictable damages, and would give a lot of authority to a new, quasi-judicial body in the Copyright Office, not the actual courts.

In other words, if you’re looking for an answer to the problem of people improperly using copyrighted material online, this ain’t it, chief.