Perhaps you’ve heard that before. If you grew up in the United States, you’ve certainly heard that said once or twice in your lifetime. Hell, maybe you’ve said it.
Freedom isn’t free.
Have you ever really thought about that phrase? It has a nice ring to it, but what does it mean exactly?
Freedom isn’t free.
In the United States, we often celebrate the Fourth of July as our Independence Day. We proclaimed our independence from Great Britain and, from that day forward, the rebellion became a revolution with a purpose: freedom from the crown.
July 4th, 1776 is not actually the day freedom was achieved, however. September 3rd, 1783 was the day Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which recognized and granted the Thirteen Colonies their independence after their eight-year-long fight for freedom. Even then, it wouldn’t be ratified until May 12, 1784, which is over nine years removed from the Battles of Concord and Lexington.
Freedom isn’t free.
But with all that being said, none of those dates actually represent “freedom” in its purest, most unadulterated form. That day is June 19th, 1865. 160 years ago today.
Now this is not an article about Juneteenth. This is an article posted on the date of Juneteenth to drive home the point of the article.
Freedom isn’t free.
The American Civil War is the United States of America’s defining tragedy of the 19th century. Brother versus brother, bloodshed and battles to maintain bondage. While I do believe it is fascinating to research the War Between the States, I also find very little honor in the conflict. I find it more tragic than anything else.
But in the American Civil War, comes a story of a man so remarkable, so brave, that I can’t help but marvel in awe when I think about it.
This is about Robert Smalls, the man who was born a slave and sailed his way to freedom.
Freedom isn’t free.
Robert Smalls was born in a cabin behind his slavemaster’s house at 511 Prince Street in Beaufort, South Carolina. At age 12, he was sent to Charleston to labor. It was there that he was introduced to working on the docks and wharves, where after years of work, the still-enslaved Smalls became a wheelman (a helmsman without the proper title) of the CSS Planter.
Robert Smalls would gain invaluable experience that would directly benefit him on what would be the most important day of his life: May 12th, 1862.
Freedom isn’t free.
Smalls, having spent his time studying the Captain’s signals and mannerisms, hatched a plan to escape. Then, on the night of May 12th, the ship’s white crew left Smalls and other slaves in charge while the crew spent the night ashore.
Smalls, knowing this would be the opportunity, asked if the families of the slaves could visit while the crew was ashore. With that permission granted, the life or death plan went into action.
Robert Smalls, when the time became opportune, disguised himself in the Captain’s clothing and hat, mimicking his mannerisms and signals. Having been able to pass not one, but four checkpoints, Smalls, the other enslaved people and their families sailed toward the Union blockade. Still flying high on the Planter, they removed the Confederate flag and replaced it with a white bedsheet; this crew of Pirates had successfully sailed their way to freedom.
“I am delivering this war material including these cannons and I think [President] Lincoln can put them to good use,” is reportedly the words uttered by Smalls upon the surrender of the ship.
Freedom isn’t free.
For Smalls and the families he helped escape that night, freedom had come. But freedom in this country was not accomplished with men and women still in bondage; and for Smalls: the fight wasn’t over yet either.
For his bravery and deliverance of the CSS Planter, Robert Smalls was named the first black Captain of the US Navy, became an overnight sensation in the Union and a pariah in the Confederacy. The bounty on the life of Robert Smalls from the Richmond government nearly half of what the D.C. government valued the Planter at.
During the war, Smalls would captain the now USS Planter in battle against the Confederacy. The man who was sent to involuntary service and bondage aboard this ship was now the man commanding it.
It was Smalls and his actions that convinced Lincoln to allow freedmen to fight for the Union cause. If the North’s purpose was to maintain the Union when the war first broke out, it was the actions of Smalls and the bravery of many free black soldiers that turned the purpose of the war into preserving the Union and abolishing slavery where it remained.
It was on New Year’s Day, January 1st, 1863, did President Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all enslaved peoples within the rebelling states to be free. But that news didn’t reach everyone quite as quick.
It wouldn’t be until June 19th, 1865, 160 years ago today, that the final people in bondage were told about their freedom. It would be June 19th that marked the day that, finally, 90 years removed from the Revolution against Great Britain could it be stated: All citizens are free.
Freedom isn’t free.
The United States Pirate Party, as part of our platform, advocates for self-determination. As outlined in our platform: “We advocate for the right to free association and self-determination. People living in a political entity should have the right to maintain, alter or conclude their relationship to larger entities, or join in union, if it is the will of the people.”
People have asked members of the party how they feel about the confederacy when this point is brought up, asking if we would support their calls and desire for secession.
The answer is “no”.
The CSA was a slaver nation. So long as folks were held in bondage, then “people living in a political entity” doesn’t apply to all people of the Confederacy, and thus the CSA is not something the US Pirate Party supports. We support the will of the people.
What Robert Smalls did, not only for himself and the people he saved, is nothing short of heroic. The Union was the freedom that wouldn’t come free, and Smalls sailed straight to it. People look back on the Civil War and remember the heroes of the Union Army and occasionally get caught up in the Grants or Shermans or some might focus on the Lees or Jacksons. But today, on the day that marks freedom for all of us in the United States, we remember Captain Smalls.
Robert Smalls would go on to become one of the most important and influential politicians of the Reconstruction era and in South Carolina. He would return to Beaufort to purchase his new home: 511 Prince Street. The home he was once a slave in was now the home he owned.
It is on this day we should take the time to remember that freedom, something that we associate with the United States, wasn’t simply granted to us on the July 4th, 1776. It is important to remember not everyone was freed on New Year’s Day, 1863. It is today, June 19th, that deserves the name “Freedom Day”.
So in honor of Robert Smalls, his bravery and the struggles many in this country had to face just to be considered free citizens, we must not only remember, but never forget.
In November 2023, @edri, @LaQuadrature, Access Now, ARTICLE 19, and @ecnl filed a complaint against the French decree implementing the EU regulation addressing the dissemination of 'terrorist content' online.
❌ This regulation is incompatible with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights ❌
On Monday, the French supreme administrative court rejected our arguments and refused to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
In November 2023, La Quadrature du Net, Access Now, ARTICLE 19, European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL), European Digital Rights (EDRi) and Wikimedia France filed a complaint against the French decree implementing the European Union’s (EU) Regu…
We need younger, knowledgeable people to get into politics. We must replace the politicians who view technology, the Internet, freedom of speech, privacy, etc. as frivolous and optional.
It’s the 87th day that Rümeysa Öztürk is facing deportation by the United States government for writing an op-ed it didn’t like, and journalists covering protests are still facing aggression from law enforcement. Read on to learn how you can help.
Five ways to help journalists covering protests
Like other protests, recent immigration raid protests in Los Angeles and elsewhere have proven to be dangerous places for journalists. Reporters and protestors are especially vulnerable to attacks by the police. In response, we’ve put together five ideas for how anyone who cares about press freedom and doesn’t want to see the authorities abuse the First Amendment can help.
From providing financial support to reporters and news outlets to filming attacks when it’s safe to filing public records requests, there are many things people can do to stand up for journalists and freedom of the press in this moment. With your help, journalists can and will continue to report the truth. Read more here.
Monday marked the second anniversary of the passing of legendary whistleblower, anti-war hero, and FPF co-founder Daniel Ellsberg. His courageous decision to leak the Pentagon Papers to the press in 1971 led to the most important Supreme Court case for press freedom in the century.
Read the moving tribute that our executive director, Trevor Timm, wrote for the Guardian after Ellsberg’s passing. You can also check out The Classifieds to see the work that Harper, our Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy, has been doing.
And if you’re considering following in Ellsberg’s footsteps, here’s a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” about how the public can safely share information with the press and use available tools to do so, featuring FPF’s Chief Information Security Officer and Director of Digital Security Harlo Holmes and SecureDrop Staff Engineer Kevin O’Gorman.
Agencies hijack the ‘public interest’ to attack free speech
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr has turned the investigatory power of the agency against the press, while the Department of Justice is pursuing investigations into nonprofits connected to left-leaning causes.
One hook both are using to intrude on First Amendment activity is requirements that broadcast licensees and nonprofits operate in the “public interest” or for the “public benefit,” which the Trump administration interprets to mean kowtowing to its political agenda. To learn more, we spoke to FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez and nonprofit lawyer Ezra Reese. Read more and watch the conversation here.
Preparing devices for travel through a US border
Our digital security team at Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), in collaboration with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, put together a detailed checklist to help journalists prepare for transit through a U.S. port of entry while preserving the confidentiality of their most sensitive information, such as unpublished reporting materials or source contact information. Read it here. FPF and its partners are also conducting two in-person training programs for journalists and freelancers who cover migration and events on the U.S. border with Mexico.
Public records shouldn’t be blocked by copyright
FPF joined an amicus brief led by Americans for Prosperity in a case that raises the increasingly common issue of whether the Copyright Act allows government agencies to withhold public records. In short, it doesn’t. Read the brief here.
Pushing back on secrecy through public records
Join us on June 24 at 1 p.m. ET for an online conversation about using public records to push back on government secrecy, featuring Nate Jones, Freedom of Information Act Director at The Washington Post, Michael Morisy, CEO of MuckRock, investigative journalist and author Miranda Spivack and FPF’s Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy, Lauren Harper. Register here.
Trump to again extend TikTok’s reprieve from U.S. ban(The New York Times). Isn’t it weird how all the national security hawks have gone silent about the imminent, serious threat to the U.S. that TikTok supposedly poses? It’s almost like it was BS the whole time.
Israeli strike on Iranian state TV fills studio with dust and debris during live broadcast (Associated Press). News outlets, even propagandist ones, are not legitimate military targets. Bombing a studio during a live broadcast will not impede Iran’s nuclear program. It’s not the work of the world’s “most moral army” and is not something the U.S. should support.
In a Sacramento federal courtroom, immigration hearings evoked the Dark Ages (Sacramento Bee). “At a time when there is great public interest in ICE and the Trump Administration’s plan for mass deportations, keeping the public and the press at bay will only stoke mistrust and is in no one’s best interest.”
The immigration raid protests that began on June 6, 2025, in Los Angeles and spread to other cities across the U.S. have shown, once again, that protests are one of the most dangerous places for journalists in America.
As of today, the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker has documented more than 20 press freedom incidents involving journalists covering protests in California, most of them instigated by law enforcement, and is investigating numerous others in California and other states.
When the police detain, assault, and attack journalists covering protests, it can prevent them from reporting the news and the public from learning about newsworthy events. That’s why we all must condemn police attacks on the press and take action to stop them in the future.
If you don’t want to see the authorities abuse journalists and the First Amendment during protests, here are five things you can do to help.
1. Support local journalism.
Many of the journalists covering recent protests have been freelancers or reporters for smaller, local outlets. They could undoubtedly use your financial support. In recent years, many local news sources have struggled or even shuttered completely because they simply can’t make enough money to support themselves.
Your monetary support is what keeps the lights on and pays for the journalists who report from protests. Consider buying a subscription to news outlets that are sending journalists to cover protests in your community, or subscribing or donating to freelance journalists.
In Los Angeles, journalists for the small news outlets L.A. Taco and The Southlander have faced press freedom aggressions while covering recent protests, as have freelancers like Joey Scott. Journalists at commercial broadcasters like KTLA, KVEA, and KNBC, and larger outlets like the Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, CNN, and the New York Post have also experienced press freedom incidents.
If you can’t support local outlets monetarily, you can also contribute to them through letters to the editor and op-eds making clear that you value their work and want them to be able to report safely. Even social media posts and reposts help.
2. Support injured journalists and journalists’ legal defense funds.
In addition to providing financial support to news outlets, individual journalists injured by law enforcement could use your help, as could the legal defense services that assist them.
For example, independent photojournalist Nick Stern suffered a severe injury at the recent LA protests. Stern is recovering from emergency surgery after being shot in the leg with a crowd-control munition. His friends started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his medical bills.
In addition, The Intercept, in partnership with CalMatters and the National Press Photographers Association, has launched a rapid response fund to provide financial help for emergency medical support, among other costs, for journalists covering protests in LA.
Other journalists will need legal help to respond to unjustified arrests. The Intercept’s rapid response fund can be applied to legal expenses, as can the Society of Professional Journalists’ Legal Defense Fund. Both groups accept donations.
Another organization you may want to support is the Los Angeles Press Club, which, with help from another group worthy of your donations, the First Amendment Coalition, is suing local law enforcement for violating journalists’ First Amendment rights.
3. Film or record attacks and arrests of journalists, if it’s safe to do so.
Of course, financial support isn’t the only way you can help. If you witness law enforcement arresting or attacking journalists covering a protest and it is safe for you to do so, you should consider recording the incident.
Creating a record of journalists’ arrests and assaults can help hold police accountable. Publishing videos or photographs deters misconduct by bringing negative attention to police. Recordings, pictures, and witness statements can also be useful in future lawsuits. So, if possible, you should give copies of your recordings and contact information directly to the journalist or their news outlets.
Even if you see others recording, your recording may capture a useful angle that rebuts false narratives. For example, in this video an officer adamantly accuses ABC’s Matt Guttman of having provoked an altercation by “touching” him, but this video shows that it was the officer who pushed Guttman, who, at most, reflexively grabbed the officer’s arm to steady himself after being assaulted.
The public has a First Amendment right to record police in the performance of their official duties in public, including at protests. Of course, the existence of that right doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe to exercise it. Police have been known to attack or arrest people who film them or take their pictures, and other laws may allow police to require non-journalists to disperse or move back. You should assess your personal risk and the laws in your jurisdiction before deciding to take pictures or videos of police arresting or attacking journalists.
4. Submit requests for public records and bodycam footage.
Even if you can’t document police action against journalists at protests while they’re underway, you may be able to unearth valuable documentation after the fact using public records requests.
You don’t have to be a journalist to submit a records request. Organizations like MuckRock have easy-to-follow tools and guidance for submitting and tracking requests, and examples of requests from others that you can crib from.
5. Call on lawmakers to end qualified immunity.
Finally, one of the reasons that police feel emboldened to violate First Amendment rights of both protesters and journalists is because they know they can get away with it. A legal doctrine known as qualified immunity often protects police and other government officials from civil claims that they’ve violated a person’s constitutional rights. Police have invoked qualified immunity in cases brought by journalists alleging violations of their First Amendment rights, sometimes successfully and sometimes not.
Today, a few states ban or limit the ability of the police to invoke qualified immunity. Congress has introduced, but not passed, a bill to end qualified immunity. If you don’t want police to be able to attack protesters and journalists with impunity, contact your state and federal representatives and tell them to end qualified immunity.
What all five of these ideas have in common is that they call on you to exercise your First Amendment rights to protect journalists who are using theirs. Whether you’re supporting journalists’ work, documenting abuses, or contacting your representatives, your voice matters. With your help, journalists can and will continue to report the truth.
On March 11, 2025, the European Commission published a new legislative proposal for a ‘Return Regulation’ which is set to expand the detention and deportation of migrant people, including children, in the EU.
The European Pirates have appointed Mattias ” Mab” Bjärnemalm as the first Secretary General for the organisation. Mattias Bjärnemalm, a senior member of the first Pirate Party in Sweden, has until recently been working as a Policy Advisor and Pirate Network Officer for the Pirate Delegation in the European Parliament. He was instrumental in negotiating the agreement between the Pirates and the Greens/EFA Group that lays out the details of the collaboration between the two political families. Previously, he worked as Head of Office for two Pirate Members of Parliament. He is the founder of the Young Pirates in Sweden, and was involved in the founding of both the European Pirate Party and the Young Pirates of Europe.
– We are very lucky to have appointed Mab for this role. His organisational skills and his long experience within the movement will be central to building up the office of the European Pirates and defining the role of the Secretary General, says Florian Roussel, Chairperson of the European Pirates.
The position of Secretary General was created this year to develop the office of the European Pirates into a thriving and inclusive volunteer-led organisation, and to respond to the results of the 2024 European elections.
– I am thrilled for this chance to build something new in the pirate movement! We are still a young political movement, with a lot of potential. It will be exciting to see how we best utilise all that potential, together with the board and all our activists. says Mattias Bjärnemalm.
The Secretary General will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the office of the European Pirates. The position is appointed annually, and reports directly to the board.
Décidément, en matière de censure sur Internet, le Conseil d'État est prêt à tout. Lundi, il a rejeté le recours de @LaQuadrature, Access Now, @article19, @ecnl, @edri et @Wikimedia_Fr contre le Règlement européen de censure des contenus terroristes (#Terreg). Nos organisations dénoncent la confiscation du débat juridique qui aurait dû se dérouler devant la Cour de justice de l'UE (CJUE).
En novembre 2023, La Quadrature du Net, Access Now, ARTICLE 19, European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL), European Digital Rights (EDRi) et Wikimedia France lançaient une action en justice contre le décret français d’application du Règlement eur…
Nous attaquions le décret français d'application de la loi adaptant le Terreg. Rien de très compliqué en réalité : nous disions que le Terreg est contraire au droit de l'UE, donc que tous les actes pris pour son application le sont également. Mais seule la CJUE peut annuler un règlement de l'UE : nous demandions donc au Conseil d'État de renvoyer l'affaire. Raté.
Pour rejeter notre recours, le Conseil d'État estime que le Terreg est conforme aux règles européennes et qu'il n'est pas nécessaire de saisir la CJUE. Ce faisant, il confisque le débat en empêchant la CJUE de se prononcer sur le sujet.
Et cette décision est d'autant plus illégitime que le Conseil d'État était dans l'obligation de transmettre l'affaire : nous avions en effet mis en évidence un certain nombre de points qui étaient de nature à créer un doute quant à la conformité du Terreg.
En effet, il n'est pas nécessaire d'emporter la conviction totale d'une juridiction d'un État membre pour que celle-ci doive transmettre l'affaire : le « doute » suffit.
Cela n'a pas arrêté le Conseil d'État. Alors que la jurisprudence de la CJUE exige beaucoup de garde-fous (absents du Terreg) lorsque les droits fondamentaux sont en jeu, le Conseil d'État ne voit rien de problématique.
Le Conseil d'État ose ainsi par exemple affirmer qu'il n'y a pas de problème de droit au recours effectif puisque, même si le délai d'une heure imposé aux hébergeurs pour qu'ils retirent un contenu notifié par la police ne permet pas de saisir à temps la justice, tout va bien puisque le Terreg exige des États membres qu'ils prévoient des voies de recours effectifs. Vous n'avez rien compris ? Nous non plus. La cascade est réalisée par des professionnels, ne tentez pas ça chez vous.
Le Conseil d'État fait de la politique. La Quadrature le dit et le répète depuis longtemps. En voici un énième exemple, après le triste précédent du blocage de TikTok en Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Mais nos organisations ne s'arrêteront pas là. Nous continuons la bataille, politique et juridique, contre la censure en ligne et contre le Terreg. Alors pour nous aider, vous pouvez faire un don à La Quadrature : laquadrature.net/donner
C'EST PAS DE
L'IA
Quand on entend parler d'intelligence artificielle, c'est l'histoire d'un mythe moderne qui nous est racontée. Celui d'une IA miraculeuse qui doit sauver le monde, ou d'une IA douée de volonté qui voudrait le détruire.
Pas de panique, c'est une IA qui a écrit ça. Des gens censés vont tout arranger.
Edit : ça flaire vraiment l'IA. Au conseil d'État, quelqu'un aura fait un prompt : "Rédige un argumentaire de rejet en expliquant qu'on s'en bat les couilles. Avec de jolis mots."
Every Thursday of the week, Bastian’s Night is broadcast from 21:30 CET (new time).
Bastian’s Night is a live talk show in German with lots of music, a weekly round-up of news from around the world, and a glimpse into the host’s crazy week in the pirate movement aka Cabinet of Curiosities.
From Daniel Ellsberg’s Pentagon Papers to Edward Snowden’s National Security Agency surveillance disclosures, whistleblowers have been behind some of the most impactful revelations in American history.
Both Ellsberg and Snowden risked their safety and personal freedom to leak documents to the press. While whistleblowers face similar risks today, they can protect their identities using modern whistleblowing platforms like SecureDrop — a project of Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) — and anonymity systems like the Tor Network.
To answer questions about how the public can safely share information with the press and use available tools to do so, FPF’s Chief Information Security Officer and Director of Digital Security Harlo Holmes and SecureDrop Staff Engineer Kevin O’Gorman engaged with Reddit’s r/IAmA community members on June 10 in a Q&A session.
The following select questions from various Reddit users, and Holmes and O’Gorman’s answers, have been edited for brevity and clarity. You can view the full thread here.
If I were a whistleblower with top-secret information, how would I get it to the newspapers without getting caught? What’s the high-level process like?
Harlo: There are a lot of variables that you’d have to consider and would only know of once you’re in that position! But, please know that whistleblowing is a hugely heroic act and there are always risks. Not only is there the possibility of “getting caught,” as you say, there is the prospect of retaliation down the line, loss of livelihood, and a lot of trauma that comes with making such a huge decision.
Other higher-level processes have to do with the aftermath. In a newsroom, journalists and their editorial team deliberate a lot about how best to write the story with what the whistleblower has supplied them. This may mean weighing matters of security, reputation, and the protection of everyone involved.
About a year ago, Signal introduced phone number privacy and usernames, effectively enabling Signal users to be (almost) anonymous if they want to. And major news outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian accept tips through Signal. Can you tell me how SecureDrop is more secure and better at protecting the privacy of the whistleblower?
Harlo: They’re both good. It’s all about “right-sizing” your tipline support. SecureDrop can be beyond the budget or bandwidth for some small newsmakers, and that’s why we at FPF can help in building a solution that fits. Fundamentally, a newsroom should ensure confidentiality and encryption. Both tools will get you there.
Kevin: Further to Harlo’s point, Signal’s approach is definitely better at scale and in general, while SecureDrop is designed to solve a more specific problem. That said, SecureDrop has some advantages for leaking to the press.
Signal requires a dedicated app, which leaves traces of its use. A source facing potential seizure and examination of their devices will leave fewer traces using Tor Browser. SecureDrop relies on an airgap to protect its decryption key, which protects journalists and sources by quarantining file submissions and makes it harder to target journalists with malware.
There are always trade-offs in play between security and ease of use, Signal is a solid choice and, from a purely cryptographic perspective, there’s no faulting it.
The Democrats released their own “whistleblowing” form a few months back for federal workers. That seems like a supremely bad idea, yes? It just looks like a Google form. Are there any big failures that you are aware of?
Harlo: Not my show, not my monkeys. We work with the press and are restricted from working with political parties. That said, we can share some tips regarding safer whistleblowing practices that anyone can adopt if they’re building a platform for intake!
First off, “be available everywhere.” In the past, whistleblowers have been burned because their web histories pointed directly to when and where they reached out to their journalist. So, use the commons of the internet to give people the information they need to securely establish first contact. If you’re running a tipline advertisement on your own website, use an encrypted and safe URL that will not indicate that the public has visited your explicit whistleblowing instructions.
Third-party services like Google are not your friend for the most sensitive of data. Google can definitely be subpoenaed for all the juicy whistleblower details. Find an alternative. Make your submission portals available over Tor, too! Visiting an onion address can make a huge difference.
Lastly, encrypt all the things. This means data in transit as well as at rest. If you are going to plop the next Panama Papers on your hard drive, encrypt that computer like your life depends on it.
As we have recently seen in some dramatic examples, all of the world’s encryption can’t help if the users misuse it. When you help news orgs set up SecureDrop, doesn’t this basically mean that you have to be giving them constant support to them and to whistleblowers on how to use it?
Kevin: This is the gig 😀
By design, we have no contact with whistleblowers using SecureDrop. A key property of the system is that it is self-hosted with no subpoenable third parties in the loop, including us.
But we do journalist digital security training, publish guides for whistleblowers, and work with newsrooms to ensure they’re providing prospective sources with good operational security guidelines via their sites.
On the administration side, once set up, SecureDrop instances are actually pretty low-maintenance in terms of support — most updates are automated, for example. We run a support portal available to all administrators, but probably only about half of instances ever need to reach out. The system’s applications do need frequent security updates, and while the codebase is mature at this stage we do regular audits and make changes as a result, so there is an ongoing development effort there.
What do you all think about the security of good ol’ postal mail for whistleblowers, especially if they have a hard drive or doc trove to share? Is it always better to go with a secure digital solution or is there still a utility to the old-fashioned tactics like mail and IRL dead drops?
Kevin: A lot of newsrooms still offer postal mail as an option for tips, and there are definitely cases where it makes sense. If you’re dropping multiple gigabytes worth of files for example, systems using Tor are going to be slow and prone to network issues. (SecureDrop has a hard limit of 500MB on individual submissions, partially for this reason).
But it’s important that sources remember they still need to take steps to protect their anonymity when using postal mail. Obviously, adding a return address that is associated with the source in any way is a bad idea, as is mailing it from a post office or a mailbox somewhere you spend any amount of time. So sources should be posting their tips from mailboxes somewhere they don’t normally go.
🤠 You in Amsterdam for the #IdentityWeek2025? Come hang out at booth S19! Puria and Andrea from Forkbomb will welcome you and refresh your ideas of Digital Identity. The positive ways forward, that's where we're going. Hop along!
IDENTITY WEEK is a multi-faceted conference with over 150 sessions across eight tracks, providing the most comprehensive and multi-disciplined event on the planet. It is carefully curated by an experienced team who are plugged into a global network.
Log Out è il ritrovo dei Tech Worker che dopo il lavoro vogliono incontrarsi. Un'occasione per socializzare, conoscersi, parlare del nostro lavoro o di qualsiasi altra cosa ci piaccia. Un incontro informale davanti ad una birra, un cocktail o una bibita per scaricare la stanchezza della giornata di lavoro.
Sezione bolognese di @twcita. Uno spazio per discussioni di rilevanza locale tra tech worker. Dove ci si organizza, tra una balotta e l'altra. Info & regolamento: https://t.me/twcitagruppo/80268/80519
We at Pirate Parties International (PPI) observe the recent escalation between Israel and Iran with profound concern. Israel claims to have launched preemptive strikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. However, the Netanyahu regime is already engaged in a devastating war in Gaza, and its military actions in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and now Iran appear driven more by the political survival and legacy of his leadership. The international community deserves clear evidence and transparency regarding these attacks.
On the other hand, the Iranian regime under Khamenei has also ruled atrociously. Iran continues to launch indiscriminate strikes on civilian centers, intentionally far from legitimate military targets. The Iranian regime’s persistent pursuit of nuclear weapons, support for terrorism targeting Jewish communities, and supplying military equipment to violent groups such as the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon must cease immediately.
Pirate Parties International emphasizes that diplomatic solutions must take precedence over military aggression. We are deeply worried by a conflict that threatens millions of innocent lives, risks severe nuclear incidents, and grows increasingly unpredictable. The public is rightly fearful that nuclear stockpiles may already be compromised, endangering civilians on all sides who cannot rely solely on missile defenses and shelters for safety.
We call unequivocally for an immediate ceasefire.
Our movement comprises members globally, including Pirate Party affiliates in Israel, sympathizers in Iran, and many individuals of Iranian descent living in exile. It is truly heartening that our Israeli and Iranian colleagues are communicating constructively about this crisis, openly exploring paths toward peace. We only wish the political leaders entrenched in both governments would exhibit similar wisdom and humanity.
We advocate greater freedom, transparency, and human rights for all affected populations. We strongly urge renewed grassroots dialogue and open communication channels between civilians in Israel and Iran, who share a common interest in peace and reconciliation. Past efforts to unite these communities remind us that solidarity and understanding are achievable.
We call on all parties to prioritize civilian life above all political ambitions. Pirate Parties International stands firmly for peace, transparency, and the power of people over regimes.
We at Pirate Parties International (PPI) observe the recent escalation between Israel and Iran with profound concern. Israel claims to have launched preemptive strikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. However, the Netanyahu regime is already engaged in a devastating war in Gaza, and its military actions in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and now Iran appear driven more by the political survival and legacy of his leadership. The international community deserves clear evidence and transparency regarding these attacks.
On the other hand, the Iranian regime under Khamenei has also ruled atrociously. Iran continues to launch indiscriminate strikes on civilian centers, intentionally far from legitimate military targets. The Iranian regime’s persistent pursuit of nuclear weapons, support for terrorism targeting Jewish communities, and supplying military equipment to violent groups such as the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon must cease immediately.
Pirate Parties International emphasizes that diplomatic solutions must take precedence over military aggression. We are deeply worried by a conflict that threatens millions of innocent lives, risks severe nuclear incidents, and grows increasingly unpredictable. The public is rightly fearful that nuclear stockpiles may already be compromised, endangering civilians on all sides who cannot rely solely on missile defenses and shelters for safety.
We call unequivocally for an immediate ceasefire.
Our movement comprises members globally, including Pirate Party affiliates in Israel, sympathizers in Iran, and many individuals of Iranian descent living in exile. It is truly heartening that our Israeli and Iranian colleagues are communicating constructively about this crisis, openly exploring paths toward peace. We only wish the political leaders entrenched in both governments would exhibit similar wisdom and humanity.
We advocate greater freedom, transparency, and human rights for all affected populations. We strongly urge renewed grassroots dialogue and open communication channels between civilians in Israel and Iran, who share a common interest in peace and reconciliation. Past efforts to unite these communities remind us that solidarity and understanding are achievable.
We call on all parties to prioritize civilian life above all political ambitions. Pirate Parties International stands firmly for peace, transparency, and the power of people over regimes.
Log Out è il ritrovo dei Tech Worker che dopo il lavoro vogliono incontrarsi. Un'occasione per socializzare, conoscersi, parlare del nostro lavoro o di qualsiasi altra cosa ci piaccia. Un incontro informale davanti ad una birra, un cocktail o una bibita per scaricare la stanchezza della giornata di lavoro.
Alors que l'avenir du projet de loi #simplification est rendu plus incertain du fait du revirement des député·es macronistes (lemonde.fr/politique/article/2…), l'Atelier paysan, membre de la coalition Hiatus (hiatus.ooo/), rappelle dans cet article le non-sens de la politique actuelle de soutien à l'IA et de fuite en avant des data centers : latelierpaysan.org/La-fuite-en…
Les élus Renaissance ont décidé, dimanche soir, de s’opposer au projet de loi de simplification de la vie économique lors du vote solennel prévu mardi. Ils jugent le texte dénaturé, et n’acceptent pas la suppression des zones à faibles émissions.
Inizia:Martedì Giugno 24, 2025 @ 7:15 PM GMT+02:00 (Europe/Rome)
Finisce:Martedì Giugno 24, 2025 @ 9:30 PM GMT+02:00 (Europe/Rome)
Martedì 24 giugno ci vediamo a Garbatella con il Logout di TWC Roma, il ritrovo per tech worker che vogliono incontrarsi dopo lavoro: un'occasione per socializzare, conoscersi, parlare del nostro lavoro e come organizzarci nei prossimi mesi!
Ci vediamo martedì 24 giugno, alle 19.15, alla birreria 568 di Garbatella!
Sezione romana di @twcita. Uno spazio per discussioni di rilevanza locale tra tech worker. Pure er posto giusto pe dasse na punta ogni tanto ;) Info & Regolamento: https://t.me/twcitagruppo/80268
EDRi’s position paper addresses the challenges posed by state use of spyware in the EU. It also tackles how spyware should be legally defined in a way that shields us from future harms, as well as the dangers of the proliferation of commercial spyware in Europe. After conducting a values-based analysis into spyware, the paper concludes that the only human-rights compliant approach is a full ban.
We will start by presenting a summary of the party’s current policy positions. From there we will discuss what positions/policy areas we should add. The goal is not to engage in lengthy policy debates, but to identify any gaps in the current platform, prioritize those issues we need to review and adopt positions on. Each individual policy is important, but our platform should be greater than the sum of its parts, a coherent and convincing argument for the party.
Monopoly Free Capitalism
My presentation is a study of Power and Progress focusing mostly on monopolistic forces. The study of economics tends to hide the significance of power, attributing wins and losses to merely consequences of good and bad choices in the voluntary participation in the market. But the truth is: in economics nothing is more important than power. That is a conspicuous discrepancy, which leads me to think of Assata Shakur’s words: “No one is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them.” I’m not advocating for overthrowing those with power, but rather to shrink those Goliaths down to a fair size so they can’t just crush us with one single step. By getting rid of monopolies we will be able to participate on an equal playing field. Let’s step outside the typical study of economics and give “power” the analysis it deserves. At the very least understanding power will help any individual make better choices within the system as it is today.
The mega corporations have too much power over us, and with that they have the to power buy politicians disrupting our Constitutional Republic. My presentation will cover the negative effects of monopolistic power and a method to get rid of monopolies called Monopoly Free Capitalism. Monopoly Free Capitalism which is an alternative to capitalism. Simply put, it is capitalism without monopolies. Antitrust laws aren’t working to decentralize power. Monopoly Free Capitalism will succeed where antitrust has failed. This is a solution to corruption and economic inequality.
Lunch and protecting your privacy hands on
While eating, people knowledgeable in privacy will give hands on tutorials for tech like signal or tor.
How to navigate your local government
Steve Revilak, a Pirate town meeting member in Arlington and our First Officer, discusses how town government works and how you can bring change to yours.
Review of Party Initiatives
First we will outline each of the party’s efforts, assessing their isolated efficacy, as well as their role in accomplishing the party’s overall goals. We will discuss areas we should improve and what changes we need to make. Finally, we will make plans for the next year, including how to gauge the success of our projects.
Road to Town Meeting
Kolby Blehm will discuss his community education program, currently titled “Road to Town Meeting”, which aims to educate his town on the year long cycle of town government culminating in voting together at town meeting and resetting with elections each year.
Candidate Tutorial
Captain James will give a quick intro to running for office.
Election planning for 2026
We will discuss the races we currently know we are running in for the upcoming year, as well those we might compete in. We will discuss candidate recruitment, voter outreach efforts, and overall strategy.
Die NCMEC-#Chatkontrolle 1.0 führt zu Falschmeldungen, verhindert die Verfolgung von Missbrauchstätern und gefährdet unsere Freiheit. Wir brauchen Prävention & Verfolgung der Hintermänner statt massenhaft der Weiterverbreitung hinterherzulaufen: wormser-zeitung.de/politik/pol…
Warum deutsche Ermittler auf Hinweise der halbstaatlichen amerikanischen Organisation NCMEC nicht verzichten können und was Juristen und Bürgerrechtler an dem Vorgehen kritisieren.
@N_{Dario Fadda} And if Linux users think they are untouchable because the article concentrates on Windows as ost use OS yet.. think again. You'll need to in case of one of those applying tour distro>
auditd (Linux Audit System): For monitoring system calls, file access, and process activity. systemd-journald: For logging and monitoring system events. ethtool and tcpdump: For network traffic analysis. inotify or audit rules: For file system changes detection. syslog or rsyslog: For centralized log collection and analysis.
Each has his personal choice as long he know what he do. I use WireShark instead but that is for each to choose as it demands a basic understanding of it and for the rest there is this handy site thx 2 Foss Community. linux-audit.com/system-adminis…
Quincy
in reply to Patrick Breyer • • •Danke für die ausdauernde Arbeit.
Sehr wissenswert, die ganzen Details.
Man sollte sich weiterhin hüten, #Vorratsdatenspeicherung für normal oder harmlos zu halten ...