Public interest in government tech abuses is peaking. EFF's new leader plans to build on that.
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Trump made it cool to hate government spying again, EFF’s departing chief says
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I've been an EFF supporter for a long time and view them as one of the most effective charitable organization that I donate to. Good on them and keep up the great work!
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The article touches on a real opportunity for the EFF. They have a point of view, but no voice. Are they a supporter of litigation, or a movement that includes litigation?
Absent a clearly articulated picture of what they stand for and how each issue they take on supports those goals–that a vast percentage of people actually do share once they understand them–it's a little too easy to paint the EFF in vague epithets like "radical leftists."
Absent a clearly articulated picture of what they stand for and how each issue they take on supports those goals–that a vast percentage of people actually do share once they understand them–it's a little too easy to paint the EFF in vague epithets like "radical leftists."
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I was literally just about to voice my idea that maybe they should try to get more right-leaning people onboard with the cause. There's a lot of right-wingers who are very concerned about privacy and surveillance issues right now.
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With few exceptions, the silence of small-c conservatives over the last year has been deafening.
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Agreed that they are a force for Good. "Most effective" is generous. They fight battle after battle, and win many of them, but it is tough to look at the landscape and see progress on the larger front. Having a clear strategy to support and elect officials that enact policies and slow the constant, relentless assault on our privacy and other rights in this digital age is needed. It always seems like the EFF is fighting the good fight but not winning the war.
I may be asking too much. Having good people on the right side is awesome, and I don't say this to minimize that.
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EFF files lawsuits each year (and often win). Check their website.
https://www.eff.org/pages/legal-cases
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Excellent article, thanks M. Belanger.
Last December I donated $$$$ to EFF, specifically for their suit (with ACLU) vs San Jose PD regarding Flock ALPR and AI cameras and the use and retention of that data.
That's something very local, makes me feel like I'm doing a little something.
EFF sponsored the development of the IMSI catcher detector (Anti Stingray) which is really excellent. Make sure you and some other folks carry one when you go gather at organized demonstration activities.
I'm looking forward to reading M. Ozer's paper about getting privacy back in the hands of citizens.
edit: ARRRRGH!!! tiny light grey san serif text on white! inaccessible!! why why why why!!??!! oh well.
Last December I donated $$$$ to EFF, specifically for their suit (with ACLU) vs San Jose PD regarding Flock ALPR and AI cameras and the use and retention of that data.
That's something very local, makes me feel like I'm doing a little something.
EFF sponsored the development of the IMSI catcher detector (Anti Stingray) which is really excellent. Make sure you and some other folks carry one when you go gather at organized demonstration activities.
I'm looking forward to reading M. Ozer's paper about getting privacy back in the hands of citizens.
edit: ARRRRGH!!! tiny light grey san serif text on white! inaccessible!! why why why why!!??!! oh well.
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I was a founding member of CPSR East Bay/SFO. Not much ever happened. Had more fun and hijinx with the Processed World folks. Anarchist punk nihilist post teenagers.
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Interest in government tech abuse is rising. There’s no evidence it’s peaking. It seems like people will probably only get more interested for awhile
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Thats a great thought. Maybe that’s not within the EFF’s scope but we could really use an organization that does that. Why don’t you contact the EFF and present them with this idea?
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Not exactly what I was driving at--the EFF is one piece of a puzzle but--as you say--being an overall counterpoint to the likes of the Heritage Foundation is not in their wheelhouse.
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I've been a big fan of the EFF for a long time but that article has red flags in it for me. Lets Encrypt? Sweet! Fight for justice and equality? Me searching for the picture of that little girl giving the nervous side eye.
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Are you... suggesting that an organization that fights things like governmental invasion of privacy, big tech's cooperation in undermining individuals' rights, etc., shouldn't be concerned with justice and equality?
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Sadly the EFF has often catered to the “freeze peach” absolutist tech bro types that just want the freedom to be awful on the internet. Looks like we have an example of one of them here.
They won’t see another penny from me until they accept some responsibility for their part in helping create the current mess by defending such people.
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Can't speak for shoe, but the language used is very similar to that used by the larger social justice movement, and I'm worried that it signals a shift away from the core function that EFF serves. EFF accomplish more for justice and equality by sticking to their core competencies than by embracing scope creep.
I would use the Sierra Club as an example of what to avoid. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/us/politics/sierra-club-social-justice.html
Of course, this could be an overreaction on my part. If they can maintain focus while broadening the support base, then I'm all in.
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I recommend John Perry Barlow's autobiography, Mother American Night: My Life in Crazy Times. He was (one of) the founders of the EFF.
Also, if you appreciate the EFF (as I do) check out FIRE.org.
Also, if you appreciate the EFF (as I do) check out FIRE.org.
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They just forgot their constitutions in their other coat pocket. They'll remember where they left them once (if) Democrats have some power again.
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