activistpost--2020-06-30--“Not Heavy Handed” FCC Sides With Wireless Industry in Historic Berkeley “Cell Phone Right to Know”

“Not Heavy Handed” FCC Sides With Wireless Industry in Historic Berkeley “Cell Phone Right to Know” Case

In April , Sharyl Attkisson ( Full Measure ) interviewed Federal Communications Chair Ajit Pai .
He stated that , unlike other countries , the U.S. doesn ’ t have a “ heavy handed regulatory framework.
” Abso-friggin-lutely .
They have long history as a “ captured agency ” that regularly and shamefully caters to the telecom industry at the expense of the public .
Lawsuits have been filed against the agency for NOT protecting Americans from unsafe levels of radiation ( see 1 , 2 ) as well as unwanted 5G installation .
It ’ s not surprising that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – now in regard to the Berkeley , CA “ Cell Phone Right to Know ” Case .
The US FCC has filed a brief siding with the CTIA wireless industry against the historic Berkeley Cell Phone Right To Know Law .
The FCC contends that Berkeley is pre-empted from enacting a law requiring consumers being provided information at point of sale .
In addition the FCC argues that ensuring consumers have the information is not necessary .
The FCC Brief states , “ The FCC has also determined that the information on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manuals about RF exposure is adequate to inform consumers of this issue without overwarning or creating the false impression that RF emissions from FCC-certified cell phones are unsafe .
” Excerpts “ Under the FCC ’ s rules , a cell phone manufacturer is not permitted to sell cell phones in the United States until the FCC certifies that they comply with all applicable rules and regulations , including the FCC ’ s RF limits .
To obtain this certification , the manufacturer must test its cell phones in accordance with FCC procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission .
If the test results demonstrate that the phones comply with the FCC ’ s RF limits , and the manufacturer further demonstrates that its phones comply with all other applicable rules and regulations , the Commission certifies the cell phones for sale in the United States .
The Commission has found that RF emissions from FCC-certified cell phones pose no health risks.
” “ The Berkeley ordinance conflicts with the FCC ’ s determination that the information provided on its website and in cell phone user manuals is sufficient to inform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that additional notices risk “ overwarning ” and misleading consumers into believing that RF emissions from FCC-certified cell phones are unsafe .
In addition , the notice mandated by Berkeley informs consumers that , when the phones are carried against the body , consumers may experience unsafe levels of RF exposure .
That statement inaccurately describes the safety of cell phones and may inhibit the broad availability of safe wireless communications devices .
For these reasons , the Berkeley ordinance conflicts with , and is preempted by , federal law.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0.5 centimeter distance from the body is appropriate because : ( 1 ) cell phones are “ tested against the head without any separation distance ” ; ( EHT notes this is a half truth because their is a spacer for the ear and the FCC allows much higher radiation levels into the ear than the head and body .
Cell phones are not tested with the phone touching the head .
They are tested “ against the head ” with the ear spacer in between ) ( 2 ) testing is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more extreme conditions than a user would normally encounter ” ; and ( 3 ) the “ existing exposure limits are set with a large safety margin , well below the threshold for unacceptable rises in human tissue temperature.
” 2019 RF Order ¶ 14 .
Taking these factors into account , the FCC has found it “ unnecessary ” to “ require [ RF ] testing with a ‘ zero ’ spacing—against the body .
” ”

By B.N. Frank
In April, Sharyl Attkisson (Full Measure) interviewed Federal Communications Chair Ajit Pai. He stated that, unlike other countries, the U.S. doesn’t have a “heavy handed regulatory framework.” Abso-friggin-lutely. They have long history as a “captured agency” that regularly and shamefully caters to the telecom industry at the expense of the public. Lawsuits have been filed against the agency for NOT protecting Americans from unsafe levels of radiation (see 1, 2) as well as unwanted 5G installation. It’s not surprising that they have sided with the industry AGAIN – now in regard to the Berkeley, CA “Cell Phone Right to Know” Case.
From Environmental Health Trust:
The US FCC has filed a brief siding with the CTIA wireless industry against the historic Berkeley Cell Phone Right To Know Law.
The FCC contends that Berkeley is pre-empted from enacting a law requiring consumers being provided information at point of sale. In addition the FCC argues that ensuring consumers have the information is not necessary.
The FCC Brief states, “The FCC has also determined that the information on its website and in cell phone user manuals about RF exposure is adequate to inform consumers of this issue without overwarning or creating the false impression that RF emissions from FCC-certified cell phones are unsafe. ”
Excerpts
“Under the FCC’s rules, a cell phone manufacturer is not permitted to sell cell phones in the United States until the FCC certifies that they comply with all applicable rules and regulations, including the FCC’s RF limits. To obtain this certification, the manufacturer must test its cell phones in accordance with FCC procedures and submit the test results to the Commission. If the test results demonstrate that the phones comply with the FCC’s RF limits, and the manufacturer further demonstrates that its phones comply with all other applicable rules and regulations, the Commission certifies the cell phones for sale in the United States. The Commission has found that RF emissions from FCC-certified cell phones pose no health risks.”
“The Berkeley ordinance conflicts with the FCC’s determination that the information provided on its website and in cell phone user manuals is sufficient to inform consumers about the risk of RF exposure, and that additional notices risk “overwarning” and misleading consumers into believing that RF emissions from FCC-certified cell phones are unsafe. In addition, the notice mandated by Berkeley informs consumers that, when the phones are carried against the body, consumers may experience unsafe levels of RF exposure. That statement inaccurately describes the safety of cell phones and may inhibit the broad availability of safe wireless communications devices. For these reasons, the Berkeley ordinance conflicts with, and is preempted by, federal law.”
“The FCC has explained that the 0.5 centimeter distance from the body is appropriate because: (1) cell phones are “tested against the head without any separation distance”; (EHT notes this is a half truth because their is a spacer for the ear and the FCC allows much higher radiation levels into the ear than the head and body. Cell phones are not tested with the phone touching the head. They are tested “against the head” with the ear spacer in between) (2) testing is currently performed at maximum power, “under more extreme conditions than a user would normally encounter”; and (3) the “existing exposure limits are set with a large safety margin, well below the threshold for unacceptable rises in human tissue temperature.” 2019 RF Order ¶ 14. Taking these factors into account, the FCC has found it “unnecessary” to “require [RF] testing with a ‘zero’ spacing—against the body.” ”
Read the FCC filed Brief


activistpost--2020-06-30--5 Serious Flaws in the New Brazilian “Fake News” Bill that Will Undermine Human Rights

The Brazilian Senate is scheduled to make its vote this week on the most recent version of “ PLS 2630/2020 ” the so-called “ Fake News ” bill .
This new version , supposedly aimed at safety and curbing “ malicious coordinated actions ” by users of social networks and private messaging apps , will allow the government to identify and track countless innocent users who haven ’ t committed any wrongdoing in order to catch a few malicious actors .
The bill creates a clumsy regulatory regime to intervene in the technology and policy decisions of both public and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to institute new takedown procedures , enforce various kinds of identification of all their users , and greatly increase the amount of information that they gather and store from and about their users .
They also have to ensure that all of that information can be directly accessed by staff in Brazil , so it is directly and immediately available to their government—bypassing the strong safeguards for users ’ rights of existing international mechanisms such as Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties .
This sprawling bill is moving quickly , and it comes at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , secure communication technologies are more important than ever to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic , to collaborate and work securely , and to protest or organize online .
It ’ s also really important for people to be able to have private conversations , including private political conversations .
There are many things wrong with this bill , far more than we could fit into one article .
For now , we ’ ll do a deep dive into five serious flaws in the existing bill that would undermine privacy , expression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social Media and Private Messaging Companies to Collect Legal Identification of All Users The new draft of Article 7 is both clumsy and contradictory .
First , the bill ( Article 7 , paragraph 3 ) requires “ large ” social networks and private messaging apps ( that offer service in Brazil to more than two million users ) to identify every account ’ s user by requesting their national identity cards .
It ’ s a retroactive and general requirement , meaning that identification must be requested for each and every existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not limited to the identification of a user by a court order , also including when there is a complaint about an account ’ s activity , or when the company finds itself unsure of a user ’ s identity .
While users are explicitly permitted to use pseudonyms , they may not keep their legal identities confidential from the service provider .
Compelling companies to identify an online user should only be done in response to a request by a competent authority , not a priori .
In India , a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s IT Ministry , although reports indicate that ID verification would be optional .
In 2003 , Brazil made SIM card registration mandatory for prepaid cell phones , requiring prepaid subscribers to present a proof of identity , such as their official national identity card , driver ’ s license , or taxpayer number .
Article 39 of the new draft expands that law by creating new mandatory identification requirements for obtaining telephone SIM cards , and Article 8 explicitly requires private message applications that identify their users via an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the underlying telephone number is deregistered .
Telephone operators are required to help with this process by providing a list of numbers that are no longer used by the original subscriber .
SIM card registration undermines peoples ’ ability to communicate , organize , and associate with others anonymously .
David Kaye , United Nations ’ Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion have asked states to refrain from making the identification of users a condition for access to digital communications and online services and requiring SIM card registration for mobile users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Article 7 , the draft remains dangerous to free expression because authorities will still be allowed to identify users of private messaging services by linking a cell phone number to an account .
The Brazilian authorities will have to unmask the identity of the internet user by following domestic procedures for accessing such data from the telecom provider .
Internet users will be obliged to hand over identifying information to big tech companies if Article 7 is approved as currently written , with or without paragraph 3 .
The compulsory identification provision is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights of individuals .
Countries like China and South Korea have mandated that users register their real names and identification numbers with online service providers .
South Korea used to require websites with more than 100,000 visitors per day to authenticate their identities by entering their resident ID numbers when they use portals or other sites .
But South Korea ’ s Supreme Court revoked the law as unconstitutional , stating that “ the [ mandatory identification ] system does not seem to have been beneficial to the public .
Despite the enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal or malicious postings online has not decreased.
” Flaw 2 : Forcing Social Networking and Messaging Companies to Retain Immense Logs of User Communications Man : What happened ?
Police officer : You shared that message that went viral accusing someone of a corruption scheme .
They ’ re saying that it ’ s a lie and is calúnia .
Descriptive text : It ’ s easy to imagine how the new traceability rule could be abused and make us all afraid to share content online .
We can ’ t let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ networks and private messaging applications to retain the chain of all communications that have been “ massively forwarded ” , for the purpose of potential criminal investigation or prosecution .
The new draft requires three months of data storage of the complete chain of communication for such messages , including date and time of forwarding , and the total number of users who receive the message .
These obligations are conditioned on virality thresholds and apply when an instance of a message has been forwarded to groups or lists by more than 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message ’ s content has reached 1,000 or more users .
The service provider is also apparently expected to temporarily retain this data for all forwarded messages during the 15-day period in order to determine whether or not the virality threshold for “ massively forwarded ” will be met .
This provision blatantly infringes on due process rights by compelling providers to retain everyone ’ s communication before anyone has committed any legally defined offense .
There have also been significant changes to how this text interacts with encryption and with communications ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their users are doing .
These mandatory retention requirements may create an incentive to weaken end-to-end encryption , because end-to-end encrypted services may not be able to comply with provisions requiring them to recognize when a particular message has been independently forwarded a certain number of times without undermining the security of their encryption .
Although the current draft ( unlike previous versions ) does not create new crimes , it requires providers to trace messages before any crime has been committed so the information could be used in the future in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of crimes for specific crimes defined in articles 138 to 140 , or article 147 of the Brazil ’ s Penal Code , such as defamation , threats , and calúnia .
This means , for example , that if you share a message that denounces corruption of a local authority and it gets forwarded more than 1,000 times , authorities may criminally accuse you of calúnia against your local authority .
Companies must limit the retention of personal data to what is reasonably necessary , proportionate to certain legitimate business purposes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is , the principle that any company should minimize its processing of consumer data .
Minimization is an important tool in the data protection toolbox .
This bill goes against that , favoring dangerous big data collection practices .
Flaw 3 : Banning Messaging Companies from Allowing Broadcast Groups , Even if Users Sign Up Articles 9 and 11 require broadcast and discussion group sizes in private messaging tools to have a maximum membership limit ( something that WhatsApp does today , but that not every communications tool necessarily does or will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach mass audiences via private messaging platforms must be strictly limited and controlled , even when those audiences opt in .
The vision of the bill seems to be that mass discussion and mass broadcast are inherently dangerous and must only happen in public , and that no one should create forums or media for these interactions to happen in a truly private way , even with clear and explicit consent by the participants or recipients .
Suppose an organization like an NGO , or a labor union , or a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among its whole membership or send its newsletter to all its members who ’ ve chosen to receive it .
It wouldn ’ t be allowed to do this through a tool similar to WhatsApp — at least once some ( unspecified ) audience size limit was reached .
Per articles 9 and 11 , the organization would have to use another platform ( not a private messaging tool ) , and so the content would be visible to and subject to the control of its operator .
Flaw 4 : Forcing Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ User Logs Available Remotely Article 37 compels large social networks and private messaging apps to appoint legal representatives in Brazil .
It also forces those companies to provide remote access to their user databases and logs to their staff in Brazil so the local employees can be directly forced to turn them over .
This undermines user security and privacy .
It increases the number of employees ( and devices ) that can access sensitive data and reduces the company ’ s ability to control vulnerabilities and unauthorized access , not least because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should it be adopted in Brazil , could be replicated by other countries .
Each new person and each new device adds a new security risk .
Flaw 5 : No Limitations on Applying this Law to Users Outside of Brazil Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 1 provide some jurisdictional exclusions , but all of these are applied at the company level—that is , a foreign company could be exempt if it is small ( less than 2,000,000 users ) or does not offer services to Brazil .
None of these limitations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ nationality or location .
Thus , the bill , by its terms , requires a company to create certain policies and procedures about content takedowns , mandatory identification of users , and other topics , which are not themselves in any way limited to people based in Brazil .
Even if the intent is only to force the collection of ID documents from users who are based in Brazil , the bill neglects to say so .
There are many innovative new responses being developed to help cut down on abuses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through policy responses and technical solutions .
WhatsApp , for example , already limits the number of recipients of a single forwarded message at a time and shows users that messages were forwarded , viral messages are labeled with double arrows to indicate they did not originate from a close contact .
However , shutting down bad actors can not come at the expense of silencing millions of other users , invading their privacy , or undermining their security .
To ensure that human rights are preserved , the Brazilian legislature must reject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moving forward , human rights such as privacy , expression , security must be baked into the law from the beginning .
Katitza Rodriguez is EFF ’ s international rights director .
She concentrates on comparative policy of international privacy issues , with special emphasis on law enforcement , government surveillance , and cross border data flows .
Her work in EFF ’ s International Program also focuses on cybersecurity at the intersection of human rights .
Katitza also manages EFF ’ s growing Latin American programs .
She was an advisor to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
In 2018 , CNET named Katitza one of 20 most influential latinos in technology in the United States .
In 2014 , she was also named one of “ The heroes in the fight to save the Internet “ .
Seth Schoen has worked at EFF over a decade , creating the Staff Technologist position and helping other technologists understand the civil liberties implications of their work , EFF staff better understand technology related to EFF ’ s legal work , and the public understand what products they use really do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CD and has researched phenomena including laser printer forensic tracking codes , ISP packet spoofing , and key recovery from computer RAM after a computer has been turned off .
He has testified before the U.S .
Copyright Office , U.S .
Sentencing Commission , and in several courts .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

Katitza Rodriguez and Seth Schoen
The Brazilian Senate is scheduled to make its vote this week on the most recent version of “PLS 2630/2020” the so-called “Fake News” bill. This new version, supposedly aimed at safety and curbing “malicious coordinated actions” by users of social networks and private messaging apps, will allow the government to identify and track countless innocent users who haven’t committed any wrongdoing in order to catch a few malicious actors.
The bill creates a clumsy regulatory regime to intervene in the technology and policy decisions of both public and private messaging services in Brazil, requiring them to institute new takedown procedures, enforce various kinds of identification of all their users, and greatly increase the amount of information that they gather and store from and about their users. They also have to ensure that all of that information can be directly accessed by staff in Brazil, so it is directly and immediately available to their government—bypassing the strong safeguards for users’ rights of existing international mechanisms such as Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties.
This sprawling bill is moving quickly, and it comes at a very bad time. Right now, secure communication technologies are more important than ever to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, to collaborate and work securely, and to protest or organize online. It’s also really important for people to be able to have private conversations, including private political conversations. There are many things wrong with this bill, far more than we could fit into one article. For now, we’ll do a deep dive into five serious flaws in the existing bill that would undermine privacy, expression and security.
Flaw 1: Forcing Social Media and Private Messaging Companies to Collect Legal Identification of All Users
The new draft of Article 7 is both clumsy and contradictory. First, the bill (Article 7, paragraph 3) requires “large” social networks and private messaging apps (that offer service in Brazil to more than two million users) to identify every account’s user by requesting their national identity cards. It’s a retroactive and general requirement, meaning that identification must be requested for each and every existing user. Article 7 main provision is not limited to the identification of a user by a court order, also including when there is a complaint about an account’s activity, or when the company finds itself unsure of a user’s identity. While users are explicitly permitted to use pseudonyms, they may not keep their legal identities confidential from the service provider. Compelling companies to identify an online user should only be done in response to a request by a competent authority, not a priori. In India, a similar proposal is expected to be released by the country’s IT Ministry, although reports indicate that ID verification would be optional.
In 2003, Brazil made SIM card registration mandatory for prepaid cell phones, requiring prepaid subscribers to present a proof of identity, such as their official national identity card, driver’s license, or taxpayer number. Article 39 of the new draft expands that law by creating new mandatory identification requirements for obtaining telephone SIM cards, and Article 8 explicitly requires private message applications that identify their users via an associated telephone number to delete accounts whenever the underlying telephone number is deregistered. Telephone operators are required to help with this process by providing a list of numbers that are no longer used by the original subscriber. SIM card registration undermines peoples’ ability to communicate, organize, and associate with others anonymously. David Kaye, United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion have asked states to refrain from making the identification of users a condition for access to digital communications and online services and requiring SIM card registration for mobile users.
Protect Your Privacy with a Phone Shield Faraday Bag
Even if the draft text eliminates Article 7, the draft remains dangerous to free expression because authorities will still be allowed to identify users of private messaging services by linking a cell phone number to an account. The Brazilian authorities will have to unmask the identity of the internet user by following domestic procedures for accessing such data from the telecom provider.
Internet users will be obliged to hand over identifying information to big tech companies if Article 7 is approved as currently written, with or without paragraph 3. The compulsory identification provision is a blatant infringement on the due process rights of individuals. Countries like China and South Korea have mandated that users register their real names and identification numbers with online service providers. South Korea used to require websites with more than 100,000 visitors per day to authenticate their identities by entering their resident ID numbers when they use portals or other sites. But South Korea’s Supreme Court revoked the law as unconstitutional, stating that “the [mandatory identification] system does not seem to have been beneficial to the public. Despite the enforcement of the system, the number of illegal or malicious postings online has not decreased.”
Flaw 2: Forcing Social Networking and Messaging Companies to Retain Immense Logs of User Communications
Man: What happened? Police officer: You shared that message that went viral accusing someone of a corruption scheme. They’re saying that it’s a lie and is calúnia. Descriptive text: It’s easy to imagine how the new traceability rule could be abused and make us all afraid to share content online. We can’t let that happen.
Article 10 compels social networks and private messaging applications to retain the chain of all communications that have been “massively forwarded”, for the purpose of potential criminal investigation or prosecution. The new draft requires three months of data storage of the complete chain of communication for such messages, including date and time of forwarding, and the total number of users who receive the message. These obligations are conditioned on virality thresholds and apply when an instance of a message has been forwarded to groups or lists by more than 5 users within 15 days, where a message’s content has reached 1,000 or more users. The service provider is also apparently expected to temporarily retain this data for all forwarded messages during the 15-day period in order to determine whether or not the virality threshold for “massively forwarded” will be met. This provision blatantly infringes on due process rights by compelling providers to retain everyone’s communication before anyone has committed any legally defined offense.
There have also been significant changes to how this text interacts with encryption and with communications’ providers efforts to know less about what their users are doing. These mandatory retention requirements may create an incentive to weaken end-to-end encryption, because end-to-end encrypted services may not be able to comply with provisions requiring them to recognize when a particular message has been independently forwarded a certain number of times without undermining the security of their encryption.
Although the current draft (unlike previous versions) does not create new crimes, it requires providers to trace messages before any crime has been committed so the information could be used in the future in the context of a criminal investigation or prosecution of crimes for specific crimes defined in articles 138 to 140, or article 147 of the Brazil’s Penal Code, such as defamation, threats, and calúnia. This means, for example, that if you share a message that denounces corruption of a local authority and it gets forwarded more than 1,000 times, authorities may criminally accuse you of calúnia against your local authority.
Companies must limit the retention of personal data to what is reasonably necessary, proportionate to certain legitimate business purposes. This is “data minimization,” that is, the principle that any company should minimize its processing of consumer data. Minimization is an important tool in the data protection toolbox. This bill goes against that, favoring dangerous big data collection practices.
Flaw 3: Banning Messaging Companies from Allowing Broadcast Groups, Even if Users Sign Up
Articles 9 and 11 require broadcast and discussion group sizes in private messaging tools to have a maximum membership limit (something that WhatsApp does today, but that not every communications tool necessarily does or will do), and that the ability to reach mass audiences via private messaging platforms must be strictly limited and controlled, even when those audiences opt in. The vision of the bill seems to be that mass discussion and mass broadcast are inherently dangerous and must only happen in public, and that no one should create forums or media for these interactions to happen in a truly private way, even with clear and explicit consent by the participants or recipients.
Suppose an organization like an NGO, or a labor union, or a political party wanted to have a discussion forum among its whole membership or send its newsletter to all its members who’ve chosen to receive it. It wouldn’t be allowed to do this through a tool similar to WhatsApp — at least once some (unspecified) audience size limit was reached. Per articles 9 and 11, the organization would have to use another platform (not a private messaging tool), and so the content would be visible to and subject to the control of its operator.
Flaw 4: Forcing Social Media and Messaging Companies to Make Private User Logs Available Remotely
Article 37 compels large social networks and private messaging apps to appoint legal representatives in Brazil. It also forces those companies to provide remote access to their user databases and logs to their staff in Brazil so the local employees can be directly forced to turn them over.
This undermines user security and privacy. It increases the number of employees (and devices) that can access sensitive data and reduces the company’s ability to control vulnerabilities and unauthorized access, not least because this is global in scale and, should it be adopted in Brazil, could be replicated by other countries. Each new person and each new device adds a new security risk.
Flaw 5: No Limitations on Applying this Law to Users Outside of Brazil
Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 1 provide some jurisdictional exclusions, but all of these are applied at the company level—that is, a foreign company could be exempt if it is small (less than 2,000,000 users) or does not offer services to Brazil. None of these limitations, however, relate to the users’ nationality or location. Thus, the bill, by its terms, requires a company to create certain policies and procedures about content takedowns, mandatory identification of users, and other topics, which are not themselves in any way limited to people based in Brazil. Even if the intent is only to force the collection of ID documents from users who are based in Brazil, the bill neglects to say so.
Addressing “Fake News” Without Undermining Human Rights
There are many innovative new responses being developed to help cut down on abuses of messaging and social media apps, both through policy responses and technical solutions. WhatsApp, for example, already limits the number of recipients of a single forwarded message at a time and shows users that messages were forwarded, viral messages are labeled with double arrows to indicate they did not originate from a close contact. However, shutting down bad actors cannot come at the expense of silencing millions of other users, invading their privacy, or undermining their security. To ensure that human rights are preserved, the Brazilian legislature must reject the current version of this bill. Moving forward, human rights such as privacy, expression, security must be baked into the law from the beginning.
Source: EFF.org
Katitza Rodriguez is EFF’s international rights director. She concentrates on comparative policy of international privacy issues, with special emphasis on law enforcement, government surveillance, and cross border data flows. Her work in EFF’s International Program also focuses on cybersecurity at the intersection of human rights. Katitza also manages EFF’s growing Latin American programs. She was an advisor to the UN Internet Governance Forum (2009-2010). In 2018, CNET named Katitza one of 20 most influential latinos in technology in the United States. In 2014, she was also named one of “The heroes in the fight to save the Internet“.
Seth Schoen has worked at EFF over a decade, creating the Staff Technologist position and helping other technologists understand the civil liberties implications of their work, EFF staff better understand technology related to EFF’s legal work, and the public understand what products they use really do. He helped create the LNX-BBC live CD and has researched phenomena including laser printer forensic tracking codes, ISP packet spoofing, and key recovery from computer RAM after a computer has been turned off. He has testified before the U.S. Copyright Office, U.S. Sentencing Commission, and in several courts.
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activistpost--2020-06-30--Now Is The Time: Tell Congress to Ban Federal Use of Face Recognition

Cities and states across the country have banned government use of face surveillance technology , and many more are weighing proposals to do so .
From Boston to San Francisco , elected officials and activists rightfully know that face surveillance gives police the power to track us wherever we go , turns us all into perpetual suspects , increases the likelihood of being falsely arrested , and chills people ’ s willingness to participate in First Amendment protected activities .
That ’ s why we ’ re asking you to contact your elected officials and tell them to co-sponsor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2020 .
Take action TELL Congress : END federal use of face surveillance Three companies—IBM , Amazon , and Microsoft—have recently ended or suspended sales of face recognition to police departments , acknowledging the harms that this technology causes .
Police and other government use of this technology can not be responsibly regulated .
Face surveillance in the hands of the government is a fundamentally harmful technology .
Congress , states , and cities should take this momentary reprieve , during which police will not be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies , as an opportunity to ban government use of the technology once and for all .
Face surveillance disproportionately hurts vulnerable communities .
Recently the New York Times published a long piece on the case of Robert Julian-Borchak Williams , who was arrested by Detroit police after face recognition technology wrongly identified him as a suspect in a theft case .
The ACLU filed a complaint on his behalf with the Detroit police .
The problem isn ’ t just that studies have found face recognition highly inaccurate when it comes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The larger concern is that law enforcement will use this invasive and dangerous technology , as it unfortunately uses all such tools , to disparately surveil people of color .
This federal ban on face surveillance would apply to opaque and increasingly powerful agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement , the Drug Enforcement Administration , the Federal Bureau of Investigation , and Customs and Border Patrol .
The bill would ensure that these agencies can not use this invasive technology to track , identify , and misidentify millions of people .
Tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pass the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2020 , introduced by Senators Markey and Markley and Representatives Ayanna Pressley , Pramila Jayapal , Rashda Talib , and Yvette Clarke .
This bill would be a critical step to ensuring that mass surveillance systems don ’ t use your face to track , identify , or incriminate you .
The bill would ban the use of face surveillance by the federal government , as well as withhold certain federal funding streams from local and state governments that use the technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re asking you to insist your elected officials co-sponsor and vote “ Yes ” on the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2020 , S.4084 in the Senate .
Take action TELL Congress : END federal use of face surveillance Matthew Guariglia is a policy analyst working on issues of surveillance and privacy at the local , state , and federal level .
He received a PhD in history at the University of Connecticut where his research focused on the intersection of race , immigration , U.S. imperialism , and policing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a frequent contributor to the Freedom of Information-centered outlet Muckrock and his bylines have also appeared in the Washington Post , Slate , and Motherboard .
Matthew is a visiting scholar in the department of history at UC-Berkeley and serves as an editor of “ Disciplining the City , ” a series on the history of urban policing and incarceration at the Urban History Association ’ s blog The Metropole .
( Photo by Zack Garlitos ) Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HERE !
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Matthew Guariglia
Cities and states across the country have banned government use of face surveillance technology, and many more are weighing proposals to do so. From Boston to San Francisco, elected officials and activists rightfully know that face surveillance gives police the power to track us wherever we go, turns us all into perpetual suspects, increases the likelihood of being falsely arrested, and chills people’s willingness to participate in First Amendment protected activities.
That’s why we’re asking you to contact your elected officials and tell them to co-sponsor and vote yes on the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2020.
Take action
TELL Congress: END federal use of face surveillance
Three companies—IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft—have recently ended or suspended sales of face recognition to police departments, acknowledging the harms that this technology causes. Police and other government use of this technology cannot be responsibly regulated. Face surveillance in the hands of the government is a fundamentally harmful technology. Congress, states, and cities should take this momentary reprieve, during which police will not be able to acquire new face surveillance technology from these companies, as an opportunity to ban government use of the technology once and for all.
Face surveillance disproportionately hurts vulnerable communities. Recently the New York Times published a long piece on the case of Robert Julian-Borchak Williams, who was arrested by Detroit police after face recognition technology wrongly identified him as a suspect in a theft case. The ACLU filed a complaint on his behalf with the Detroit police. The problem isn’t just that studies have found face recognition highly inaccurate when it comes to matching the faces of people of color. The larger concern is that law enforcement will use this invasive and dangerous technology, as it unfortunately uses all such tools, to disparately surveil people of color.
This federal ban on face surveillance would apply to opaque and increasingly powerful agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Customs and Border Patrol. The bill would ensure that these agencies cannot use this invasive technology to track, identify, and misidentify millions of people.
Tell your senators and representatives they must co-sponsor and pass the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2020, introduced by Senators Markey and Markley and Representatives Ayanna Pressley, Pramila Jayapal, Rashda Talib, and Yvette Clarke. This bill would be a critical step to ensuring that mass surveillance systems don’t use your face to track, identify, or incriminate you. The bill would ban the use of face surveillance by the federal government, as well as withhold certain federal funding streams from local and state governments that use the technology. That’s why we’re asking you to insist your elected officials co-sponsor and vote “Yes” on the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act of 2020, S.4084 in the Senate.
Take action
TELL Congress: END federal use of face surveillance
Source: EFF.org
Matthew Guariglia is a policy analyst working on issues of surveillance and privacy at the local, state, and federal level. He received a PhD in history at the University of Connecticut where his research focused on the intersection of race, immigration, U.S. imperialism, and policing in New York City. He is a frequent contributor to the Freedom of Information-centered outlet Muckrock and his bylines have also appeared in the Washington Post, Slate, and Motherboard. Matthew is a visiting scholar in the department of history at UC-Berkeley and serves as an editor of “Disciplining the City,” a series on the history of urban policing and incarceration at the Urban History Association’s blog The Metropole. (Photo by Zack Garlitos)
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activistpost--2020-06-29--Police in Riot Gear Stormed a Violin Vigil for Elijah McClain and Broke it Up With Pepper Spray

Police in Colorado have caused an uproar after they barged in on a peaceful protest demanding justice for unarmed 23-year-old Black man Elijah McClain and began using physical force including pepper spray as they dispersed the crowd .
Officers with the Aurora Police Department could be seen marching into the calm Saturday protest clad in full riot gear before brutally breaking it up .
In footage from the event , a group of protesters who maintain social distance can be seen holding signs and watching as some violinists performed during dusk .
The violin vigil was a tribute to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed during an arrest last August , was a skillful violinist who was known for putting on small concerts for cats and dogs at the community animal shelter during his lunch breaks .
The violin vigil included six-time Grammy nominee Ashanti Floyd from Georgia , and Lee England Jr. from New York City , and was meant to conclude the day ’ s events .
In video of the event shared online , the tranquil event appears to be proceeding normally before the police abruptly appeared at the lawn outside the Aurora Municipal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ music is interrupted by the sound of the crowd crying “ No !
” as police begin manhandling and attacking the crowd .
In one recording , a woman pleads with the police to stop as the officers clad in full tactical gear including helmets , bulletproof vests , and gas masks prepare to remove the protesters from the public park by force .
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Protesters peacefully refused to comply with the orders to disperse while forming a human chain around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aurora Police Department onslaught .
Attendees allege that at some point police used , or threatened to use tear gas – a chemical weapon banned from war by international treaties – against the protesters .
However , an APD spokesperson denied the allegation while admitting to the Cut that “ there was pepper spray deployed.
” The events on Saturday began without any incident during the afternoon as local organizations led a rally and march from a park between APD headquarters and the Aurora Municipal Center .
Student groups also led a separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the violin vigil in Aurora ’ s City Center Park .
Marchers walked without incident behind a banner that read , “ Justice for Elijah McClain , murdered by Aurora police.
” Despite the lack of any violent incidents or unrest , however , police had a strong presence – leading some in the crowd to chant , “ Why are you in riot gear ?
We don ’ t see no riot here.
” At around 8:30 p.m. , however , the police began initiating aggressive tactics against the crowd .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told the Cut that cops “ quickly started moving in on just all protesters , getting them to move away and step back.
” At that point he saw a “ smoke plume in the air ” that he believed to be tear gas .
Others claim that the smoke , which Espino said had a strong chemical odor , may have been from smoke bombs .
When protesters were finally forced into a parking lot , the violinists continued performing while some singers broke into song to defiantly , yet peacefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , police continued to charge the crowd .
Three people were eventually arrested for violating lawful orders after warnings were given .
The police had issued a statement Saturday noting that while they support a peaceful protest , they would be vigilant about the presence of alleged “ outsiders ” with violent goals .
Organizers saw the warning as ominous and seeking to justify in advance the police repression that took place .
“ The Aurora Police Department has responded by circulating rumors of a ` violent threat´ in order to intimidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a militarized police response to crack down on protesters , ” a local chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation said in a statement quoted by New York Times .
The altercations of Saturday evening are likely to result in further anger and mistrust toward Aurora police .
McClain ’ s death at the hands of Aurora police had only led to small protests over the last 10 months but came under renewed attention following the apparent murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis cop on May 25 .
Police in Aurora @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspicious person wearing a ski mask and waving his arms while walking down the street .
McClain ’ s sister later told Denver7 that he would sometimes wear an open-face ski mask because he “ had anemia and would sometimes get cold.
” McClain , a certified massage therapist and self-taught violin player , was running an errand when officers tried to detain him .
Police claim that McClain , who was unarmed and often listened to music as he walked home , allegedly refused officer commands to stop walking before “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man allegedly fought back as officers tried to take him into custody .
Officers allege that he tried to take one of their guns .
“ I have a right to stop you because you ’ re being suspicious , ” an officer is heard on a body camera recording telling McClain .
In the meantime , officers used a carotid hold – a chokehold that cuts off the flow of blood to the brain – against the young man .
Aurora Fire Rescue then injected him with a large dose of ketamine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McClain suffered cardiac arrest while en route to the hospital before he was later declared brain dead , and eventually taken off life support .
The haunting last words of Elijah McClain , transcribed from police video , have been widely shared since his death .
He said : I can ’ t breathe .
I have my ID right here .
My name is Elijah McClain .
That ’ s my house .
I was just going home .
I ’ m an introvert .
I ’ m just different .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so sorry .
I have no gun .
I don ’ t do that stuff .
I don ’ t do any fighting .
Why are you attacking me ?
I don ’ t even kill flies !
I don ’ t eat meat !
But I don ’ t judge people , I don ’ t judge people who do eat meat .
Forgive me .
All I was trying to do was become better .
I will do it .
I will do anything .
Sacrifice my identity , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phenomenal .
You are beautiful and I love you .
Try to forgive me .
I ’ m a mood Gemini .
I ’ m sorry .
I ’ m so sorry .
Ow , that really hurt .
You are all very strong .
Teamwork makes the dream work .
Oh , I ’ m sorry I wasn ’ t trying to do that .
I just can ’ t breathe correctly .
Three officers were eventually placed on leave but District Attorney Dave Young allowed them to return to the force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence to charge them .
Last Thursday , Governor Jared Polis ordered prosecutors to reopen the investigation .
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By Elias Marat
Police in Colorado have caused an uproar after they barged in on a peaceful protest demanding justice for unarmed 23-year-old Black man Elijah McClain and began using physical force including pepper spray as they dispersed the crowd.
Officers with the Aurora Police Department could be seen marching into the calm Saturday protest clad in full riot gear before brutally breaking it up. In footage from the event, a group of protesters who maintain social distance can be seen holding signs and watching as some violinists performed during dusk.
The violin vigil was a tribute to the fact that McClain, who was brutally killed during an arrest last August, was a skillful violinist who was known for putting on small concerts for cats and dogs at the community animal shelter during his lunch breaks. The violin vigil included six-time Grammy nominee Ashanti Floyd from Georgia, and Lee England Jr. from New York City, and was meant to conclude the day’s events.
In video of the event shared online, the tranquil event appears to be proceeding normally before the police abruptly appeared at the lawn outside the Aurora Municipal Center. Suddenly, the violinists’ music is interrupted by the sound of the crowd crying “No!” as police begin manhandling and attacking the crowd.
In one recording, a woman pleads with the police to stop as the officers clad in full tactical gear including helmets, bulletproof vests, and gas masks prepare to remove the protesters from the public park by force.
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Aurora PD breaking up the peaceful violin vigil for the very kid they murdered. #ElijahMclain pic.twitter.com/OP4TlawVk5 — Jessie B (@jessiedesigngal) June 28, 2020
Protesters peacefully refused to comply with the orders to disperse while forming a human chain around the violinists to protect them from the Aurora Police Department onslaught.
Attendees allege that at some point police used, or threatened to use tear gas – a chemical weapon banned from war by international treaties – against the protesters. However, an APD spokesperson denied the allegation while admitting to the Cut that “there was pepper spray deployed.”
Peaceful gathering to honor the life of #ElijahMcClain turned in a hostile “unlawful protest”. @AuroraPD antagonized peaceful protestors and put people in harm and used teargas to dispurse people attending a vigil. Shameful! pic.twitter.com/HtWS3mxFc2 — Carlos Espino (@CarlitoPlanet) June 28, 2020
The events on Saturday began without any incident during the afternoon as local organizations led a rally and march from a park between APD headquarters and the Aurora Municipal Center. Student groups also led a separate rally and march that would have ended with the violin vigil in Aurora’s City Center Park.
Marchers walked without incident behind a banner that read, “Justice for Elijah McClain, murdered by Aurora police.”
The @AuroraPD used tear gas canisters and aggressively pushed peaceful protestors out of the park where they were watching a violin vigil to #ElijahMcClain Take a look at the videos and see if this seems like an appropriate response by the APD. pic.twitter.com/LWI1IyE4Lk — Jolene Fisher (@fisherjolene) June 28, 2020
Despite the lack of any violent incidents or unrest, however, police had a strong presence – leading some in the crowd to chant, “Why are you in riot gear? We don’t see no riot here.”
At around 8:30 p.m., however, the police began initiating aggressive tactics against the crowd. Carlos Espino, who attended the event, told the Cut that cops “quickly started moving in on just all protesters, getting them to move away and step back.” At that point he saw a “smoke plume in the air” that he believed to be tear gas. Others claim that the smoke, which Espino said had a strong chemical odor, may have been from smoke bombs.
When protesters were finally forced into a parking lot, the violinists continued performing while some singers broke into song to defiantly, yet peacefully, resist the officers’ aggression. However, police continued to charge the crowd.
Three people were eventually arrested for violating lawful orders after warnings were given.
The police had issued a statement Saturday noting that while they support a peaceful protest, they would be vigilant about the presence of alleged “outsiders” with violent goals. Organizers saw the warning as ominous and seeking to justify in advance the police repression that took place.
“The Aurora Police Department has responded by circulating rumors of a `violent threat´ in order to intimidate organizers and attendees and to justify mobilizing a militarized police response to crack down on protesters,” a local chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation said in a statement quoted by New York Times.
The altercations of Saturday evening are likely to result in further anger and mistrust toward Aurora police.
The Aurora community held a vigil with live music in honor of Elijah McClain and the cops decided to come in and use fucking tear gas on them…APPARENTLY WE DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO MOURN THE LOSS OF AN INNOCENT LIFE!!! #AbolishThePolice pic.twitter.com/oDDeuEZyY9 — Laur (@lsimon210) June 28, 2020
McClain’s death at the hands of Aurora police had only led to small protests over the last 10 months but came under renewed attention following the apparent murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis cop on May 25.
Police in Aurora were responding to a call of a suspicious person wearing a ski mask and waving his arms while walking down the street. McClain’s sister later told Denver7 that he would sometimes wear an open-face ski mask because he “had anemia and would sometimes get cold.”
McClain, a certified massage therapist and self-taught violin player, was running an errand when officers tried to detain him.
Police claim that McClain, who was unarmed and often listened to music as he walked home, allegedly refused officer commands to stop walking before “a struggle ensued” and the small-framed young man allegedly fought back as officers tried to take him into custody. Officers allege that he tried to take one of their guns.
“I have a right to stop you because you’re being suspicious,” an officer is heard on a body camera recording telling McClain. In the meantime, officers used a carotid hold – a chokehold that cuts off the flow of blood to the brain – against the young man.
Aurora Fire Rescue then injected him with a large dose of ketamine in an attempt to sedate him.
As #Aurora municipal security forces lost patience with how long it was taking to illegally evict us from the #ElijahMcClain violin vigil, they began deploying chemical agents directly into protesters faces and at protesters that were fleeing while attempting to make arrests pic.twitter.com/ElDeu8Q4LD — dula lipa (@dulapalooza) June 28, 2020
McClain suffered cardiac arrest while en route to the hospital before he was later declared brain dead, and eventually taken off life support.
The haunting last words of Elijah McClain, transcribed from police video, have been widely shared since his death. He said:
I can’t breathe. I have my ID right here. My name is Elijah McClain. That’s my house. I was just going home. I’m an introvert. I’m just different. That’s all. I’m so sorry. I have no gun. I don’t do that stuff. I don’t do any fighting. Why are you attacking me? I don’t even kill flies! I don’t eat meat! But I don’t judge people, I don’t judge people who do eat meat. Forgive me. All I was trying to do was become better. I will do it. I will do anything. Sacrifice my identity, I’ll do it. You all are phenomenal. You are beautiful and I love you. Try to forgive me. I’m a mood Gemini. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Ow, that really hurt. You are all very strong. Teamwork makes the dream work. Oh, I’m sorry I wasn’t trying to do that. I just can’t breathe correctly.
Three officers were eventually placed on leave but District Attorney Dave Young allowed them to return to the force on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence to charge them.
Last Thursday, Governor Jared Polis ordered prosecutors to reopen the investigation.
Here’s the moment @AuroraPD decided to bash and pepper spray protesters who were peacefully protesting the murder of #ElijahMclain. No rocks. No sticks. No water bottles. This was instigated by the police.#blm #Auroraprotest #denverprotest pic.twitter.com/no5eo93M44 — blm | adam (@adamjtru) June 28, 2020
Source: The Mind Unleashed
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activistpost--2020-07-01--Is The Nationwide Coin Shortage Being Used To Push Us Toward A Cashless Society?

The coin shortage in the United States is becoming quite severe , and a lot of people are deeply concerned about where this might be leading us .
But if you don ’ t run a business or deal with coins on a regular basis , you may not even know that it is happening .
On Monday , my wife told me that a lot of people on Facebook were talking about this nationwide coin shortage , and then on Tuesday Ricky Scaparo posted a couple of news stories about it , so I decided that I better start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coin shortage is going to be used to push us toward a cashless society , that makes it a really big deal .
What I discovered is that this coin shortage has actually been intensifying for quite a few weeks , and on June 11th the Federal Reserve issued a statement in which they announced that coin rationing would begin on June 15th… It turns out that the rationing has been a lot stricter than many people originally anticipated .
One small bank in Tennessee that would normally use “ 400 to 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now only being given 100 rolls per week… Businesses of all types rely on their banks to supply them with the change they need for their customers , and now many of those businesses are being forced to make major changes because of this coin shortage .
See : 177 Different Ways to Generate Extra Income In fact , it is being reported that some businesses around the country are starting to put up signs asking their customers to either pay with exact change or with a card… And I was stunned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” banned at all Meijer self-checkout lanes… Hopefully this coin shortage will start to subside once this coronavirus pandemic begins to fade , but right now there are no indications that this pandemic is going to fade any time soon .
The mainstream media keeps telling us that the pandemic is getting worse , and the number of new cases being reported around the world has been surging in recent weeks .
From the very beginning of this pandemic , we have been told that using cash is potentially “ dangerous ” because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The following comes from an article by Claudio Grass… Even in the early stages of the pandemic , when essentially nothing was concretely known about the virus itself or its transmission , the seeds of new fears were already planted by sensational media reports and fear-mongering political and institutional figures .
The insidious idea that “ you can catch Covid through cash ” might have been prematurely spread , but it did stick in most people ’ s minds .
This is , of course , understandable , given the extremely high levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public .
Wanting to eliminate potential threats was a natural instinct and so was the urge to take back at least some control over our lives , after they ’ d been suddenly thrown into utter chaos in the wake of the global economic freeze .
Another factor that concretely helped the shift away from physical cash was an entirely practical one .
Given the lockdown measures and the new “ social distancing ” directives that were enforced all over the world , it became difficult to use cash , even if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other means of transaction , as is the case for billions of people .
With physical stores being forced to shut down and with more and more online shops offering contactless delivery ( either as a choice or as a service requirement ) , the need for cash very quickly gave way to digital payments .
Of course central banks all over the globe have been encouraging the use of digital payments for a very long time , and so this pandemic has given them a golden opportunity to accelerate that agenda .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ always been a lot of resistance to the idea of a cashless system , but some countries in Europe such as Sweden have almost entirely done away with cash at this point , and China is shifting in the direction of a cashless society at a pace that is breathtaking .
A lot of people like the speed and efficiency of cashless payments , but what people need to understand is that a system that is entirely cashless would allow governments and financial institutions to monitor us , track us and control us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been said that “ cash means freedom ” , and the total abolition of physical cash would be a major blow to everyone that still loves liberty .
Unfortunately , the entire world has been steadily moving in a cashless direction for many years , and this pandemic has given opponents of cash a window of opportunity to push us down that road even faster .
About the Author : I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep .
My name is Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Economic Collapse Blog , End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News , and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe .
I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End , Get Prepared Now , and Living A Life That Really Matters .
( # CommissionsEarned ) By purchasing those books you help to support my work .
I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “ About the Author ” section with each article .
In order to comply with those government regulations , I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished .
The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only , and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal , business , financial or health decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints , and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished .
I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter , and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help .
During these very challenging times , people will need hope more than ever before , and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Michael Snyder
The coin shortage in the United States is becoming quite severe, and a lot of people are deeply concerned about where this might be leading us. But if you don’t run a business or deal with coins on a regular basis, you may not even know that it is happening.
On Monday, my wife told me that a lot of people on Facebook were talking about this nationwide coin shortage, and then on Tuesday Ricky Scaparo posted a couple of news stories about it, so I decided that I better start looking into this. Because if this coin shortage is going to be used to push us toward a cashless society, that makes it a really big deal.
What I discovered is that this coin shortage has actually been intensifying for quite a few weeks, and on June 11th the Federal Reserve issued a statement in which they announced that coin rationing would begin on June 15th…
Consequently, effective Monday, June 15, Reserve Banks and Federal Reserve coin distribution locations began allocating coin inventories. To ensure a fair and equitable distribution of existing coin inventory to all depository institutions, effective June 15, the Federal Reserve Banks and their coin distribution locations began to allocate available supplies of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to depository institutions as a temporary measure. The temporary coin allocation methodology is based on historical order volume by coin denomination and depository institution endpoint, and current U.S. Mint production levels. Order limits are unique by coin denomination and are the same across all Federal Reserve coin distribution locations. Limits will be reviewed and potentially revised based on national receipt levels, inventories, and Mint production.
It turns out that the rationing has been a lot stricter than many people originally anticipated. One small bank in Tennessee that would normally use “400 to 500 rolls of pennies each week” is now only being given 100 rolls per week…
“It was just a surprise,” said Gay Dempsey, who runs the Bank of Lincoln County in Tennessee, when she learned of the rationing order. “Nobody was expecting it.” Dempsey’s bank typically dispenses 400 to 500 rolls of pennies each week. Under the rationing order, her allotment was cut down to just 100 rolls, with similar cutbacks in nickels, dimes and quarters.
Businesses of all types rely on their banks to supply them with the change they need for their customers, and now many of those businesses are being forced to make major changes because of this coin shortage.
In fact, it is being reported that some businesses around the country are starting to put up signs asking their customers to either pay with exact change or with a card…
First to go were masks, then toilet paper and now there’s a national coin shortage. The 7-Eleven on Oakwood Ave. has a sign asking customers to pay in exact change or by card. According to the First News Now Facebook, several residents across Tioga County, Pennsylvania mentioned that there’s a coin shortage throughout the area.
Some businesses, like Lowes in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, have posted signs in their stores to inform their customers before they check out with their purchases.
And I was stunned to hear that cash has been “temporarily” banned at all Meijer self-checkout lanes…
Cash temporarily won’t be accepted at Meijer self-checkout lanes due to a national shortage of coins. Customers who want to pay with bills will have to visit Meijer’s staffed checkout lanes for the time being, according to a company statement. The change is in effect at most of Grand Rapids-based retail giant’s 250 supercenters.
Hopefully this coin shortage will start to subside once this coronavirus pandemic begins to fade, but right now there are no indications that this pandemic is going to fade any time soon. The mainstream media keeps telling us that the pandemic is getting worse, and the number of new cases being reported around the world has been surging in recent weeks.
From the very beginning of this pandemic, we have been told that using cash is potentially “dangerous” because it could possibly spread the virus. The following comes from an article by Claudio Grass…
Even in the early stages of the pandemic, when essentially nothing was concretely known about the virus itself or its transmission, the seeds of new fears were already planted by sensational media reports and fear-mongering political and institutional figures. The insidious idea that “you can catch Covid through cash” might have been prematurely spread, but it did stick in most people’s minds. This is, of course, understandable, given the extremely high levels of uncertainty and anxiety in the general public. Wanting to eliminate potential threats was a natural instinct and so was the urge to take back at least some control over our lives, after they’d been suddenly thrown into utter chaos in the wake of the global economic freeze. Another factor that concretely helped the shift away from physical cash was an entirely practical one. Given the lockdown measures and the new “social distancing” directives that were enforced all over the world, it became difficult to use cash, even if you really wanted to, or had no other means of transaction, as is the case for billions of people. With physical stores being forced to shut down and with more and more online shops offering contactless delivery (either as a choice or as a service requirement), the need for cash very quickly gave way to digital payments.
Of course central banks all over the globe have been encouraging the use of digital payments for a very long time, and so this pandemic has given them a golden opportunity to accelerate that agenda.
Here in the U.S., there has always been a lot of resistance to the idea of a cashless system, but some countries in Europe such as Sweden have almost entirely done away with cash at this point, and China is shifting in the direction of a cashless society at a pace that is breathtaking.
A lot of people like the speed and efficiency of cashless payments, but what people need to understand is that a system that is entirely cashless would allow governments and financial institutions to monitor us, track us and control us like never before.
It has often been said that “cash means freedom”, and the total abolition of physical cash would be a major blow to everyone that still loves liberty.
Unfortunately, the entire world has been steadily moving in a cashless direction for many years, and this pandemic has given opponents of cash a window of opportunity to push us down that road even faster.
About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help. During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.
Become a Patron!
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE! Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Parler, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-07-01--COVID Crisis Could Push 100 Million People into Extreme Poverty, New World Bank Study Says

The economic consequences of the COVID-19 lockdowns are well-chronicled .
In the US , more than 100,000 businesses have been wiped out .
More than 40 million jobs are gone .
The federal debt has surged to $ 26.3 trillion .
These are daunting figures and serious problems .
But in some ways , they are not the worst part of the story .
The United States , after all , is an incredibly wealthy nation .
The vast majority of the poorest among us are still relatively well off from a material perspective , with access to shelter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amenities and forms of assistance .
It ’ s a fact often unspoken that the poorest counties in the US struggle with obesity .
Obesity is a serious matter , but many parts of the world struggle with a more severe form of malnutrition : hunger .
Sadly , many of the most economically depressed parts of the world stand to see tens of millions of more people slip into extreme poverty , a new World Bank study says .
“ Poverty projections suggest that the social and economic impacts of the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the report states .
“ Estimates based on growth projections from the June 2020 Global Economic Prospects report show that , when compared with pre-crisis forecasts , COVID-19 could push 71 million people into extreme poverty in 2020 under the baseline scenario and 100 million under the downside scenario.
” Most of the increase will occur in places already suffering from high poverty and hunger .
Projections show that roughly half of the individuals falling into extreme poverty—which the World Bank defines as “ living on $ 1.25 or less a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a third come from Sub-Saharan Africa .
South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa already are the poorest regions in the world .
In fact , a separate World Bank report shows that the five most populous countries in these regions—India , Nigeria , the Democratic Republic of Congo , Ethiopia , and Bangladesh—account for half of the world ’ s extreme poor .
The new figures are even worse than a previous World Bank analysis , published in April , that projected the COVID-19 crisis would push about 50 million people into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up being 50 million or 100 million , the surge in extreme global poverty would be the first increase since 1998 .
Some might argue 100 million people pushed into extreme poverty is simply collateral damage in the greater war against COVID-19 .
Pandemics are not wars , however .
They can ’ t be defeated , only endured and , at best , mitigated .
The World Bank is careful to say the economic fallout stems from the “ COVID crisis , ” but that ’ s a bit euphemistic .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaction to COVID—mass economic lockdowns—not the virus itself .
We know this because we can compare the economic carnage to past pandemics .
Via Ryan McMaken at Mises Wire : Specifically , we can look to the pandemic of 1957–58 , which was more deadly than the COVID-19 pandemic has been so far .
We can also look to the 1918–19 pandemic .
Yet we will see that neither produced economic damage on a scale we now see as a result of the government-mandated lockdowns .
This thoroughly undermines the claims that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic destruction , and that the virus itself is the real culprit .
The CDC estimates that as of May 18 this year approximately ninety thousand Americans have died of COVID-19 .
Adjusted for population size , that comes out to a mortality rate of 272 per million .
This is ( so far ) less than half the mortality rate for the 1957–58 flu pandemic .
In that pandemic , it is estimated that as many as 116,000 Americans died .
Yet , the US population was much smaller then , totaling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size , mortality as a result of the “ Asian flu ” pandemic of 1957–58 was more than 660 per million .
That ’ s the equivalent of 220,000 deaths in the United States today .
Yet , Americans in 1957 did not respond by shutting down commerce , forcing people into “ lockdown , ” or driving unemployment up to Depression-era levels .
In fact , reports show that Americans took little action beyond the usual measures involved in trying to slow the spread of disease : hand washing , staying home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic was even more deadly than the 2020 coronavirus , but its economic impact appears to have been mild .
Via D.A .
Henderson et al .
in “ Public Health and Medical Responses to the 1957–58 Influenza Pandemic : See : 177 Different Ways to Generate Extra Income The Spanish Flu offers a similar scenario .
The deadliest pandemic of the 20th century “ left almost no discernible mark on the aggregate US economy , ” write economists Efraim Benmelech and Carola Frydman .
“ According to some estimates , real gross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The economic costs of the lockdowns are relevant considering there is widespread discussion as to whether the US should once again close its economy in light of recent increases COVID cases , even though deaths continue to decline and evidence suggests COVID-19 is weakening .
Proponents of lockdowns say they are motivated by protecting lives , which no doubt is true .
Yet evidence suggests lockdowns are not particularly effective at curbing the spread of COVID-19 .
Indeed , in the US the states with the strictest lockdowns have the highest fatality rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effectiveness of lockdowns , but while doing so we should not ignore lockdown costs—economic and psychological , both of which carry severe ramifications for human beings .
“ One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results , ” the economist Milton Friedman famously said .
If the first round of lockdowns ends up thrusting 100 million people into extreme poverty , that is a cost too severe to ignore—whatever the intentions of those enforcing them .
Jonathan Miltimore is the Managing Editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subject of articles in TIME magazine , The Wall Street Journal , CNN , Forbes , Fox News , and the Star Tribune .
Bylines : The Washington Times , MSN.com , The Washington Examiner , The Daily Caller , The Federalist , the Epoch Times .
Image credit : Church of the King on Unsplash Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
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By Jon Miltimore
The economic consequences of the COVID-19 lockdowns are well-chronicled.
In the US, more than 100,000 businesses have been wiped out. More than 40 million jobs are gone. The federal debt has surged to $26.3 trillion.
These are daunting figures and serious problems. But in some ways, they are not the worst part of the story. The United States, after all, is an incredibly wealthy nation. The vast majority of the poorest among us are still relatively well off from a material perspective, with access to shelter, running water, food, and other amenities and forms of assistance. It’s a fact often unspoken that the poorest counties in the US struggle with obesity.
Obesity is a serious matter, but many parts of the world struggle with a more severe form of malnutrition: hunger. Sadly, many of the most economically depressed parts of the world stand to see tens of millions of more people slip into extreme poverty, a new World Bank study says.
“Poverty projections suggest that the social and economic impacts of the crisis are likely to be quite significant,” the report states. “Estimates based on growth projections from the June 2020 Global Economic Prospects report show that, when compared with pre-crisis forecasts, COVID-19 could push 71 million people into extreme poverty in 2020 under the baseline scenario and 100 million under the downside scenario.”
Most of the increase will occur in places already suffering from high poverty and hunger. Projections show that roughly half of the individuals falling into extreme poverty—which the World Bank defines as “living on $1.25 or less a day”—live in South Asia, while more than a third come from Sub-Saharan Africa.
South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa already are the poorest regions in the world. In fact, a separate World Bank report shows that the five most populous countries in these regions—India, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh—account for half of the world’s extreme poor.
The new figures are even worse than a previous World Bank analysis, published in April, that projected the COVID-19 crisis would push about 50 million people into extreme poverty.
Whether the total ends up being 50 million or 100 million, the surge in extreme global poverty would be the first increase since 1998.
Some might argue 100 million people pushed into extreme poverty is simply collateral damage in the greater war against COVID-19. Pandemics are not wars, however. They can’t be defeated, only endured and, at best, mitigated.
The World Bank is careful to say the economic fallout stems from the “COVID crisis,” but that’s a bit euphemistic. The economic fallout stems primarily from the global reaction to COVID—mass economic lockdowns—not the virus itself.
We know this because we can compare the economic carnage to past pandemics. Via Ryan McMaken at Mises Wire:
Specifically, we can look to the pandemic of 1957–58, which was more deadly than the COVID-19 pandemic has been so far. We can also look to the 1918–19 pandemic. Yet we will see that neither produced economic damage on a scale we now see as a result of the government-mandated lockdowns. This thoroughly undermines the claims that the lockdowns are only a minor factor in economic destruction, and that the virus itself is the real culprit. The CDC estimates that as of May 18 this year approximately ninety thousand Americans have died of COVID-19. Adjusted for population size, that comes out to a mortality rate of 272 per million. This is (so far) less than half the mortality rate for the 1957–58 flu pandemic. In that pandemic, it is estimated that as many as 116,000 Americans died. Yet, the US population was much smaller then, totaling only 175 million. Adjusted for population size, mortality as a result of the “Asian flu” pandemic of 1957–58 was more than 660 per million. That’s the equivalent of 220,000 deaths in the United States today. Yet, Americans in 1957 did not respond by shutting down commerce, forcing people into “lockdown,” or driving unemployment up to Depression-era levels. In fact, reports show that Americans took little action beyond the usual measures involved in trying to slow the spread of disease: hand washing, staying home when ill, etc.
The 1957 pandemic was even more deadly than the 2020 coronavirus, but its economic impact appears to have been mild. Via D.A. Henderson et al. in “Public Health and Medical Responses to the 1957–58 Influenza Pandemic:
Despite the large numbers of cases, the 1957 outbreak did not appear to have a significant impact on the U.S. economy. For example, a Congressional Budget Office estimate found that a pandemic the scale of which occurred in 1957 would reduce real GDP by approximately 1% ‘but probably would not cause a recession and might not be distinguishable from the normal variation in economic activity.’
The Spanish Flu offers a similar scenario. The deadliest pandemic of the 20th century “left almost no discernible mark on the aggregate US economy,” write economists Efraim Benmelech and Carola Frydman. “According to some estimates, real gross national product actually grew in 1919.”
The economic costs of the lockdowns are relevant considering there is widespread discussion as to whether the US should once again close its economy in light of recent increases COVID cases, even though deaths continue to decline and evidence suggests COVID-19 is weakening.
Proponents of lockdowns say they are motivated by protecting lives, which no doubt is true. Yet evidence suggests lockdowns are not particularly effective at curbing the spread of COVID-19. Indeed, in the US the states with the strictest lockdowns have the highest fatality rates.
There is certainly room to debate the effectiveness of lockdowns, but while doing so we should not ignore lockdown costs—economic and psychological, both of which carry severe ramifications for human beings.
“One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results,” the economist Milton Friedman famously said.
If the first round of lockdowns ends up thrusting 100 million people into extreme poverty, that is a cost too severe to ignore—whatever the intentions of those enforcing them.
Source: FEE.org
Jonathan Miltimore is the Managing Editor of FEE.org. His writing/reporting has been the subject of articles in TIME magazine, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, and the Star Tribune.
Bylines: The Washington Times, MSN.com, The Washington Examiner, The Daily Caller, The Federalist, the Epoch Times.
Image credit: Church of the King on Unsplash
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activistpost--2020-07-01--Hackers Can Use Light Bulbs To Spy On Conversations From 80 Feet Away

With the introduction of smart lighting and smart devices , many people were worried that hackers could spy on them or get information when they are inside their homes .
However , a recent study has astonished many people when it claimed that hackers can also spy on you using just normal electric bulbs .
This recent research has been published by cybersecurity experts who discovered an unusual way of using ordinary light bulbs to eavesdrop on conversations .
This was done by the researchers from Israel who had placed themselves in a position where they could spot the bulb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technique has been called the “ Lamphone Attack ” .
According to this technique , a person can eavesdrop on a conversation from around 82 feet or 25 meters away , if a light bulb is hanging near the conversation spot .
One can detect the vibration of the bulb , which is produced due to the air pressure fluctuations during the conversation , that is , the traveling sound waves .
When the sound wave hits the walls of the room , it bounces back and produces small vibrations that can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is focused on the bulb .
Of course , for the Lamphone Attack to be a success , an elaborate setup is necessary .
You would require a telescope to get a close view of the room and the bulb .
The electro-optical sensor is to be mounted on the telescope so that it can convert the light energy to electrical energy .
Then , you would require an analog-to-digital converter that will convert the sensor output to a digital signal .
Finally , you need a laptop to process the optical signals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sound .
According to the researcher , just by using this technique , sounds can be captured from the room .
There is no need for elaborate hacking .
This method , according to scientists , can also be used to identify songs correctly by the use of apps like Shazam .
They were able to find positive results when they tried it out with the songs ‘ Let It Be ’ by the Beatles and ‘ Clocks ’ by Coldplay .
The Lamphone Attack has been referred to as the side-channel attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hacking is done of a cryptographic algorithm , but it is based on supplementary systems analyses .
It relies on indirect data for hacking .
Other such methods have been suggested , like sound waves bouncing from windows , but this method shows the most promise .
There are a few limitations , though .
Firstly , the bulb has to be directly in sight .
A curtain or lampshade will fail the data collection .
And of course , the conversation should be taking place in the same room where the bulb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a hacking device is not a novelty .
Back in 2019 , a hacker showed how bulbs can be used to collect Wi-Fi passwords and other valuable data .
However , this was done using a smart bulb .
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By Mayukh Saha
With the introduction of smart lighting and smart devices, many people were worried that hackers could spy on them or get information when they are inside their homes. However, a recent study has astonished many people when it claimed that hackers can also spy on you using just normal electric bulbs.
This recent research has been published by cybersecurity experts who discovered an unusual way of using ordinary light bulbs to eavesdrop on conversations. This was done by the researchers from Israel who had placed themselves in a position where they could spot the bulb hanging from the ceiling. The new technique has been called the “Lamphone Attack”.
According to this technique, a person can eavesdrop on a conversation from around 82 feet or 25 meters away, if a light bulb is hanging near the conversation spot. One can detect the vibration of the bulb, which is produced due to the air pressure fluctuations during the conversation, that is, the traveling sound waves. When the sound wave hits the walls of the room, it bounces back and produces small vibrations that can be picked up by electro-optical sensors if it is focused on the bulb.
An Elaborate Lamphone Attack
Of course, for the Lamphone Attack to be a success, an elaborate setup is necessary. You would require a telescope to get a close view of the room and the bulb. The electro-optical sensor is to be mounted on the telescope so that it can convert the light energy to electrical energy. Then, you would require an analog-to-digital converter that will convert the sensor output to a digital signal. Finally, you need a laptop to process the optical signals, and then, bring out the sound.
Protect Your Privacy with a Phone Shield Faraday Bag
According to the researcher, just by using this technique, sounds can be captured from the room. There is no need for elaborate hacking.
This method, according to scientists, can also be used to identify songs correctly by the use of apps like Shazam. They were able to find positive results when they tried it out with the songs ‘Let It Be’ by the Beatles and ‘Clocks’ by Coldplay.
The Lamphone Attack has been referred to as the side-channel attack, which is a method in which hacking is done of a cryptographic algorithm, but it is based on supplementary systems analyses. It relies on indirect data for hacking. Other such methods have been suggested, like sound waves bouncing from windows, but this method shows the most promise.
There are a few limitations, though. Firstly, the bulb has to be directly in sight. A curtain or lampshade will fail the data collection. And of course, the conversation should be taking place in the same room where the bulb is located.
However, a bulb as a hacking device is not a novelty. Back in 2019, a hacker showed how bulbs can be used to collect Wi-Fi passwords and other valuable data. However, this was done using a smart bulb.
Source: Truth Theory
Hey! Message me. I am Mayukh. I help people and websites with content, videos, design, and social media management. I am an avid traveler and I started living as a digital nomad in Europe since 2019. I am currently working on www.noetbook.com – a creative media company. You can reach out to me anytime: justmayukh@gmail. com Love, Mayukh Read More stories by Mayukh Saha
Image Credit: sundelllarsen
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Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE! Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Parler, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
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