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August 2016

Hillary Clinton Addresses a Rare Audience: Journalists

After more than 200 days without holding a formal news conference, Hillary Clinton took her most extensive questions from journalists in months — and it wasn’t so bad after all. Before taking questions, Clinton delivered a 15-minute address focused mostly on how her plans to improve the economy would especially benefit blacks and Latinos. She even had some words of encouragement for the Fourth Estate: “We need you to keep holding leaders and candidates accountable,” Mrs. Clinton told the hundreds of journalists attending the five-day conference of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Clinton said she took “seriously” the problems she has had winning voters’ trust. She clarified recent remarks about the F.B.I. investigation into her private email server. And she explained that the economic frustration driving many of Donald J. Trump’s supporters should be taken as seriously as his “bigotry” that appeals to some.

Weekly Digest

Progress for Prison Phone Rates and Accessibility

You’re reading the Benton Foundation’s Weekly Round-up, a recap of the biggest (or most overlooked) telecommunications stories of the week. The round-up is delivered via e-mail each Friday; to get your own copy, subscribe at www.benton.org/user/register

Robbie’s Round-Up for the Week of August 1-5, 2016

Verizon faces customers’ wrath over poor Internet and phone service

Aug 4, Verizon faced complaints from customers and government officials about maintenance of its copper network in areas of New Jersey. Hearings were held by the NJ state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on Verizon service in rural parts of South Jersey, where the company hasn't upgraded its networks to fiber. About 200 "frustrated residents" attended and nearly 80 signed up to speak, airing their complaints for hours.

Theresa Duffy-Diamond of Cedarville (NJ) owns three businesses but complained that she has trouble running them because of how hard it is to make phone calls. She played a voicemail that she received—it contained "nothing but crackling sounds." 63-year-old John Dowling of Estell Manor, who suffers from a chronic lung disease and needs frequent medical attention, reported not being able to make phone calls from his landline when it rains. When he complains to Verizon, "four days later they would come out on a sunny day and say the lines are all clear," he said. A coalition of municipal and county governments asked the state to hold an evidentiary hearing to further investigate Verizon's copper maintenance. Cumberland County Counsel Ted Baker recently provided the BPU with more than 80 pages of complaints from residents.

Challenge Over UK Bulk Hacking Powers Taken to European Court of Human Rights

Activist group Privacy International and five Internet and communications providers lodged an application before the European Court of Human Rights to challenge the United Kingdom's use of bulk hacking powers abroad. “The European Court of Human Rights has a strong track record of ensuring that intelligence agencies act in compliance with human rights law. We call on the Court to hold GCHQ accountable for its unlawful bulk hacking practices,” said Scarlet Kim, legal officer at Privacy International. The application has been made with UK-based non-profit GreenNet, the Chaos Computer Club from Germany, Jibonet from South Korea, US internet service provider May First, and communications provider Rise Up. Privacy International is challenging whether the UK's interpretation of the Intelligence Service Act for using bulk hacking powers complies with the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).

“As currently practiced, GCHQ’s hacking powers are neither in accordance with law nor proportionate, both of which they must be in order to satisfy Articles 8 and 10 [of the ECHR]. Our case focuses on the in accordance with law requirement, which says that if an intrusive surveillance practice like hacking is to be used, it must have an explicit legal basis that makes its use foreseeable and must be accompanied by stringent safeguards,” said Privacy International General Counsel Caroline Wilson Palow.

Gary Johnson Op-Ed: There's another choice

[Commentary] When it comes to electing their next president, Americans want a candidate to vote for — not just someone to vote against. American voters want the perspective of an outsider who can bring an entrepreneurial perspective to the White House. They aren't opposed to experience in governing — so long as it doesn't bring with it an addiction to crony capitalism and the fruits thereof. And they want a candidate who looks after American interests and doesn't use war to destabilize already volatile regions of the world like the Middle East. I’m running for President to offer that alternative.

I'm a strong believer in our Constitutional rights to civil liberties and privacy. Our government should not be spying on the electronic communications of American citizens. Nor should our iPhones or Android devices be subject to unreasonable searches and seizures. One of the biggest concerns that many voters have with both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, but particularly with Clinton, is the sense that she uses government power to advance her personal and political interests. Having been governor of New Mexico, I know that legislation gets passed to benefit those who have money and influence. Then they buy more money and influence. That’s one reason why, as governor, I vetoed more than 750 bills and thousands of line items. I did it to keep crony capitalism away from government. Americans can find sanity and principle by voting Johnson/Weld in 2016.

[Gary Johnson is the Libertarian Party's presidential nominee. His running mate is former Massachusetts Gov Bill Weld]

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