![[BACK]](/cvsweb/icons/back.gif){kind=icon}
Return to politic.doc CVS log ![[TXT]](/cvsweb/icons/text.gif){kind=icon}
![[DIR]](/cvsweb/icons/dir.gif){kind=icon}
Up to [PGP] / pgp / doc|
Return to politic.doc CVS log | Up to [PGP] / pgp / doc |
1.1 root 1: Computer-Related Political Groups
2: =================================
3:
4: This document is included in the PGP software release package. PGP
5: is "Pretty Good Privacy", a public-key encryption program from Philip
6: Zimmermann.
7:
8: PGP is a very political piece of software. It seems appropriate to
9: mention here some computer-related activist groups that are concerned
10: with issues such as impacts of computers on society, algorithm
11: patents, etc. Here is some information on these groups, provided by
12: each group.
13:
14:
15:
16: The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
17: ----------------------------------------
18:
19: Last Updated: 16 February 1993
20:
21: The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) was founded in July, 1990,
22: to assure freedom of expression in digital media, with a particular
23: emphasis on applying the principles embodied in the Constitution and
24: the Bill of Rights to computer-based communication.
25:
26: From the beginning, EFF was determined to become an organization that
27: would combine technical, legal and public policy expertise, and would
28: apply these skills to the myriad issues and concerns that arise
29: whenever a new communications medium is born.
30:
31: By remaining faithful to this initial vision, EFF has become an
32: organized voice for the burgeoning community of nationally and inter-
33: nationally networked computer users. We perform the multiple roles of
34: guardian, advocate and innovator, to serve and protect the public
35: interest in the information age.
36:
37:
38: GOALS OF THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION, 1993
39:
40: EFF's mission is to understand the opportunities and challenges of
41: digital communications, in order to foster openness, individual
42: freedom and community. We expect to carry out our mission through
43: activities in the following areas:
44:
45: POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY. EFF has been working to
46: promote an open architecture for telecommunications by various
47: means, including the Open Platform Initiative, the fight against the
48: FBI's Digital Telephony wiretap proposal, and efforts to free robust
49: encryption technologies from NSA control.
50:
51: FOSTERING COMMUNITY. Much of the work we have done has been directed
52: at fostering a sense of community in the online world. Because we
53: realize that we know far less about the conditions conducive to the
54: formation of virtual communities than is necessary to be effective in
55: creating them, we will devote a large portion of our R & D resources
56: to developing better understanding in this area.
57:
58: LEGAL SERVICES. EFF was born to defend the rights of computer users
59: against overzealous and uninformed law enforcement officials. This
60: continues to be an important focus of EFF's work. We provide legal
61: information to individuals who request it and support for attorneys
62: who are litigating. We maintain print and online legal archives,
63: disseminate this information, and make it available for downloading.
64: Our board and staff are continuously engaged in writing and speaking
65: about these issues.
66:
67: RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT. We have started many projects over the years
68: as their need became apparent. Going forward, EFF will allocate
69: resources to investigate and initiate new projects. To ensure that
70: our projects have the greatest impact and can reasonably be completed
71: with the resources available, EFF will sharpen its selection and
72: review process.
73:
74:
75: MEMBERSHIP IN THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION
76:
77: If you support our goals and our work, you can show that support by
78: becoming a member now. Members receive our bi-weekly electronic
79: newsletter, EFFector Online (if you have an electronic address that
80: can be reached through the Net), answers to your legal questions,
81: special releases and other notices on our activities. (Because we
82: believe that support should be freely given, you can receive these
83: things even if you do not elect to become a member.) Your membership
84: dues and other donations are fully tax deductible.
85:
86:
87: =============================================================
88: Mail to:
89: Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc.
90: 238 Main St.
91: Cambridge, MA 02142
92:
93: I wish to become a member of EFF. I enclose: $_______
94: $20.00 (student or low income membership) $40.00 (regular membership)
95:
96: Name:
97: Organization:
98: Address:
99: City or Town:
100: State: Zip: Phone (optional): ( )
101: FAX (optional): ( )
102: Email address:
103:
104: I enclose a check [ ].
105: Please charge my membership in the amount of $________ to my
106: Mastercard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ]
107: Number:
108: Expiration date:
109: Signature: ________________________________________________
110: Date:
111:
112: Our privacy policy: The Electronic Frontier Foundation will never sell
113: any part of our membership list. We will, from time to time, share
114: this list with other nonprofit organizations whose work we determine
115: to be in line with our goals. However, you must explicitly grant us
116: permission to share your name with these other groups. Member privacy
117: is our default.
118:
119: I hereby grant permission to EFF to share my name with other
120: nonprofit groups from time to time as it deems appropriate.
121: [ ] Initials:___________________________
122:
123:
124:
125: The League for Programming Freedom
126: ----------------------------------
127:
128:
129: Protect Your Freedom to Write Programs
130: Join the League for Programming Freedom
131: (Version of January 15, 1993)
132:
133: Ten years ago, programmers were allowed to write programs using all
134: the techniques they knew, and providing whatever features they felt
135: were useful. This is no longer the case. New monopolies, known as
136: software patents and interface copyrights, have taken away our
137: freedom of expression and our ability to do a good job.
138:
139: "Look and feel" lawsuits attempt to monopolize well-known command
140: languages; some have succeeded. Copyrights on command languages
141: enforce gratuitous incompatibility, close opportunities for
142: competition, and stifle incremental improvements.
143:
144: Software patents are even more dangerous; they make every design
145: decision in the development of a program carry a risk of a lawsuit,
146: with draconian pretrial seizure. It is difficult and expensive to
147: find out whether the techniques you consider using are patented; it
148: is impossible to find out whether they will be patented in the
149: future.
150:
151: The League for Programming Freedom is a grass-roots organization of
152: professors, students, businessmen, programmers and users dedicated to
153: bringing back the freedom to write programs. The League is not
154: opposed to the legal system that Congress intended--copyright on
155: individual programs. Our aim is to reverse the recent changes made
156: by judges in response to special interests, often explicitly
157: rejecting the public interest principles of the Constitution.
158:
159: The League works to abolish the new monopolies by publishing
160: articles, talking with public officials, boycotting egregious
161: offenders, and in the future may intervene in court cases. On May
162: 24, 1989, the League picketed Lotus headquarters on account of their
163: lawsuits, and then again on August 2, 1990. These marches stimulated
164: widespread media coverage for the issue. We welcome suggestions for
165: other activities, as well as help in carrying them out.
166:
167: Membership dues in the League are $42 per year for programmers,
168: managers and professionals; $10.50 for students; $21 for others.
169: Please give more if you can. The League's funds will be used for
170: filing briefs; for printing handouts, buttons and signs; whatever
171: will persuade the courts, the legislators, and the people. You may
172: not get anything personally for your dues--except for the freedom to
173: write programs. The League is a non-profit corporation, but not
174: considered a tax-exempt charity. However, for those self-employed in
175: software, the dues can be a business expense.
176:
177: The League needs both activist members and members who only pay their
178: dues. We also greatly need additional corporate members; contact us
179: for information.
180:
181: If you have any questions, please write to the League, phone
182: (617) 433-7071, or send Internet mail to [email protected]
183:
184: Jack Larsen, President
185: Dean Anderson, Secretary
186: Steve Sisak, Treasurer
187:
188: Jack Larsen can be contacted at (708) 698-1160; Fax (708) 698-6221.
189:
190: To join, please send a check and the following information to:
191:
192: League for Programming Freedom
193: 1 Kendall Square #143
194: P.O.Box 9171
195: Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
196:
197: (Outside the US, please send a check in US dollars on a bank having a
198: US correspondant bank, to save us check cashing fees.)
199:
200: Your name:
201:
202:
203: The address for League mailings, a few each year; please indicate
204: whether it is your home address or your work address:
205:
206:
207:
208: The company you work for, and your position:
209:
210:
211: Your phone numbers (home, work or both):
212:
213:
214: Your email address, so we can contact you for demonstrations or for
215: writing letters. (If you don't want us to contact you for these
216: things, please say so, but please give us your email address anyway
217: so we can save paper and postage by sending you the newsletter by
218: email.)
219:
220:
221: Is there anything about you which would enable your endorsement of
222: the LPF to impress the public? For example, if you are or have been
223: a professor or an executive, or have written software that has a good
224: reputation, please tell us.
225:
226:
227: Would you like to help with LPF activities?
228:
229:
230: The corporate charter of the League for Programming Freedom states:
231:
232: The purpose of the corporation is to engage in the following
233: activities:
234:
235: 1. To determine the existence of, and warn the public about
236: restrictions and monopolies on classes of computer programs where such
237: monopolies prevent or restrict the right to develop certain types of
238: computer programs.
239:
240: 2. To develop countermeasures and initiatives, in the public interest,
241: effective to block or otherwise prevent or restrain such monopolistic
242: activities including education, research, publications, public
243: assembly, legislative testimony, and intervention in court proceedings
244: involving public interest issues (as a friend of the court).
245:
246: 3. To engage in any business or other activity in service of and
247: related to the foregoing paragraphs that lawfully may be carried on
248: by a corporation organized under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts
249: General Laws.
250:
251: The officers and directors of the League will be elected annually by
252: the members.
253:
254:
255:
256: Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
257: ------------------------------------------------
258:
259: CPSR empowers computer professionals and computer users to advocate
260: for the responsible use of information technology and empowers all
261: who use computer technology to participate in the public debate. As
262: technical experts, CPSR members provide the public and policymakers
263: with realistic assessments of the power, promise, and limitations of
264: computer technology. As an organization of concerned citizens, CPSR
265: directs public attention to critical choices concerning the
266: applications of computing and how those choices affect society.
267:
268: By matching unimpeachable technical information with policy
269: development savvy, CPSR uses minimum dollars to have maximum impact
270: and encourages broad public participation in the shaping of
271: technology policy.
272:
273: Every project we undertake is based on five principles:
274:
275: * We foster and support public discussion of and public
276: responsibility for decisions involving the use of computers in
277: systems critical to society.
278:
279: * We work to dispel popular myths about the infallibility of
280: technological systems.
281:
282: * We challenge the assumption that technology alone can solve
283: political and social problems.
284:
285: * We critically examine social and technical issues within
286: the computer profession, nationally and internationally.
287:
288: * We encourage the use of computer technology to improve the
289: quality of life.
290:
291:
292: Founded in 1981 by a small group of computer scientists concerned
293: about the use of computers in nuclear weapons systems, CPSR has grown
294: into a national public-interest alliance of computer industry
295: professionals dedicated to examining the impact of technology on
296: society.
297:
298: Currently, CPSR has 21 chapters in the U.S. and affiliations with
299: similar groups worldwide. In addition to our National Office in Palo
300: Alto, CPSR maintains offices in Washington D.C. and Cambridge,
301: Massachusetts.
302:
303:
304: CPSR PROJECTS
305:
306: As computer technology becomes increasingly pervasive, the issues
307: facing us become more complex. CPSR provides a forum where we can
308: examine technology's impact on our lives, the lives of our fellow
309: citizens, and on society as a whole. By sponsoring both national and
310: local projects, CPSR serves as a catalyst for in-depth discussion and
311: effective action in key areas:
312:
313: Civil Liberties and Privacy
314:
315: The 21st Century Project: Technology Policy and Human Needs
316:
317: Workplace Issues and Participatory Design
318:
319: Reliability and Risk
320:
321: In addition, CPSR's chapter-based projects and national working
322: groups tackle issues ranging from the development of nanotechnology
323: and virtual reality to computing and ethics to community computing to
324: computers and education.
325:
326:
327: HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
328:
329: CPSR is a democratically organized grass roots alliance. Our
330: accomplishments are the result of the member activism. Many CPSR
331: members serve as national organizers
332:
333: Just fill out the membership form, enclose a check and mail it to
334: CPSR, P.O. Box 717, Palo Alto, CA 94301.
335:
336: CPSR's cost to provide members with services is covered by the $75
337: dues. To keep CPSR membership open to a wide range of people, we
338: offer dues levels of $20 and $50.
339:
340:
341: MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
342:
343: When you become a member of CPSR, you are joining a nationwide
344: network of computer professionals who are committed to bringing
345: social responsibility to all aspects of computer technology. CPSR
346: sponsors, supports, and participates in conferences, roundtables and
347: meetings on advanced issues in computing, local civic networks,
348: cryptography, participatory design, and computers and social change.
349:
350: Every fall the CPSR Annual Meeting brings together the foremost
351: representatives of the technology industry to explore current topics
352: in seminars and panel discussions. Our conferences and chapter
353: meetings provide important opportunities to meet other members and
354: share ideas and expertise.
355:
356: OTHER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE:
357:
358: * a quarterly newsletter which provides in-depth analysis of key
359: issues in computing as well as updates on CPSR activities and
360: action alerts,
361:
362: * an organized voice for socially responsible computing in
363: Washington,
364:
365: * well-researched public testimony and public policy development,
366:
367: * invitations and discounts to CPSR events,
368:
369: * discounts on research papers, books, and educational videotapes,
370:
371: * on-line information and discussion of key issues in computing,
372:
373: * membership in a local CPSR chapter (where available) and notices
374: of chapter meetings and activities,
375:
376: * participation in local and national working groups which allow you
377: to have effective impact on the issues you care about,
378:
379: * information and referral about crucial issues in computing.
380:
381:
382: ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION
383:
384: CPSR National Office
385: P.O. Box 717
386: Palo Alto, CA 94301
387: 415-322-3778
388: 415-322-3798 (FAX)
389: E-mail: [email protected]
390:
391: CPSR Cambridge Office
392: P.O. Box 962
393: Cambridge, MA 02142
394: 617-625-6985
395: [email protected]
396:
397: CPSR Washington Office
398: 666 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Suite 303
399: Washington, D.C. 20003
400: 202-544-9240
401: 202-547-5481 FAX
402: [email protected]
403:
404: Staff
405: Managing Director, Evelyn Pine
406: Assistant to the Director, Nikki Draper
407: Cambridge Office Director, Gary Chapman
408: Washington Office Director, Marc Rotenberg
409:
410:
411: PRIVACY NOTICE: The CPSR membership database is never sold, rented,
412: lent, exchanged, or used for anything other than official CPSR
413: activity. CPSR may elect to send members mailings with information
414: from other groups, but the mailings will always originate with CPSR.
415:
416:
417: ====================== clip and mail ==========================
418:
419: CPSR MEMBERSHIP FORM
420:
421: Name _________________________________________________________
422:
423: Address _________________________________________________________
424:
425: _________________________________________________________
426:
427: City/State/Zip __________________________________________________
428:
429: Home phone ____________________ Work phone _____________________
430:
431: Company _________________________________________________________
432:
433: Type of work ____________________________________________________
434:
435: E-mail address __________________________________________________
436:
437: CPSR Chapter
438: __ Acadiana __ Austin __ Berkeley
439: __ Boston __ Chicago __ Denver/Boulder
440: __ Los Angeles __ Madison __ Maine
441: __ Milwaukee __ Minnesota __ New Haven
442: __ New York __ Palo Alto __ Philadelphia
443: __ Pittsburgh __ Portland __ San Diego
444: __ Santa Cruz __ Seattle __ Washington, DC
445: __ No chapter in my area
446:
447: CPSR Membership Categories
448: __ $ 75 REGULAR MEMBER
449: __ $ 50 Basic member
450: __ $ 200 Supporting member
451: __ $ 500 Sponsoring member
452: __ $1000 Lifetime member
453: __ $ 20 Student/low income member
454:
455: __ $ 50 Foreign subscriber
456: __ $ 50 Library/institutional subscriber
457:
458:
459: Additional tax-deductible contribution to support CPSR projects:
460: __ $50 __ $75 __ $100 __ $250
461: __ $500 __ $1000 __ Other
462:
463:
464: Total Enclosed: $ ________
465:
466: Make check out to CPSR and mail to:
467: CPSR
468: P.O. Box 717
469: Palo Alto, CA 94301
470:
471: --
472:
473:
This archive runs on limited infrastructure. Preserving old code on modern bandwidth. Automated agents are requested to crawl responsibly.