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, wo

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.