[liberationtech] Skype Open Letter: CALL FOR SIGNATORIES

[Joseph Lorenzo Hall]

That makes a lot of sense. best, Joe

On 1/16/13 3:25 PM, Collin Anderson wrote:
> 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
> <mailto: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
>     (p) 202-407-8825
>     (f) 202-637-0968
>     joe at cdt.org <mailto:joe at cdt.org>
>     PGP: https://josephhall.org/gpg-key
> 
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> *Collin David Anderson*
> averysmallbird.com <http://averysmallbird.com> | @cda | Washington, D.C.
> 
> 
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-- 
Joseph Lorenzo Hall
Senior Staff Technologist
Center for Democracy & Technology
1634 I ST NW STE 1100
Washington DC 20006-4011
(p) 202-407-8825
(f) 202-637-0968
joe at cdt.org
PGP: https://josephhall.org/gpg-key