Bad reviews for Taser documentary on Amazon, iTunes seem to come from Taser employees | Ars Technica


Reviewers didn’t feel it necessary to disclose their affiliation, or even watch the film.

Source: Bad reviews for Taser documentary on Amazon, iTunes seem to come from Taser employees | Ars Technica

Disney drops—then doubles down on—DMCA claim over Star Wars figure pic | Ars Technica


Man who took photos of a $6.94 Walmart action figure gets banned from Facebook.

Source: Disney drops—then doubles down on—DMCA claim over Star Wars figure pic | Ars Technica

US town rejects solar panels amid fears they ‘suck up all the energy from the sun’ | Americas | News | The Independent

A US town has rejected a proposal for a solar farm following public concerns. Members of the public in Woodland, North Carolina, expressed their fear and mistrust at the proposal to allow Strata Solar Company to build a solar farm off Highway 258.

Source: US town rejects solar panels amid fears they ‘suck up all the energy from the sun’ | Americas | News | The Independent

Lucasfilm Uses DMCA to Kill Star Wars Toy Picture – TorrentFreak


Star Wars: The Force Awakens has gone into an early and bizarre anti-piracy overdrive. Earlier this week a fansite posted an image of a ‘Rey’ action figure legally bought in Walmart but it was taken down by Facebook and Twitter following a DMCA notice. Meanwhile, webhosts are facing threats of legal action.

Source: Lucasfilm Uses DMCA to Kill Star Wars Toy Picture – TorrentFreak

George Washington University Allows Flags to Fly From Dorm Rooms — Unless They’re Palestinian


Civil rights organizations say this is the latest in a long string of incidents targeting pro-Palestinian speech on college campuses across the U.S.

Source: George Washington University Allows Flags to Fly From Dorm Rooms — Unless They’re Palestinian

Anti-Piracy Lawyer Milked Copyright Holders For Millions – TorrentFreak

Leaks from a confidential auditor report into the activities of bankrupt anti-piracy law firm Johan Schlüter suggest that the company defrauded its entertainment industry clients out of $25m. One lawyer was singled out for most criticism after enriching both herself and family members.

Source: Anti-Piracy Lawyer Milked Copyright Holders For Millions – TorrentFreak

How Israel Regulates Encryption – Schneier on Security

Basically, it looks like secret agreements made in smoke-filled rooms, very discreet with no oversight or accountability. The fact that pretty much everyone in IT security has served in an offensive cybersecurity capacity for the Israeli army helps. As does the fact that the country is so small, making informal deal making managable. It doesn’t scale.

Why is this important?

…companies in Israel, a country comprising less than 0.11% of the world’s population, are estimated to have sold 10% ($6 billion out of $60 billion) of global encryption and cyber technologies for 2014.

Source: How Israel Regulates Encryption – Schneier on Security

James Clapper has found another reason why he lied about NSA spying • The Register


Yep: he had actually forgotten about the storing of all Americans’ phonecalls

Source: James Clapper has found another reason why he lied about NSA spying • The Register

Congress Moves Again to Block Investigation of Congressional Insider Trading


Despite passing a law that bans congressional insider trading, House lawyers are fighting an SEC investigation at every turn.

Source: Congress Moves Again to Block Investigation of Congressional Insider Trading