Raegan MacDonald

digital policy, leadership, & human rights @aspirationtech | formerly @mozilla, @accessnow, @df_fund and @edri board | 🇨🇦 🇧🇪

[Meredith Whittaker @mer__edith]

📣🚨 BAT SIGNAL: A law in France that would mandate a backdoor in end to end encrypted communications is set for a vote within the next day, after some start-stop skirmishes. 

The French Narcotraffic law would require encrypted communications providers—like Signal—create a backdoor by giving the government the ability to add themselves to any group or chat they like. In the name of (checks notes) fighting drug trafficking. 

While those hyping this bad law have rushed to assure French politicians that the proposal isn’t’ ‘breaking encryption’ their arguments are as tedious as they are stale as they are laughable. For those catching up, let’s review the basics: end to end encryption must only have two ‘ends’—sender and recipient(s). Otherwise, it is backdoored. Whatever method is devised to add a ‘third end’ —from a perverted PRNG in a cryptographic protocol, to vendor-provided government software grafted onto the side of secure communications that allow said government to add themselves to your chats—it rips a hole in the hull of private communications and is a backdoor. 

Indeed, the ghost participant proposal was roundly rebuked (humiliated, even) when it was first proposed in 2019 in the UK. The technical community was united, and it was never implemented in law or otherwise. 

We cannot accept any backdoor, however it’s dressed up. Communications don’t stay within jurisdictional boundaries. Which means a hole created in France becomes a vector for anyone wanting to undermine Signal’s robust privacy guarantees, anywhere. Instead of contending with unbreakable math, they only have to compromise a French government employee, or the vendor-provided software used to sideload government operatives into your private chats. 

This is why, as always, Signal would exit the French market before it would comply with this law as written. At this moment especially, there is simply too much riding on Signal, on our being able to forge a future in which private communication persists, to allow such pernicious undermining. 

We hope—WE HOPE—that this callow, dishonest attack will fail, and will be the last. We would love to get back to the work of maintaining and improving our core technologies, instead of fighting legislation which is distinguished in nothing as much as its refusal to listen to decades of expert consensus in its drive to imperil global cybersecurity and the human right of privacy.

[EDRi @edri]

The #EUTechSociety Summit has started with an opening hearing 🎙️in which several MEPs are addressing civil society's questions on the role of tech & society.

Today, we're laying the groundwork for accountable, people-centered policies that uplift everyone’s digital rights!🔥

[EDRi @edri]

1/4 📢Today, 64 orgs & experts urge the @EU_Commission to halt proposals for using #AgeVerification tools when implementing #DigitalServicesAct & #eIDAS.

Evidence & lived experiences show these tools are dangerous, discriminatory & unsafe.

READ MORE: https://t.co/FE1DA54RFT

[EDRi @edri]

On 20 June, join EDRi @itxasdo at the @EU_EDPS European Data Protection Summit to discuss how by shifting the focus to encompass both individual rights & collective values, we can better address the multifaceted nature of privacy & data protection.

➡️https://t.co/eA2vMJk51g

[Weaving Liberation @We_Liberation]

Weaving Liberation officially launched this week 🥳 + we are so grateful to all who celebrated with us 🫶🏿 We were moved by the beautiful visions of digital justice you shared + are excited to make those come to life with many of you. Watch it here 👀 https://t.co/nrzELR5Wnv 1/10

[@[email protected] @aspirationtech]

Calling digital policy, human rights and social justice practitioners in Europe 📢

Our Spring 2024 Open Call for Participation in a Policy Leadership Cohort is open until June 16th! https://t.co/xcUZId3QFI

[EDRi @edri]

📢Together with @globalencrypt, EDRi calls Ministers in the Council of the EU to 🙅‍♀️REJECT all #scanning proposals that are inconsistent with #encryption, including:

❌client-side scanning
❌"upload moderation"

Read more in this joint statement: https://t.co/aCNy4gUZeG

[Laura Lazaro Cabrera @lauralazc]

Still buzzing from yesterday's #CPDP2024 panels.

First off, on AI & the brain 👇

🔹 Aligning neurotech reg for health & consumer use is crucial
🔹 We shouldn't rush to regulate
🔹 A collaborative approach is crucial

@DarrellPorcello
​​@ShmaeganM
@pswieboda
@cdteu

[Weaving Liberation @We_Liberation]

🎉Weaving Liberation is having an online launch event!
Come and celebrate with us on June 4th at 17:00 CET and help us spread the word!🎉1/3

[@[email protected] @aspirationtech]

🚀 Join us for our Policy Leadership Virtual Skill-Share on May 28, at 15-16h30 CET!
From refining essential policy skills to navigating the EU maze to understanding the AI Act, we invite practitioners to connect, learn, and strategise together.
More info and registration 🔽

[Raegan MacDonald @ShmaeganM]

So looking forward to moderating this panel on AI and the brain at CPDP!

[CPDP Conferences @CPDPconferences]

What lessons can we draw from existing AI, data protection, & other regulatory approaches?
Organised by International Center for Future Generations With @ShmaeganM, Arleen Salles, Institute of Neuroethics, @pswieboda, @DarrellPorcello, @lauralazc @cdteu
#CPDPai2024 #CPDP2024

[@[email protected] @aspirationtech]

Call for participation: Join us at the 2nd Digital Policy Leadership Summit, March 6-7, 2024, in Brussels, Belgium!

Follow this link to learn more 👇

https://t.co/ewuuNVVz1o

[Raegan MacDonald @ShmaeganM]

Read our FAQ for more details
https://t.co/aM5YpswAyE

[Raegan MacDonald @ShmaeganM]

Passionate about digital policy in Europe? Want to enhance your strategic leadership capacities, policy knowledge, and the impact of your work?

📣 I’m excited to share the open call for Aspiration’s first Policy Leadership Cohort (PLC)!

https://t.co/mD4VPdbYHZ

🧵👇

[Raegan MacDonald @ShmaeganM]

Interested, or know someone who might benefit?

Fill out the Expression of Interest form by July 24 https://t.co/gBMWrOmaqH

[Raegan MacDonald @ShmaeganM]

🌟 The PLC is designed to help you:

- Deepen your policy skills and practices
- Enhance your advocacy approaches
- Build connections with emerging leaders

[Raegan MacDonald @ShmaeganM]

Thrilled to participate as a mentor again this year. For those seeking mentorship, please apply, it's a great program!

[Women AT Privacy @womenprivacy]

✨Great news: applications are open for the 2023-2024 #WPrivacy Mentoring Programme! We are delighted to welcome more than 40 mentors for this edition. If you are a female privacy professional looking for a mentor, please apply as soon as possible via https://t.co/ZXxopETIif

[EDRi @edri]

📢 We want to hear from you! Share your feedback on how to dismantle power structures in the #DigitalRights field.

@edri & @df_fund together with 30 participants designed a multi-year #decolonising programme for the field.

Tell us what you think:➡️https://t.co/5ivzAlc3oZ

[EDRi @edri]

1/5 In November, @edri & @df_fund held the last plenary on the decolonising process.

Read more about our journey & what it meant for the final output of our collective efforts: https://t.co/vI4GQUcgxN

[Digital Freedom Fund @df_fund]

1/5 In November, @edri & @df_fund held the last plenary on the decolonising process.

Read more about our journey & what it meant for the final output of our collective efforts:

https://t.co/pBJ6ZLbDpC

https://t.co/IKGVKYq5GW