Daily Archives: 23. Juli 2013


23.07.2013 - 22:27 [ ars technica ]

The cops are tracking my car—and yours

I have no criminal record, have committed no crime, and am not (as far as I know) under investigation by the OPD or any law enforcement agency. Since I first moved to Oakland in 2005, I’ve been pulled over by the OPD exactly once—for accidentally not making a complete stop while making a right-hand turn at a red light—four years ago. Nevertheless, the OPD’s LPR system captured my car 13 times between April 29, 2012 and May 6, 2013 at various points around the city, and it retained that data. My car is neither wanted nor stolen. The OPD has no warrant on me, no probable cause, and no reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing, yet it watches where I go.

23.07.2013 - 22:24 [ ars technica ]

Second state cracks down on patent-wielding scanner trolls

Trolls must back off their plan to get „fast money“ from Nebraskans, says AG.

23.07.2013 - 22:20 [ Poor Richard's News ]

Web’s worst patent troll loses big in court.

Doyle and his one-man company Eolas has sued everybody from Facebook to ESPN to Wal Mart on the basis that he invented the interactive web. Today, his patents were invalidated, and the internet is a freer, better place because of it.

23.07.2013 - 22:04 [ Firedoglake ]

American Weapons Linked To Outbreak Of Birth Defects And Cancer In Iraq

America’s war of aggression in Iraq produced many immediate casualties, but recent reports from the Iraq are citing another, longer term, cost of war. America’s use of depleted uranium shells is causing record numbers of birth defects and cancer in previous combat areas. Doctors are struggling to cope with the outbreak.

23.07.2013 - 17:34 [ Reuters ]

The mysterious agency that can block a global merger

t seems probable that the deal will go through, but one hurdle is that it must receive approval from the little-known Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). As foreign investment rises CFIUS, the federal committee created by President Ford that is barely known outside Beltway and M&A circles, will only become more central to investment by foreign firms.

23.07.2013 - 17:33 [ Finanzministerium der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika ]

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

CFIUS is an inter-agency committee authorized to review transactions that could result in control of a U.S. business by a foreign person (“covered transactions”), in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. CFIUS operates pursuant to section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended by the Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007 (FINSA) (section 721) and as implemented by Executive Order 11858, as amended, and regulations at 31 C.F.R. Part 800.

23.07.2013 - 17:31 [ Wikipedia ]

Office of Intelligence and Analysis (US-Finanzministerium)

Die gegenwĂ€rtige Rechtsgrundlage des OIA ist der Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004. Danach ist das OIA verantwortlich fĂŒr den Empfang, die Analyse, die Zusammenschau und die Verteilung von nachrichtendienstlichen Informationen, die fĂŒr die die Arbeit und den Verantwortungsbereich des US-Finanzministeriums erforderlich sind. Das OIA soll das Department of the Treasury unterstĂŒtzen bei der Ausarbeitung und DurchfĂŒhrung seiner Politik.

Hierbei ist Hauptziel die Erhaltung der Sicherheit des Finanzsystems der USA und die Abwehr von Gefahren fĂŒr die nationale Sicherheit durch finanzielle AktivitĂ€ten.

23.07.2013 - 15:04 [ Demonstrare ]

27.07. #StopWatchingUs – MĂŒnchen

Es geht um 12 am Prinz-Carl-Palais gegenĂŒber dem Amerikanischen Konsulat mit einer kurzen Auftakt-Kundgebung los, wo wir uns symbolisch unsere PrivatsphĂ€re zurĂŒckholen. Diese tragen wir von dort aus zur Ludwigstraße, durch die Theresienstraße, die Barerstraße herunter und feiern sie vor dem Amerika-Haus am Karolinenplatz bei der Abschlusskundgebung um ca. 14 Uhr.

23.07.2013 - 15:03 [ Netzwertig ]

Sicherer im Netz bewegen: ZenMate bringt VPN-Funktionen fĂŒr die Masse

Das Berliner Startup ZenMate hat eine Lösung entwickelt, welche die Funktionen eines VPN mit dessen vollwertiger TrafficverschlĂŒsselung in den Browser portiert. Anstatt dass User in ihren Netzwerkeinstellungen herumfuhrwerken mĂŒssen, besuchen sie lediglich die Website des Dienstes und installieren das kostenlose Chrome-Plugin.

23.07.2013 - 14:59 [ Ria Novosti ]

US-MilitĂ€rhilfe fĂŒr syrische Rebellen ohne Einfluss auf Kooperation von Moskau und Damaskus

Laut dem Experten haben das Pentagon und die CIA bereits die notwendigen Schemen der Waffenlieferung nach Syrien erstellt. „Die Lieferungen sind im Prinzip schon zustande gekommen. Nur hat es bisher keine ausreichenden Informationen darĂŒber gegeben. Jetzt aber werden die USA völlig legal Waffen an die oppositionellen Gruppierungen liefern“, so Korotschenko.

23.07.2013 - 14:14 [ Demonstrare ]

27.07. #StopWatchingUs – Hof

Die PrivatsphĂ€re im elektronischen Zeitalter wurde klammheimlich durch die HintertĂŒr abgeschafft. Und entweder die Bundesregierung wusste nichts davon oder sie hat mitgemischt. Beides ein Armutszeugnis fĂŒr die Arbeit der Verantwortlichen.

Wir rufen die Verantwortlichen Politiker auf Ihre Arbeit, die Vertretung der BĂŒrger und die Achtung die Verteidigung des Grundgesetzes und der dort festgeschriebenen Rechte der BĂŒrger, endlich ernst zu nehmen

23.07.2013 - 14:13 [ Washington Post ]

Agreements with private companies protect U.S. access to cables’ data for surveillance

(06.07.) The U.S. government had a problem: Spying in the digital age required access to the fiber-optic cables traversing the world’s oceans, carrying torrents of data at the speed of light. And one of the biggest operators of those cables was being sold to an Asian firm, potentially complicating American surveillance efforts.

Enter “Team Telecom.”

23.07.2013 - 13:35 [ Lawfare ]

Offensive Cyberspace Operations, the NDAA, and the Title 10-Title 50 Debate

(14.12.2011)

section 954 makes clear that DOD can conduct offensive cyberspace operations (OCOs) under certain conditions, defined very, very loosely as the defense of the nation, of allies, and of our “interests.” That’s not much of a limitation, of course; the reference to interests would seem to encompass just about any scenario in which one might like to be able to conduct an offensive operation. And I suppose some might look at this language and draw the conclusion that section 954 is some kind of free-standing cyber-AUMF

23.07.2013 - 13:31 [ Barbara Lee, Abgeordnete des U.S. ReprÀsentantenhauses ]

Subject: The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force: Background in Brief

Table 1, below, provides dates and subject matter of each of the presidential notifications located by CRS
that reference the AUMF as authority for the deployment or use of U.S. armed forces or other activities.
In many cases, the notifications indicate the continuation of a given deployment or activity.
Table 1. List of Presidential Notifications Referencing AUMF

Date Relevant Country, Geographic Area, Targeted Group, or Type of Action
9/24/2001 Afghanistan; the Taliban
10/9/2001 al Qaeda; other terrorist organizations
11/13/2001 Military detention and trial of terrorist suspects
9/20/2002 Afghanistan; Philippines; Georgia; Yemen; Guantanamo Bay
3/20/2003 Yemen; Djibouti; Guantanamo Bay
9/19/2003 Afghanistan; Philippines; Georgia; Yemen; Guantanamo Bay
3/20/2004 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Georgia; Djibouti; Yemen; Kenya; Ethiopia; Eritrea; high seas
11/4/2004 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Iraq; Yemen; Ethiopia; Kenya; Eritrea; Djibouti; high seas
5/20/2005 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Iraq; Djibouti; Yemen; Kenya; Ethiopia; Eritrea; high seas
12/7/2005 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Iraq; Djibouti; Yemen; Kenya; Ethiopia; high seas
6/15/2006 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Iraq; Djibouti; Yemen; high seas
12/15/2006 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Iraq; Djibouti; Yemen; high seas
2/14/2007 Executive Order 13425: includes Military Commissions
6/15/2007 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Iraq; Horn of Africa; Somalia; high seas
7/20/2007 Executive Order 13440: includes detention and interrogation of terrorist suspects
12/14/2007 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Iraq; global counterterrorism; Horn of Africa; high seas
6/13/2008 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Iraq; global counterterrorism; Horn of Africa; high seas
12/16/2008 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Iraq; global counterterrorism; Horn of Africa; high seas
6/15/2009 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Iraq; global counterterrorism; Horn of Africa; high seas
12/15/2009 Presidential Memorandum includes Guantanamo Bay issues
12/16/2009 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Iraq; global counterterrorism; Horn of Africa; high seas
6/15/2010 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; Djibouti; Horn of Africa; global counterterrorism; high seas
12/15/2010 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; global counterterrorism; high seas
3/7/2011 Executive Order 13567: includes detention at Guantanamo Bay
6/15/2011 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; global counterterrorism; high seas
12/15/2011 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; global counterterrorism; high seas
2/28/2012 Military detention of terrorist suspects
6/15/2012 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; global counterterrorism; Somalia; Yemen; high seas
12/14/2012 Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay; global counterterrorism; Somalia; Yemen; high seas
6/14/2013 Afghanistan; Somalia; Yemen; Guantanamo Bay; high seas

23.07.2013 - 13:25 [ eNews Park Forest ]

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Report on Presidential Utilization of 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force

“What continues to concern me, however, is that this information is based on what is only publically reported. We don’t know the further, full extent, including the ongoing use of lethal drones, surveillance, unlimited detention, and other actions where the AUMF has been used as justification,” said Congresswoman Lee.

23.07.2013 - 13:24 [ PeopleÂŽs Voice ]

US Courts Approve Indefinite Detention and Torture

At issue is section 1021 of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It states in part:

„Congress affirms that the authority of the president to use all necessary and appropriate force pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) includes the authority for the Armed Forces of the United States to detain covered persons (as defined in subsection (b)) pending disposition under the law of war.“

23.07.2013 - 13:22 [ Lawfare ]

The Construction of the NDAA in Hedges

The AUMF, however, does not merely define persons who may be detained, as does Section 1021(b). Instead, it provides the President authority to use “force” against the “nations, organizations, or persons” responsible for 9/11. Section 1021(b)(1) (read with Section 1021(a)) affirms that the AUMF authority to use force against the persons responsible for 9/11 includes a power to detain such persons. But it does not speak to what additional detention authority, if any, is included in the President’s separate AUMF authority to use force against the organizations responsible for 9/11.

23.07.2013 - 12:32 [ Netzpolitik ]

Abhör-Vertrag mit FBI und Justizministerium: Telekom und T-Mobile USA verpflichten sich zur Überwachung

Die Deutsche Telekom und ihre Tochterfirma T-Mobile USA verpflichten sich, Kommunikationsdaten und Inhalte den amerikanischen Behörden zur VerfĂŒgung zu stellen. Das geht aus einem Vertrag aus dem Januar 2001 hervor, den wir an dieser Stelle exklusiv veröffentlichen. Die Telekom kommentiert, dass man selbstverstĂ€ndlich mit Sicherheitsbehörden zusammenarbeitet, auch in anderen Staaten.

23.07.2013 - 11:06 [ Russia Today ]

‚Join fight for privacy now!‘ Stallman on Snowden and how to escape surveillance

“I am very happy that Snowden told us what the US government and some other governments are really doing,” he said in an interview with RT’s SophieCo program. “I had no proof – I’ve been saying for many years that if we look at the ‘Pa-Triot Act’ – I won’t call it ‘patriot’ because it’s as unpatriotic as you can get in a country based on an idea of freedom – I said, ‘look at this, I would guess that they are collecting all the data about everyone, regularly, fast enough so it doesn’t get erased between collections – but that was just a guess.”

23.07.2013 - 11:04 [ Russia Today ]

NSA locates cell phones even when switched off – report

The technology was allegedly developed by the NSA in 2004 as part of the agency’s cooperation with the military, the CIA and the clandestine Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). By the time NSA analysts and data collectors have been helping them for three years to track down and kill “high value targets” among terrorist and militant groups in Afghanistan and later Iraq, according to a Washington Post report.

23.07.2013 - 10:40 [ Demonstrare ]

27.07. #StopWatchingUs – Deutschlandweite Proteste gegen PRISM und TEMPORA

Wir demonstrieren am Samstag, den 27.07.2013, gemeinsam gegen PRISM, TEMPORA, INDECT und das Utah Data Center! SolidaritÀt mit Edward Snowden, Bradley Manning und anderen Whistleblowern!

Jeder muss sich mit Edward Snowden fragen: Möchte ich in einer Gesellschaft leben, in der ein außer Kontrolle geratener Überwachungsstaat tĂ€glich meine PrivatsphĂ€re verletzt, um jeden meiner Schritte und Gedanken in der digitalen Welt aufzuzeichnen? Möchte ich BĂŒrger oder Untertan sein?

Wir sagen: Stoppt PRISM! Stoppt TEMPORA! Stoppt INDECT! Verhindert das Utah Data Center! Wir alle haben ein Recht auf PrivatsphĂ€re und vertrauliche Kommunikation, ob beruflich oder privat! Und dieses Recht fordern wir gemeinsam am 27.07.2013 auf der Straße ein!