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Protest group seeks “thousands” of pro-encryption comments to display outside Apple/FBI court hearing

Fight for the Future, the protest group that organized demonstrations in support of Apple outside its retail stores, plans to hold a demonstration outside the next Apple/FBI court hearing on March 22nd. Re/code reports that the group has created a website inviting people to voice their support for secure iPhones, comments from which will be displayed outside the U.S. District Courthouse in Riverside, California.

The FBI wants to force Apple to weaken the security measures that keep all of us safe. This is misguided, and dangerous. On March 22, when Apple goes to court, we’ll display thousands of statements from Internet users outside the courthouse.

Fight for the Future has so far had mixed success with its protests …

Its #standwithapple rallies at Apple Stores attracted only a handful of people at most stores. It is, however, the same group which organized the extremely high-profile anti-SOMA online blackouts. High-profile participating sites then included Google, Reddit, Tumbler, Twitter and Wikipedia – so perhaps online protests are its forte.

You can add your voice at the special Save Security website the group has created for the purpose. The website also has banners and photos people can use on their own websites and social media profiles.

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Comments

  1. PhilBoogie - 9 years ago

    Quite likely there won’t be a single terrorist, or terrorist wannabe, amongst these protesters. The FBI might want to take note of that.

    • pdixon1986 - 9 years ago

      i just hope though that a terrorist, or someone, doesnt decide to act given that there will be a large number of people in one place — if something does happen, then the FBI case is strengthened… :-(

      • PhilBoogie - 9 years ago

        Good grief, no. Please, no terrorist acts anymore. The world has enough problems to solve, I think we’re all better off if we live for love.

  2. 89p13 - 9 years ago

    Ben – thanks for posting this up!

  3. cameroncovington - 9 years ago

    Signed that petition. This case is too important for our voices to not be heard!

  4. pdixon1986 - 9 years ago

    hmm… a protest about ‘privacy’ by signing you name online, or standing out front in full view of camera, or by sharing you messages.

    Surely a protest about privacy and security would use apple level encryption to keep your identity etc a secret.

    I can understand people wanting to have their say and be heard, but by doing so you are kinda giving away your privacy… this is what i am having the most trouble with — is it just that you want to personal control who can look at what when, or do you want to keep everyone out, or do you want to give access at certain times, is it just about privacy on devices or in general — the whole thing is very confusing — every site that ive been to people are wanting different things… there isnt one voice for all… hence my confusion.

    • Ben Lovejoy - 9 years ago

      To me, it’s about giving people the right to choose what they do and don’t share, and with whom.

      • pdixon1986 - 9 years ago

        I understand that… but sometimes giving the people the choice isn’t always the best thing.
        There are some people who are better at making a well informed decision – but there are far too many that haven’t a clue what information they are already sharing.

        For example, pro-privacy people often criticise the FBI arguments involving terrorists as possible threats — but then those same people make an argument about protecting their bank information stored on their phone… the majority of bank fraud is caused by online banking, the use of ATMs, and even the person calling them up pretending to be the bank.

        I just worry that putting the privacy of the nation into the hands of its people with the track record the people have (just look at youtube..lol) is a very dangerous thing.

        Granted, the american government also doesnt have a great track record either.

  5. 1.Terrorism is becoming a buzzword to incite fear and doubt into situations that are largely or completely unrelated to acts of terrorism.
    2. We’ve been trying to build security and protection into computers since their inception. It seems ironic that once achieved, we’re now trying to find ways to break it down.
    3. The government has no key to my house or to my safety deposit box. When the safe was invented, the government did not demand for the combination so they could just “peek” inside… The phone has become my digital safe, and by rights, should remain private and secure.

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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