EPIC, Coalition Call for Ban on Law Enforcement Use of Facial Recognition

facial recognition surveillance

EPIC, Coalition Call for Ban on Law Enforcement Use of Facial Recognition

In a statement of concerns, EPIC and a coalition of more than 40 privacy, civil liberties, immigrants rights, and good government groups stated that “the most comprehensive approach to addressing the harms of face recognition would be to entirely cease its use by law enforcement.” The statement lists six concerns with police use of the technology that can only be addressed by halting its use. The coalition calls for a moratorium or ban on use of facial recognition and urges Congress to not preempt state or local bans in any federal legislation addressing facial recognition. EPIC recently organized a coalition letter that led to the shutdown of a DC-area facial recognition system previously used on Black Lives Matter protesters. EPIC leads a campaign to Ban Face Surveillance and through the Public Voice Coalition has gathered support from over 100 organizations and experts from more than 30 countries.

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4 easy gardening tips  | The Homestead Survival

Is this the first time you’ll start gardening? Simply because you haven’t had a garden for years or because you thought gardening wasn’t something you could do? No problem! Gardening isn’t as hard as many people think. Buying new plants, dutch tulip bulbs or vegetables, fruits and herbs is sometimes the most difficult. Just because there are so many choices. Gardening itself is something which can be learned very easily. Need some help to start your own garden? Here are 4 easy gardening tips for beginners! 

gardening tips 

1. Make use of the sunlight 

Miscalculating the importance of sunlight is very much the worst thing you can do while building your own garden. Use the weeks before you start gardening by paying attention to the way the sunlight moves through your garden. Which areas receive pretty much the most sunlight and which ones don’t? Most edible plants need at least 6 hours sunlight a day to survive and eventually thrive. Make sure you’ll give this to them. Otherwise the chances are slim your plants will thrive this year. 

2. Choose plants for beginners 

Some plants are very hard to grow and others don’t need much attention. As a beginner it’s a good thing to know these plants exist. Start off with some easy plants to grow. So you’ll have the time you need to discover your own gardening skills and expand these. When you get more experienced, you can also choose new plants. Don’t rush into things. Otherwise you’ll will only be discouraged by the results. 

3. Buy great soil 

Plants will need great soil to blossom. That’s why it’s important to use all the time you can get to discover all the different kinds of soil. When possible ask advice from a professional gardener. So you’ll definitely know you have made the right choice. 

4. Create your garden near a water source

The worst thing you can do is drying out your plants. Most plants need lots of water to survive and eventually thrive. That’s why it’s important not to only water your plants quite often, but also to create your garden near a water source. It will be much less difficult to water your plants, when the water source is nearby. 

Do you find it difficult to determine when your plants need new water? The best way to tell if your plant is becoming to dry is by putting your finger an inch down into the soil. Is the soil very much dry? Than it’s time to get some new water. 

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Welcome, Rideau Canal!

We’d like to welcome Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada, to the Houseboating.org family!

Deemed one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century, the Rideau Canal is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America, and the only canal from its era that is still operational. In 2007, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognizing it as a work of “human creative genius.”

The name Rideau — French for “curtain” — is derived from the curtain-like appearance of the Rideau River’s twin waterfalls where they join the Ottawa River. The canal system uses sections of two rivers, the Rideau and the Cataraqui, as well as several lakes. Winding 202km (that’s 125 miles, for those of us who struggle with the metric system) from Ottawa to Kingston, the Rideau Canal is filled with new experiences waiting to be explored.

Along the canal, there are 24 lockstations and 47 locks. A lock in a canal is essentially a dam, and it keeps the water at the top and bottom from flowing too fast. Each lock on the Rideau Canal has 3 to 4 staff members ready to help out in any way they can as you pass through.

Your group will cruise in comfort as you enjoy Le Boat’s fleet of Horizon houseboats. Each model has a slightly different cabin layout to accommodate up to 12 people, but all boats offer a spacious sundeck with a BBQ grill and sunbathing area. The light and open salon and fully equipped kitchen have large, oversized windows and opens up to a rear seating area through sliding glass doors.

The houseboats depart from Smiths Falls, a central location…

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Supreme Court Rules Officer’s Improper Access to License Plate Record Does Not Violate Computer Crimes Law

EPIC Amicus Filing Van Buren

Supreme Court Rules Officer’s Improper Access to License Plate Record Does Not Violate Computer Crimes Law

In today’s decision in Van Buren v. United States, the Supreme Court determined that a police officer who improperly accessed a license plate record could not be held liable under a federal computer crimes law, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. EPIC highlighted the serious privacy concerns with government employees’ improper access to sensitive personal information in government databases in the amicus brief we filed in this case, and several justices echoes these concerns during oral argument. The outcome of this case highlights the urgent need for comprehensive privacy legislation. We need enforceable rules to prevent improper access to and misuse of personal information contained in both government and private databases.

The Court also did not resolve what it means for someone to have “authorization” to access a computer or to be “entitled” to access information in the computer. The Court endorsed a general “gates-up-or-down approach”—meaning an individual either has authorization to access the computer or specific information within the computer or it does not—but explicitly left open the question whether the prohibitions on access must be technical or whether they can be contract-based. The range of criminalized activities may, in some respects, still be much broader than even the Government was advocating. Certain website terms of service that prohibit specific individuals or groups from accessing the website may still be enforceable even if the individuals have no knowledge of the restrictions and the website owners do nothing else to limit access. An 18 year-old who accesses a website restricted to those over the age of 21 may violate the CFAA, but a police officer who knowingly accesses personal information to stalk and harass the individual does not.

The Court also did not clearly answer more complicated access questions about web scraping, and the Court should grant the pending petition in LinkedIn v. hiQ Labs to resolve these questions. Web scraping involves accessing a computer using a technical method that is often prohibited by a website’s terms of service and also blocked using technical barriers. EPIC filed an amicus brief in support of the petition.

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7 Exceptional Installations And Feature You Should Never Ignore When Looking For A House

We are living in challenging times. As people migrate from the crowded cities to suburban to avoid getting Covid-19, the term affordable housing is becoming irrelevant. The cost of owning a home is increasing. On the same time, loss of jobs is diminishing potential buyers’ inventories. 

When you see a seller offering a better price, the next thing you would want to grab the house. A little delay can make you lose a golden opportunity. But before you take a step and pay your deposit, consider performing an inspection. You can hire an expert like Same Day Trades to work with you on this phase. 

Remember, looks can be deceiving. Without proper inspection, you can find yourself in regrets after moving in. Here are 7 exceptional installation and features should inspect before saying yes to the deal:

Looking For A House

The roofing

Roofing is a crucial aspect to assess in the new house. A quality and maintained roofing can serve you for 30+ years. A shoddy roofing will mean that you must replace it after some time. You need to ensure the roofing material used is of the right quality. 

Also, assess the gutters to ensure they can drain the rain water properly. Improper gutter installation can lead to flooding issues in your house. If the seller claims to have performed the inspection, you have the right to request for a review. 

You can also get a disclosure for if the state requires the sellers to do so. This way, you will avoid making a wrong decision and lose your money.

A presence of flooding zone

You are lucky. The house you are buying is not near a river or water body. Flooding will not be an issue. While that might be the case, house location does not mean you will never experience flooding issues. Modern weather are unpredictable and flooding can become a common thing in the area.

With flooding, you will need to increase your insurance premium. The insurance companies charge extra coins to people owning property in high risk flood areas. For this reason, it is important to do due diligence. 

Assess the possibility of flooding cases in your area. You can visit the local authority offices for information about the areas flood risks. With this information, you will know whether to close the deal or not.      

Data points

Remote working is the new normal. People are working and holding meeting virtually. When buying a home, internet connection need to be a priority. You need to assess whether the house is internet-ready or not. Check the data point installation to ensure you can extend your internet connectivity across the rooms.

If there are no such features, you can request the seller to install data point. Or else, you can hire reputable companies like Same Day Trades to do the work and request for deduction of the cost from the house price. Remember, without such features it will be hard for you to perform your office assignments or suffer from poor…

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Do you Need a License to Drive a Boat?

Most people experience a slight degree of nervousness before getting behind the wheel of a houseboat for the first time. However, if you’re familiar with driving a car, then you will have no problem maneuvering a houseboat.

Rest assured that our knowledgeable team at Forever Houseboats will train and answer any questions you may have before you leave the dock.

One of the most common questions we get asked is if a license is needed to drive a boat. We will discuss this as well as answer other frequently asked questions to help you prepare for your first houseboating vacation.

Q: Do you need a license to drive a boat?

A: Yes, you will need to provide a valid driver’s license to drive a houseboat. Additionally, some states require a boating license or safety certification. You can check your state’s boating license rules and requirements here.

Q: Is there a minimum age requirement to drive a Forever Houseboat?

A: Yes, you must be at least 21 years of age.

Q: Are there any safety courses I can take?

A: Yes, in fact if you complete a state approved, NASBLA certified boating safety course, we will offer you a $50 discount on any Forever Resorts houseboat rental! Learn more here.

Q: How can I prepare for my trip?

A: We’ve created a few short video clips to help you prepare for your first houseboating trip. Also, there are several pages on our website with useful information. You’ll learn about safety, the boat’s water system, and how to anchor properly.

Q: Will there be in-person training when I get there? 

A: Absolutely. We want you to feel as comfortable as possible when you rent a Forever Houseboat for the first time. One of our friendly team members will instruct you on everything you need to know about safely…

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EPIC Student Privacy Project Featured in Kennedy School Casebook

student privacy

EPIC Student Privacy Project Featured in Kennedy School Casebook

EPIC’s Student Privacy Project has been selected for inclusion in the spring 2021 Tech Spotlight Casebook, a publication of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. The casebook “recognizes projects and initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to public purpose in the areas of digital, biotech, and future of work.” The book highlights EPIC’s recent efforts to halt the use of unfair, unreliable, and invasive remote proctoring tools and the D.C. consumer protection complaint EPIC filed against online proctoring firms. “Through meticulous research, the Student Privacy Project revealed the extent to which these companies collect and process student personal and biometric data,” the casebook explains. “The complaint attempts to hold the five companies accountable for their practices by demonstrating how the data collection and processing practices may violate existing law.” The casebook also recognizes recent work around census privacy protections, community control over police surveillance, racially biased speech recognition tools, and the use of “garbage” facial recognition to identify criminal suspects. A ceremony will be held Thursday, May 20 at 1 p.m. ET.

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4 Indoor Homestead Hacks Everyone Should Know

From using old sweaters for storage to use egg cartons for organizing jewelry, here are some top Indoor Homestead Hacks Everyone Should Know.

Why Homestead Hacks?

Hacks make our life easy and reliable; We often use them from a small scale to a big scale in daily life because hacks save time, energy, and money. Indoor homestead hacks everyone should know for the simple solutions to get organized, and they help you in household improvements.

Further Reading: New Uses For household items

Top 4 indoor homestead hacks

1 Ziplock Bag Hack

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Organize your chargers and wires by keeping them in a ziplock bag instead of keeping them in a big box unorganized. You can also use a ziplock bag for battery storage and sorting. You can put different batteries in different bags and write on bags about the batteries, like charged batteries and uncharged batteries.

2 Mailer Box Hack

Photo by rizki rama28 on Unsplash

Mailer box is super helpful, especially in the case of seeds; mailer box helps store out seeds because you can write upon them about seeds. You can also paint them, make images of the contents, and write the seed description outside the box.

3 Old Sweater Hack

Photo by Sam Lion from Pexels

We can easily use an old sweater for multiple purposes, from storage of veggies like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions to make beautiful covers for chairs and pillows. This one is one of the money-saving homestead hacks!

4 Egg Carton Hack

Photo by Dziana Hasanbekava from Pexels

Egg cardboard cartons are handy for holding tempera paints, especially for children. Because it has multiple cups, you can pour different colors into fresh cups. We can also use it for jewelry storage; you can store different jewelry in different compartments because of multiple compartments.

Read More: Homesteading House hacks self-sufficiency list.

Homestead Hacks-Signing Off!

These indoor homestead hacks everyone should know because these make your daily life easy and organized. Be creative and use hacks. And share this article and don’t forget to let me know about your valuable opinion.

 

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Quiz: What’s the Best Small Houseboat for me?

For first-time houseboaters, or small families looking to spend a few days on the lake, renting a small houseboat is the way to go. They’re easier to maneuver, park, and control in windy conditions. Not to mention they are also the most budget-friendly option.   

If you’re looking to rent a small houseboat on Lake Powell, Lake Mead, or Lake Mohave, take the short quiz below to figure out which is right for you.

 

#1. When looking at prices…

a. I tend to stick to the cheapest option. 

b. I don’t mind spending a little extra for additional amenities.

c. I’m not too concerned.

 

#2. I need at least ____ bedrooms.

a. 2 total

b. 4 total

c. 4 private

 

#3. Width of the houseboat is important to me.

a. Disagree 

b. Somewhat agree

c. Agree! Give me extra space, please

 

#4. Additional amenities are a must.

a. Disagree

b. I’m fine with a little something extra 

c. Yes! DirecTV access and a wet bar would be a nice addition to my stay.

 

#5. Are you planning on having a party?

a. No, wasn’t planning on inviting anyone else.

b. Yes, I’m inviting a few friends to join (up to 12 allowed while the boat is in motion)

c. Yes, I’m inviting a whole bunch of people! (Although only up to 12 people are allowed while the boat is in motion)

 

Answers:

If you answered mostly a’s you should rent: The 50’ Forever or 50’ XT

If you answered mostly b’s you should rent: The 56’ Getaway or 59’ Deluxe

If you answered mostly c’s you should rent: The 60’ Eagle
 

To see a full list of houseboats we offer by marina, visit this webpage. Before you book, make sure to check out our special offers page, too! To start your small houseboat reservation, visit our website or give us a call at 1-800-255-5561. Our friendly staff will be…

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Top Human Rights Court Rules UK Mass Surveillance Program Violated Privacy Rights

European Court of Human Rights NSA PRISM

Top Human Rights Court Rules UK Mass Surveillance Program Violated Privacy Rights

This week, the grand chamber of the European Court of Human Rights issued a final judgement in Big Brother Watch v. UK confirming that the UK’s intelligence agency violated the right to privacy by systematically intercepting online communications without first applying necessary safeguards. The agency’s mass surveillance program was “not in accordance with [EU] law,” which only allows governments to retain data in an effort to combat “serious crime” and requires a court or administrative body to sign off on data collection. The UK law at issue was not limited to serious crime, nor did it require independent authorization; these “fundamental deficiencies” impermissibly increased the “risk of the bulk interception power being abused.” Nevertheless, the grand chamber found that the agency’s decision to operate a bulk interception program did not itself violate human rights, and the agency’s sharing of sensitive digital intelligence with foreign counterparts–including with the NSA–was legal. Several chamber judges believed this ruling did not go far enough to condemn the sharing of wrongfully collected communications with other countries, noting the chamber “missed an excellent opportunity to fully uphold the importance of private life … when faced with interference in the form of mass surveillance.” EPIC has a strong interest in protecting the human right to privacy and has continuously opposed suspicionless mass collection of personal communications by domestic and foreign governments. EPIC participated in this case as a third-party intervenor and filed a brief describing U.S. intelligence authorities that allow the NSA to access the private communications of non-U.S. persons in violation of their rights. EPIC was also chosen by the Irish High Court to make amicus submissions in a case involving the international transfer of data from European servers to the U.S. in violation of E.U. law.

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