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We can bring this up at Sunday's meeting - AWARE could endorse this
condemnation, as can other groups, or any individual.<br>
<br>
Details below. Briefly, on Wednesday 4/18, the FBI seized a
computer server in New York which was part of a network allowing
people to send e-mails securely and anonymously. (This seizure was
mentioned during today's 4/20 Democracy Now.) <br>
<br>
<br>
We need to decide soon --<br>
"Please forward to your networks and send your endorsements to <a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:mallory@apc.org">mallory@apc.org</a> before Monday
night April 23rd."<br>
<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Subject: </th>
<td>[Imc-communication] Fwd: Endorsement of civil society
statement</td>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Date: </th>
<td>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:55:38 +0200</td>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">From: </th>
<td>Anna <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:anna@mail.nadir.org"><anna@mail.nadir.org></a></td>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">To: </th>
<td><a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:imc-communication@lists.indymedia.org">imc-communication@lists.indymedia.org</a>,
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:nettime-l@kein.org">nettime-l@kein.org</a>, <a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:faces-l@lists.servus.at">faces-l@lists.servus.at</a></td>
</tr>
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<br>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Betreff: </th>
<td>[Imc-africa] Endorsement of civil society statement</td>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Datum: </th>
<td>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:59:20 -0400</td>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Von: </th>
<td>Mallory Knodel <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:mallory@mayfirst.org"><mallory@mayfirst.org></a></td>
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Included in this message is a statement from civil society
organizations denouncing actions by the US government and a press
release issued by the affected organizations. Please forward to your
networks and send your endorsements to <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:mallory@apc.org">mallory@apc.org</a>
before Monday night April 23rd.<br>
<div class="content clear-block" style="display: block; color:
rgb(74, 72, 89); font-family: Geneva, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial,
sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant:
normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height:
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word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;
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255); "><strong></strong>
<p><b>Progressive internet rights organisations strongly denounce
attack on anonymous online speech by US government</b><br>
</p>
<p>The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and the
following endorsing organisations strongly denounce recent
actions by US Federal Authorities that threaten a democratic
internet, silencing hundreds of users around the world for the
misuse of anonymous internet services by one person.<br>
</p>
<p>This week, three politically-progressive internet service
providers and hundreds of their users were attacked by the US
Federal Bureau of Investigation for supporting the use of the
internet by anonymous users. From their joint press release:<br>
</p>
<p>“On Wednesday, April 18, at approximately 16:00 Eastern Time,
U.S. Federal authorities removed a server from a colocation
facility shared by Riseup Networks and May First/People Link in
New York City, a statement by the service provider reads. The
seized server was operated by the European Counter Network
(“ECN”), the oldest independent internet service provider in
Europe, who, among many other things, provided an anonymous
remailer service, Mixmaster, that was the target of an FBI
investigation into the bomb threats against the University of
Pittsburgh.”<br>
</p>
<p>At this time in history when the internet is under increased
surveillance and control by repressive governments around the
world, the seizure of email servers in New York by FBI agents
sends out a clear signal that democratic governments are ready
to arbitrarily circumvent the rule of law.<br>
</p>
<p>Jamie McClelland, director of May First/People Link said, “We
cannot stop malicious anonymous e-mail without also destroying
the ability to use anonymous e-mail for beneficial purposes.
According to the news, the bomb threats continue to arrive at
University of Pittsburgh after this outrageous seizure. There is
no positive outcome to this action by the FBI.”<br>
</p>
<p>The FBI has effectively shut down service to hundreds of users
and their harsh actions can only be interpreted as threatening
to anonymous use of the internet. “Like other anonymizing
services such as the TOR network, these remailers are widely
used to protect the identity of human rights activists who place
themselves and their families in grave danger by reporting
information about abuses, the ISP statement continues. Remailers
are also important for corporate whistle blowers, democracy
activists working under repressive regimes, and others to
communicate vital information that would otherwise go
un-reported.”<br>
</p>
<p>“Such heavy-handed interventions by governments are a violation
of US communication law and internet rights, as defined by the
Internet Rights Charter, and we call on government leaders to
stop these attacks on civil society and internet users' rights,”
stressed APC executive director, Anriette Esterhuysen.<br>
</p>
<p>We stand with May First/People Link, Riseup, and the European
Counter Network against these attacks on users of the internet
who depend on anonymous communication.<br>
</p>
<p>If you wish to endorse this statement please send your name and
organisation (if applicable) to <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:mallory@apc.org">mallory@apc.org</a>
with “Endorsement” in the subject line.<br>
</p>
<p>Signed,<br>
</p>
<p><b><strong>===</strong></b></p>
<p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></p>
<p><strong>Contacts:</strong><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="https://riseup.net/"
style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color:
rgb(102, 0, 0); ">Riseup Networks</a>, Devin Theriot-Orr,
206-708-8740,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:sunbird@riseup.net"
style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color:
rgb(102, 0, 0); ">sunbird@riseup.net</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="https://mayfirst.org/"
style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color:
rgb(102, 0, 0); ">May First/People Link</a>, Jamie McClelland,
917-509-5734,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:jm@mayfirst.org"
style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color:
rgb(102, 0, 0); ">jm@mayfirst.org</a><br>
ECN: Isole Nella Rete,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:inr@riseup.net"
style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color:
rgb(102, 0, 0); ">inr@riseup.net</a></p>
<p>On Wednesday, April 18, at approximately 16:00 ET, U.S. Federal
authorities removed a server from a colocation facility shared
by Riseup Networks and May First/People Link in New York City.</p>
<p>The seized server was operated by the European Counter Network
(“ECN”), the oldest independent internet service provider in
Europe, who, among many other things, provided an anonymous
remailer service, Mixmaster, that was the target of an FBI
investigation into the bomb threats against the University of
Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>"The company running the facility has confirmed that the server
was removed in conjunction with a search warrant issued by the
FBI," said May First/People Link director Jamie McClelland. "The
server seizure is not only an attack against us, but an attack
against all users of the Internet who depend on anonymous
communication."</p>
<p>Disrupted in this seizure were academics, artists, historians,
feminist groups, gay rights groups, community centers,
documentation and software archives and free speech groups. The
server included the mailing list "cyber rights" (the oldest
discussion list in Italy to discuss this topic), a Mexican
migrant solidarity group, and other groups working to support
indigenous groups and workers in Latin America, the Caribbean
and Africa. In total, over 300 email accounts, between 50-80
email lists, and several other websites have been taken off the
Internet by this action. None are alleged to be involved in the
anonymous bomb threats.</p>
<p>"The FBI is using a sledgehammer approach, shutting down
service to hundreds of users due to the actions of one anonymous
person," said Devin Theriot-Orr, a spokesperson for Riseup.
"This is particularly misguided because there is unlikely to be
any information on the server regarding the source of the
threatening emails."</p>
<p>"We sympathize with the University of Pittsburgh community who
have had to deal with this frightening disruption for weeks. We
oppose such threatening actions. However, taking this server
won't stop these bomb threats. The only effect it has is to also
disrupt e-mail and websites for thousands of unrelated people,"
continues Mr. Theriot-Orr. "Furthermore, the network of
anonymous remailers that exists is not harmed by taking this
machine. So we cannot help but wonder why such drastic action
was taken when authorities knew that the server contained no
useful information that would help in their investigation."</p>
<p>The FBI purportedly seized the server because it was hosting an
anonymous remailer called<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://mixmaster.sourceforge.net/"
style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color:
rgb(102, 0, 0); ">Mixmaster</a>. Anonymous remailers are used
to send email anonymously, or pseudonymously. Like other
anonymizing services such as the Tor network, these remailers
are widely used to protect the identity of human rights
activists who place themselves and their families in grave
danger by reporting information about abuses. Remailers are also
important for corporate whistle blowers, democracy activists
working under repressive regimes, and others to communicate
vital information that would otherwise go un-reported.</p>
<p>The<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://mixmaster.sourceforge.net/"
style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color:
rgb(102, 0, 0); ">Mixmaster</a><span
class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>software is specifically
designed to make it impossible for anyone to trace the emails.
The system does not record logs of connections, details of who
sent messages, or how they were routed. This is because the<span
class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://mixmaster.sourceforge.net/"
style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; color:
rgb(102, 0, 0); ">Mixmaster</a><span
class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>network is specifically
designed to resist censorship, and support privacy and
anonymity. Unfortunately, some people misuse the network.
However, compared to the rate of legitimate use, the abuse rate
is very low. There is therefore no legitimate purpose for the
FBI to seize this server because they will not be able to obtain
any information about the sender. This is plainly extrajudicial
punishment and an attack on free speech and anonymity on the
internet and serves as a chilling effect on others providers of
anonymous remailers or other anonymous services.</p>
<p>===<br>
</p>
<p><strong>ADDITIONAL INFORMATION</strong><br>
</p>
<p>PR in <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://mayfirst.org/es/el-fbi-decomiso-un-servidor"
title="El FBI decomisó un servidor del centro de datos que lo
alojaba." class="translation-link" style="text-decoration:
none; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(102, 0, 0); ">Español</a></p>
<p>Statement from May First/People Link: <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://mayfirst.org/fbi-attacks-anonymous-speech">https://mayfirst.org/fbi-attacks-anonymous-speech</a></p>
<p>MayFirst/People Link (mayfirst.org) is a
politically-progressive member-run and controlled organization
that redefines the concept of “Internet Service Provider” in a
collective and collaborative way. May First/People Link’s
members are organizers and activists who elect a Leadership
Committee to direct the organization. Like a coop, members pay
dues, buy equipment and then share that equipment for websites,
email, email lists, and other Internet purposes.<br>
<br>
Riseup Networks (riseup.net) provides online communication tools
for people and groups working on liberatory social change.
Riseup creates democratic alternatives and practices
self-determination by controlling our own secure means of
communications.<br>
<br>
ECN (European Counter Network – ecn.org) is the oldest
independent service provider in Europe providing free email
accounts, mailing lists, and websites to organizations,
activists, and movements that are involved in human rights,
freedom of speech and information in Italy and Europe. ECN is
anti-fascist and works towards a just and equal society. Years
ago, before sites like Youtube and Vimeo existed, ECN created a
platform called NGV where people could upload and share
independent video of human rights violations. Nowadays ECN works
primarily with anti-fascist and anti-Nazi movements in all of
Europe, providing space and resources to political and social
centers.<br>
</p>
</div>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Mallory Knodel
May First/People Link Leadership
...Growing Networks to Build a Just World...
mayfirst.org
malloryknodel.net/blog
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