Electronic Frontier Foundation

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Electronic Frontier Foundation

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Abbreviation	EFF
Formation	July  10, 1990 (1990-07-10)
Founder	John Gilmore, John Perry Barlow, Mitch Kapor
Founded at	United States
Type	Non-profit organization
Headquarters	San Francisco, California, United States
Executive Director	Cindy Cohn
Website	www.eff.org

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is an international non-profit digital rights group based in San Francisco, California. Founded in July 1990 by John Gilmore, John Perry Barlow, and Mitch Kapor, the EFF works to defend civil liberties in the digital world. The organization engages in litigation, policy analysis, grassroots activism, and technology development to promote Internet freedom, privacy, and free expression.

History

The EFF was established in response to concerns about government overreach and the protection of civil liberties in the digital age. The founders were motivated by a series of events in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the Operation Sundevil raids, which targeted alleged computer crime but raised significant issues about due process and privacy rights.

Activities

The EFF engages in a variety of activities to support its mission:

Litigation

The EFF provides legal assistance to individuals and organizations facing challenges related to digital rights. Notable cases include Bernstein v. United States, which challenged government restrictions on the export of cryptography, and Hepting v. AT&T, which addressed issues of warrantless wiretapping.

Policy Analysis

The EFF conducts in-depth analysis of proposed legislation and regulations that impact digital rights. The organization frequently publishes reports and white papers to inform policymakers and the public about the implications of various policies.

Grassroots Activism

The EFF mobilizes supporters to advocate for digital rights through campaigns, petitions, and public demonstrations. The organization also provides resources and training to help individuals and groups engage in effective activism.

Technology Development

The EFF develops and promotes tools that enhance privacy and security online. Projects include HTTPS Everywhere, a browser extension that ensures secure connections to websites, and Privacy Badger, a tool that blocks tracking cookies.

Key Issues

The EFF focuses on several key issues, including:

• Free speech: Defending the right to express opinions and share information online.
• Privacy: Protecting individuals' personal information from unauthorized access and surveillance.
• Transparency: Promoting open government and corporate accountability.
• Innovation: Supporting the development of new technologies and opposing restrictive intellectual property laws.

Organization

The EFF is governed by a board of directors and has a staff of attorneys, technologists, and activists. The current Executive Director is Cindy Cohn.

Related Pages

• Digital rights
• Internet privacy
• Free speech
• Cryptography
• Warrantless wiretapping
• Operation Sundevil

See Also

• American Civil Liberties Union
• Center for Democracy and Technology
• Public Knowledge