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Category: General Information
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Subject to change and evolve over time.  Check back for updates.

Click here to view or download a PDF copy of our Key Policy Position one-pager.

 

Government should be transparent / open to public feedback

 

Property rights should extend to technology

  • Right to repair
  • Right to reverse engineer (disability access, security research, education, etc.)
  • Right to to make copies for backup
  • see DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act)

 

Copyrights

  • Copyrights should have reasonable limits, then should go into public domain as originally intended

 

Patents

  • Companies, individuals, universities, and government divisions should use their patents for useful products and services, not lawsuits (patent trolling)
  • Possible idea: “Put it in play” requirement – patent must be put to use in a certain amount of time or should expire

 

Encryption

  • Strong Encryption should not be a crime but should be defended, privacy is an important part of security and freedom -- especially important to minorities and “at risk” populations
  • Encryption is a cornerstone of finance, business transactions, health care - there is no way to “weaken” or “back door” encryption without leaving it wide open (“A back door for one is a back door for all”)
  • see Apple v. FBI

 

Network Neutrality / Title II & Internet Governance

  • Congress should take an active role and not leave it up to regulatory authorities to define policy for Internet governance
  • Mozilla Poll: 76% of Americans across the aisle agree on fundamentals of Network Neutrality
  • Equal access, no preference, discrimination or throttling based on content
  • Broadband customers should have the right to opt-out of data collection (snooping), tracking (cookies), and customized advertising
  • Citizens have the right to control information about themselves without onerous processes (re: data brokers)
  • Users should have the right to be anonymous online
  • Students/parents should have control of their data and can opt-out
  • see Network Neutrality/Title II and CRA SJ34

 

FOSS – Free and/or Open Source Software

  • Schools and Governments should encourage but not require OpenSource software for its security, cost, and educational value
  • Voting software should be OpenSource, secure, audited, and kept up-to-date

 

Work

  • Limited Non-compete agreements
  • Should not allow biometric or medical data to impact employment opportunities

 

Surveillance Concerns (Police, TSA, Federal Bureaus) Items that need more oversight and transparency to citizens:

  • Biometric Collection
  • Stingrays
  • Mass CCTV / Facial Recognition / License Plate scanners
  • Body Scanners
  • Shotspotter
  • Persistent Surveillance Systems
  • Drones
  • Security organizations shouldn’t be stockpiling “0-Day exploits”, as has been witnessed recently, this can lead to massive vulnerabilities
  • Legal framework for monitoring ads and signage that sniff WiFi traffic to produce more targeted ads - need opt-outs, or honoring a Do-Not-Track request
  • see Section 702 of FISA Act

 

Legislation and court cases that have had an impact on civil rights from technology standpoint (*):

  • Apple v. FBI
  • CRA SJ34
  • DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act)
  • GA HB-509 (Internet Blocking Act) - this is a state-level act, but it’s not unheard of that something like this might also appear at the Federal level
  • FISA Act, Section 702 allows Americans to be swept up in bulk data collection
  • Miller v. ACLU
  • Network Neutrality / Title II designation
  • PATRIOT Act
  • SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) / PIPA (Protect IP Act) - neither passed, but will likely come up again in another incarnation
  • Wassenaar Arrangement

* Technology specialists who are politically active are concerned about these.