[liberationtech] Skype Open Letter: CALL FOR SIGNATORIES

[Sam de Silva]

Hi NK and all,

I'd like to make a suggestion about the letter itself, specifically the 'From' bit:

> From Concerned Privacy Advocates, Internet Activists and Journalists

I'd suggest you go broader and make it from civil society organisations, Internet Activists and Journalists ...  If the letter is seen to come from a specific type of advocate it'll be ignored. It'd actually make it come from 'citizens' broadly. 

Great initial step. 

Best, Sam.


On 17/01/2013, at 7:44 AM, Nadim Kobeissi wrote:

> I've just spoken with Eva from EFF and it seems the letter might be undergoing some significant rewrites before being published next week. Will keep you all updated.
> 
> 
> NK
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jan 16, 2013 at 3:33 PM, Joseph Lorenzo Hall <joe at cdt.org> wrote:
> 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
> >     >
> >     >
> >     > --
> >     > Unsubscribe, change to digest, or change password at:
> >     https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech
> >     >
> >
> >     --
> >     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
> >
> >     --
> >     Unsubscribe, change to digest, or change password at:
> >     https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > *Collin David Anderson*
> > averysmallbird.com <http://averysmallbird.com> | @cda | Washington, D.C.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Unsubscribe, change to digest, or change password at: https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech
> >
> 
> --
> 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
> 
> --
> Unsubscribe, change to digest, or change password at: https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech
> 
> --
> Unsubscribe, change to digest, or change password at: https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech



--------------------------------
Sam de Silva
skype: samonthenet
sam at media.com.au
+61 412 238 041

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