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If the EFF is not worthy of my support, then I don't know who is. I've been a donor and supporter for a while now and no other organization has aligned more wit

If the EFF is not worthy of my support, then I don't know who is. I've been a donor and supporter for a while now and no other organization has aligned more with my ideals than they have. Sure, the bill they support might not be perfect but I trust the EFF to put their weight behind practical measures and laws that are at least a step in the right direction.

declan 12y ago
I've followed the EFF since the 1990s (and once had an @eff.org mailing address) so I may have some insight. Seth, one of their technologists who posts here, would have more: https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=schoen https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=schoen The danger when dealing with advocacy organizations and DC is that they "go native." It's a variant of the principal-agent problem: advocacy groups cease to act in the best interest of their members/funders. They become enamored of their own press releases, their own ability to have a "seat at the table," or better yet to convene everyone around their table to draft a backroom deal--even if the resulting law is better than no law at all. The late Paul Weyrich, founder of the Heritage Foundation and ALEC, talked about this a lot in the context of conservative groups and GOP politicians. Whatever you think of his politics, Weyrich's insight was correct. I wrote about this in the CISPA context in 2012 here: http://www.cnet.com/news/advocacy-group-flip-flops-twice-over-cispa-surveillance-bill/ http://www.cnet.com/news/advocacy-group-flip-flops-twice-ove... Now back to EFF: post-CALEA the group moved from its DC lobbyist row offices (which I remember fondly) to SF to avoid being part of that DC deal-cutting swamp. They intentionally haven't reopened a DC policy office--I think only David Sobel is in DC and he does FOIA not policy--though they easily could have. So I'd say your faith in EFF is well-placed. EFF is working in your interests and the interests of its other members, the snide aside in the linked article notwithstanding. Now even honorable organizations make mistakes, and I believe EFF is being too enthusiastic about a deeply flawed bill. I would side with the Sunlight Foundation and other groups opposing it. But no organization is going to agree with all of its members 100% of the time, and if you like everything else they do, there's no reason to cease your support now.

declan 12y ago

I've followed the EFF since the 1990s (and once had an @eff.org mailing address) so I may have some insight. Seth, one of their technologists who posts here, would have more: https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=schoen https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=schoen The danger when dealing with advocacy organizations and DC is that they "go native." It's a variant of the principal-agent problem: advocacy groups cease to act in the best interest of their members/funders. They become enamored of their own press releases, their own ability to have a "seat at the table," or better yet to convene everyone around their table to draft a backroom deal--even if the resulting law is better than no law at all. The late Paul Weyrich, founder of the Heritage Foundation and ALEC, talked about this a lot in the context of conservative groups and GOP politicians. Whatever you think of his politics, Weyrich's insight was correct. I wrote about this in the CISPA context in 2012 here: http://www.cnet.com/news/advocacy-group-flip-flops-twice-over-cispa-surveillance-bill/ http://www.cnet.com/news/advocacy-group-flip-flops-twice-ove... Now back to EFF: post-CALEA the group moved from its DC lobbyist row offices (which I remember fondly) to SF to avoid being part of that DC deal-cutting swamp. They intentionally haven't reopened a DC policy office--I think only David Sobel is in DC and he does FOIA not policy--though they easily could have. So I'd say your faith in EFF is well-placed. EFF is working in your interests and the interests of its other members, the snide aside in the linked article notwithstanding. Now even honorable organizations make mistakes, and I believe EFF is being too enthusiastic about a deeply flawed bill. I would side with the Sunlight Foundation and other groups opposing it. But no organization is going to agree with all of its members 100% of the time, and if you like everything else they do, there's no reason to cease your support now.