[liberationtech] Skype Open Letter: CALL FOR SIGNATORIES

[Collin Anderson]

Joe,

My experience has been that when a general letter is written with no
particular recipient, it ends up being received and acted on by *no one*.
Skype represents such a significant portion of the concern, even measured
based on traffic to this list, that it warrants direct questions and
focused efforts by civil society. I would add in that Skype's failures have
not only been ambiguity regarding transport security, but this last
particularly dark year in terms of infrastructure and client security.
The acquisition of the company by MSFT, who has strong commitments to GNI
and others, represents an unexplored opportunity to take up outstanding
concerns, and poke at this TOM issue.

However, I respect and share your broader concerns as equally legitimate,
and assure you that efforts won't be spared elsewhere. Here I think CDT
might make for a great bridge, even if it cannot participate at this moment.

Cordially,
Collin

(Signed, jealous Nadim did this before me.)


On Wed, Jan 16, 2013 at 12:05 PM, Joseph Lorenzo Hall <joe at cdt.org> wrote:

> (first post!)
>
> While CDT can't sign[1], I wanted to ask a question. (Since we can't
> sign on, I don't want you to feel like you have to answer!)
>
> I was wondering: why the focus on Skype and MSFT?
>
> If I were to answer my own question, I'd probably say the focus is
> simply due to the wide usage base of Skype, its' relative usability and
> the fact that it was at one time considered very e2e-secure.  However, I
> wonder if this isn't more powerful as a more general open letter that
> talks about the principles you note and what kinds of measures
> (propreitary?) e2e communication technologies can take, using Skype as
> an example.  Maybe another good answer is a letter has to have an
> audience and making it more general might make it more of a
> less-powerful statement than a directed letter with asks at the end.
>
> best, Joe
>
> [1] CDT rarely signs on to things.
>
> On 1/16/13 11:58 AM, Nadim Kobeissi wrote:
> > Dear Privacy Advocates and Internet Freedom Activists,
> >
> > I call on you to review the following draft for our Open Letter to Skype
> > and present your name or the name of your organization as signatories:
> >
> > http://www.skypeopenletter.com/draft/
> >
> > The letter will be released soon. Feedback is also welcome.
> >
> > Thank you,
> > NK
> >
> >
> > --
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> >
>
> --
> Joseph Lorenzo Hall
> Senior Staff Technologist
> Center for Democracy & Technology
> 1634 I ST NW STE 1100
> Washington DC 20006-4011
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> joe at cdt.org
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>
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>



-- 
*Collin David Anderson*
averysmallbird.com | @cda | Washington, D.C.
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