EFF-Austin

"Kevin Welch of EFF-Austin, a digital civil liberties organization, said the LVT contract is fundamentally flawed because it has no enforcement mechanism. “I see data abused and misused by well-intentioned people every day,” Welch said. “The reality is, the only data that is safe is the data that is not collected. There is no bureaucratic means of reforming this. And there is no reason to trust a contract that has no enforcement mechanism.”" https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/the-mass-surveillance-debate-is-back/

Curious if elected officials in your area are trying to approve a Flock contract without your knowledge or consent? This new tool will let you subscribe to alerts in your area for relevant city council meetings so that you can organize, show up, and make your voices heard. https://alpr.watch/

Here's EFF-Austin's Kevin Welch speaking to city council at yesterday's work session about the dangers of putting LVT cameras in Austin's parks. We are happy to report that, based on our testimony and the testimony of many other activist groups in town, the proposed contract has again been postponed.

RE: @effaustin@mastodon.social

Meetup tonight, join us!

Our meetup next month is co-hosted with Open Austin and features Darrell Malone, founder of National Police Data Coalition. He's going to discuss his new National Police Data Index tool for law enforcement transparency and accountability, join us! https://www.meetup.com/eff-austin/events/312145621/

There is no news article about it, yet, but you heard it here first that Sunset Valley, one of the most prolific users of ALPR cameras in the Austin area, has decided NOT to renew their contract with Flock.

Our party is a little over two weeks away! Join us! Tell your friends! https://www.meetup.com/eff-austin/events/313440939/

We're having a party, and you're all invited! https://www.meetup.com/eff-austin/events/313440939/

Our meetup next month features Marina Roberts of Austin DSA and the No ALPRs coalition talking about her work as a leader in the fight to ban surveillance technologies in the Austin area, join us! https://www.meetup.com/eff-austin/events/312145619/

We'll be at the City of Austin's Digital Equity Community Listening Session tomorrow, come say hi! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digital-equity-community-listening-session-resource-fair-tickets-1982390644783?aff=oddtdtcreator

Just over a week until EFF-Austin Interactive! We hope you'll join us!

RE: @effaustin@mastodon.social

Meetup tonight, join us!

First meetup of the year is next Tuesday, come hang out with us! We'll talk about what we got up to in the last year, and some of our plans for the coming year. https://www.meetup.com/eff-austin/events/310417244/

EFF-Austin helped consult on the TRUST Act. The emergency exception provision is too long, and will need to be revisited at some point, but we think the transparency this will provide around the city's contracts with 3rd party technology vendors is a step in the right direction. https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/city-council-moves-toward-adding-surveillance-regulation-rules-to-city-code/

Louis Rossmann with a good rundown of how problematic the LVT system in Austin's parks will be, and how you can sign up to speak against this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MiLiQ6olkI

Austin City Council is again considering a contract with LVT that will install surveillance tech in Austin's parks. While "safeguards" have been added since last time, this is still a fundamentally bad idea. Come to the protest tomorrow and make your voice heard. https://www.mobilize.us/handsoffcentraltx/event/896108/?referring_vol=12346982&share_context=dashboard-event-details&sharer_role=2

We're hosting another event this Friday, 2pm-6pm in conjunction with Pillsbury and Creative Commons. Want to meet Lawrence Lessig!? This is your chance :) https://www.meetup.com/eff-austin/events/313440939/

Join the Wikipedia 25th anniversary livestream, happening now! https://wikimediafoundation.org/wikipedia25/birthday-celebration/