Forum Federato

For more about Cindy Cohn's bittersweet decision to depart EFF, and the search for her successor, see our news release.
https://www.eff.org/press/releases/executive-director-cindy-cohn-will-step-down-after-25-years-eff

After 25 years at EFF, Cindy Cohn is stepping down as executive director. In a WIRED interview, she reflects on encryption, AI, and why she’s not ready to quit the battle.
https://www.wired.com/story/eff-cindy-cohn-stepping-down/

It’s disappointing that Ring has chosen this moment, when police and the government are infringing civil liberties left and right, to revive its tech’s most invasive feature: helping police get videos captured by home security cameras.
https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/privacy/ring-community-requests-lets-police-ask-for-user-videos-a2437818485/

Cases like this are reminders that privacy is a team sport. Protect yourself and your community by sharing these tips and our Surveillance Self-Defense guides. (8/8) https://ssd.eff.org

After these steps, Signal and Whatsapp should be safe to use with routine data hygiene, like installing updates and minimizing your number of installed apps. It only takes one malware infected user to compromise a whole chat, so be cautious about sharing sensitive information in big groups. (7/8) https://ssd.eff.org/module/seven-steps-digital-security

Android users can enable Advanced Protection to similarly block features used to load malicious software, like sideloading apps, though this may disrupt using some alternative app stores. (6/8)
https://ssd.eff.org/module/how-to-get-to-know-android-privacy-and-security-settings#enable-advanced-protection

You can take other precautions to prevent malware infection in the first place. On iPhone, lockdown mode can block features used to load malware, like opening attachments in the Messages app. (5/8)
https://ssd.eff.org/module/how-to-enable-lockdown-mode-on-iphone

This malware is stealthy, a warning from Apple/Google is the only definite sign you’re infected (in which case, take it offline and email info@eff.org). Otherwise, frequent reboots and system updates seem to clear Graphite. As a more extreme precaution, a factory reset protects against most malware. (4/8) https://ssd.eff.org/module/how-do-i-protect-myself-against-malware#what-should-i-do-if-i-find-malware-on-my-computer

This DOES NOT break end-to-end encryption between devices. Only saved chats are captured on an infected device. That means deleting old or unnecessary chats and turning on disappearing messages can mitigate everyone's risk. (3/8)
https://ssd.eff.org/module/how-to-use-signal#disappearing-messages

When news stories say WhatsApp and Signal are “hacked” by Paragon’s Graphite, it’s important to know it’s not magic; it’s malware. If installed, it’s like giving your unlocked phone to Paragon and ICE. But, it’s too costly to use widely, and even if you’re targeted you can defend yourself. (2/8)
https://ssd.eff.org/module/mobile-phones-malware

ICE reactivated its contract with spyware manufacturer Paragon Solutions. You can read more about it here, but what does that mean for using encrypted chat apps like Signal? 🧵(1/8)
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/09/eff-statement-ice-use-paragon-solutions-malware

“Social media sites and chat apps normally strip metadata by default,” which protects privacy, EFF’s Jacob Hoffman-Andrews told Straight Arrow News. ”If XChat is failing to strip metadata, it’s putting its users at risk.” https://san.com/cc/not-so-secret-xs-new-encrypted-chat-feature-puts-users-at-risk-experts-say/

Ring da marcha atrás: facilita pedidos policiales de videos y plantea acceso en vivo; prioriza IA (análisis y posible reconocimiento facial) y revierte avances de privacidad, elevando riesgos para libertades civiles. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/07/amazon-ring-cashes-techno-authoritarianism-and-mass-surveillance?language=es

Age verification mandates are a dream come true for Big Tech platforms, which will end up with more traffic and a whole lot more data. But these laws are a nightmare for users. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/09/age-verification-windfall-big-tech-and-death-sentence-smaller-platforms

ICE reactivo contrato de 2 millones con Paragon Solutions, fabricante del spyware Graphite usado en Italia para espiar periodistas y activistas de derechos humanos. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/09/eff-statement-ice-use-paragon-solutions-malware

While digital ID gets pushed as the solution to the problem of uploading IDs to each site users access, the security and privacy on them varies based on implementation. But when privacy is involved, regulators must make room for negotiation. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/09/verifying-trust-digital-id-still-incomplete

Online tracking is pervasive and most people don’t realize the risks of browsing the web unprotected. Organizations like libraries and schools can make digital privacy more accessible by installing Privacy Badger on the computers they provide. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/09/libraries-schools-why-organizations-should-install-privacy-badger

Thanks to Mississippi’s sweeping age verification law, residents just lost access to Bluesky and Dreamwidth. These mandates don’t rein in Big Tech—they entrench it. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/09/age-verification-windfall-big-tech-and-death-sentence-smaller-platforms

California’s S.B. 524 is an important first step to reining in the rising tide of untransparent AI-generated police reports. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/09/california-lamakers-support-sb-524-rein-ai-written-police-reports

Axon’s AI police report writing tool is designed to not keep a record of which parts of a final report were written by AI and which parts were written by the officer. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/07/axons-draft-one-designed-defy-transparency