Dave Cortright 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (71) comment rss

  • On the post: Trump Wants To Replace FTC Chair Whom He Can't Replace, Because The FTC Is Reluctant To Go After Trump's Social Media Enemies

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 02 Sep, 2020 @ 01:22pm

    My wish: full transparency of Executive branch communications

    If it didn’t violate any classification restrictions—and that’s a big if; IANAL—I would love to see one of these folks just go full transparency on the executive branch and live blog every communique they receive from and send to the Executive branch. Presumably these are public missives if they can be obtained via a FOIA request. The FTC would just be proactively providing it. Let’s see how well it all goes down in real time with full Brandeis sunlight disinfecting along the way.

  • On the post: Why Are There Currently No Ads On Techdirt? Apparently Google Thinks We're Dangerous

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 12 Aug, 2020 @ 10:02am

    AdSense alternatives…

    Some old colleagues ended up working at The Trade Desk. I'm not 100% sure if they have a product/service that would suit TechDirt, but thought I'd throw it out there as a possibility.

    Also check out this list of AdSense alternatives:
    https://www.g2.com/products/adsense/competitors/alternatives

    And these:
    https://alternativeto.net/software/google-adsense/

  • On the post: Facing Multiple Lawsuits, ICE Decides Not To Punish Foreign Students For Furthering Their Education During A Pandemic

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 27 Jul, 2020 @ 01:40am

    Only applies to previously-enrolled students; possible loophole

    https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/24/895223219/ice-confirms-new-foreign-students-cant-take-online-only-course-loads-in-the-u-s

    So couldn't a school simply have one class with one in-person session as a requirement for all incoming international students? Call it “Essential in-person orientation for all new incoming international students” and each session is simply a 1:1 between the student and a faculty member in their department. Although I prefer “Fuck You, ICE: this is what compliance with your bullshit guidance looks like.”

  • On the post: Twitter Removes Nickelback Meme Trump Tweets, But Leaves All The Others Up

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 04 Oct, 2019 @ 02:22pm

    Fix the system, but also use the system as it currently works

    Look, the system is clearly broken and needs fixing. But if I'm in a band and don't like a particular tweet by the president that uses my song, why wouldn't I use the current system as it currently works to get the—albeit expedient—result I want?

  • On the post: FBI Director Chris Wray Needs To Shut The Fuck Up About Encryption

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 07 Mar, 2019 @ 10:43am

    The ultimate litmus test—walk the walk

    Anyone advocating for less/weak encryption should have it applied to all of their own accounts (email, phone, banking, investments…) for a trial year. It'll be fun to see completely F—ed their lives become and whether or not they thing strong encryption is really a good idea.

  • On the post: Catholic School Teen's Lawyers File $250M Defamation Suit Against The Washington Post; Fail To List Any Actual Defamation

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 24 Feb, 2019 @ 09:43am

    There is an acronym for people like this: LIEN

    Litigious Indignant Entitled Narcissist

    They rely others trying to engage in a good faith negotiation (which it turns out isn't possible, because a LIEN's faith is completely self-centered so will never result in a fair compromise). Or barring that giving up and choosing to pay some money up front just to avoid what could end up being a long, stressful, and expensive legal conflict. IP trolls are LIENs. So is Trump.

    I hope that the WaPo will be able to counter-sue (SLAPP even?) and recover damages or set some sort of precedent that might deter such frivolous legal action.

  • On the post: Super Injunction Silences News About Vatican Official's Child Molestation Conviction, And That's Bullshit

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 14 Dec, 2018 @ 10:24am

    Tim Minchin's brilliant song on the topic

    If you haven't heard it before, I think it's a must listen.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtHOmforqxk

  • On the post: Thomas Goolnik Gets Google To Forget Our Story About Him Getting Google To Forget Stories About Thomas Goolnik

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2018 @ 10:59pm

    Here's a script to run on your site…

    Get a RTBF request, generate a new GUID to append to a "new" article that quotes the original article in full, and appends the new information that a previous version of the article was requested to be memory-holed on such and such a date. You can put them up as fast as they are taken down.

    For added fun, spawn 2 new copies on each take down. Let's see how fast Goolnik articles can take over the internet.

  • On the post: Court Won't Let FBI Dodge Lawsuit By Removing American Citizen From No-Fly List Shortly Shortly After Being Sued

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 06 Oct, 2018 @ 10:46pm

    Sunlight is the best disinfectant

    If I am ever questioned by the FBI, CIA ICE or really any other government enforcement agency, I'm going to livestream it. If they are unwilling to say it on camera, then it was not a legit request to begin with. and if they are, well then it's either legit, or it's fantastic evidence for the subsequent lawsuit.

  • On the post: European Court Of Human Rights: UK Surveillance Revealed By Snowden Violates Human Rights

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 13 Sep, 2018 @ 11:19am

    Show me an example of "proper channels" working

    Of course as I'm reading this, I can already hear the government apologists saying that he should have used "proper channels" to rectify the problem. Of course the obvious problem is that Snowden wasn't even a UK citizen or working for any UK org, so how exactly would that work?

    But more to the point, I'd love to see even just one example of "proper channels" actually resulting in such a legal precedent. We have plenty of examples of people trying to use proper channels and getting ignored, shut down, or even undermined.

  • On the post: More Comic Conventions Change Their Names After Crazy SDCC Attorney's Fees And Injunction Ruling

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 11 Sep, 2018 @ 03:30pm

    Re: Conv

    I'm with Phil on this one. Conv in print, but when spoken, the V is just not going to be voiced.

    Or
    Comics Con (with a plural of the first word)
    Comic CON —where the CON is an acronym for Connoisseurs Offline Naturally (or make up your own).
    Comic KHAN! (and then get sued by Paramount)

  • On the post: Congress Adds A Bunch Of Non-Violent Crimes To The Violent Crimes List

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 11 Sep, 2018 @ 03:17pm

    Self driving cars can't come soon enough

    Once the decision making is out of the hands of the people in the car, then they cannot be held accountable for what the car does. I'm sure there are manual ways to indicate an autonomous vehicle pull over, but of course one cannot presume that the passengers are paying attention.

    That does raise the question: how does a self-driving car know that a police car wants it to pull over?

  • On the post: Chinese Surveillance State Is Basically The US Surveillance Apparatus Minus The Constitutional Rights

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2018 @ 03:51pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Where are the devices that fight back?

    Just to be clear, I am talking in hypotheticals here, NOT: 1. about me personally, 2. about anything I intend to do, or 3. anything that I would condone anyone else do.

    Also, these hypotheticals aren't just in response to Chinese SOP, it's to fight digital fascism worldwide, including in the US.

    So your answer is to just roll over and take it?

  • On the post: Chinese Surveillance State Is Basically The US Surveillance Apparatus Minus The Constitutional Rights

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2018 @ 03:13pm

    Re: Re: Where are the devices that fight back?

    Bring on the arms race, I say.

    A truly progressive device of this sort would have a duress password that enters into a plausible deniability container with a modicum of completely benign data in it. They can take all the measures they want, and it can simply be met with counter-measures. And if along the way they have to replace some expensive field diagnostic equipment, well just tack that onto the existing security theater budget.

  • On the post: Chinese Surveillance State Is Basically The US Surveillance Apparatus Minus The Constitutional Rights

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2018 @ 11:43am

    Where are the devices that fight back?

    I want to see a phone that when hooked up to an unauthorized snooping device issues a lethal jolt of current that will fry the attached unit, and then goes into full lockdown requiring biometric and passcode to unlock. Anyone know of projects like the being worked on? Heck, I'd settle for just know there is a trojan phone that isn't actually a phone but just a huge battery that can unleash a massive power spike.

    (Legal disclaimer: I am just asking for the existence of such devices, not that I would ever condone owning or using them.)

  • On the post: Police Chief Sends Officers Out To Arrest Man For Calling The Chief A 'Dirty' Cop

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 12 Jun, 2018 @ 11:04am

    False arrest and imprisonment

    IANAL, but it seems like Mr. Frese might have a case for false arrest and imprisonment.

  • On the post: Not Everything Needs Copyright: Lawyers Flip Out That Photos Taken By AI May Be Public Domain

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 05 Apr, 2018 @ 09:24pm

    Plausible copyright-ability

    I own a Clips camera, and so far I really like it. Hook it up to a drone with facial targeting and I can get a documentary of important moments in my life. The selfie copter is undoubtedly just a few years away.

    But to the point, there is a manual "take photo" button in the Clips app. Of course if the picture is of your with your hands free, that might be a hard sell. But I suppose you could be using your big toe. Or it could be someone else out of frame taking the picture (but then of course they own the copyright).

    And if you are going to go that far, why do you even have to admit that it was taken with a Clips camera? Just say it was with a point and shoot on a timer and be done with it.

    Yes I know that this all involves lying, but for the people who really care so much about copyright, I'm sure they can come up with some adequate rationalizations on why this is for The Greater Good©

  • On the post: Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments In Microsoft Email Case

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 01 Mar, 2018 @ 04:18pm

    Action item for the reader: Get a Proton Mail account

    Why anyone would choose to use an US-based email provider at this point is beyond me I moved over to Proton Mail going on 2 years ago now and I certainly recommend it to everyone I talk to. No matter how the courts are ruling, both the government and US companies have shown again and again and again that they are willing to do anything and everything they can to get to your data if they want it.

    Sad that I have to put my trust in an overseas service—and I admit even then there's always a change they could be compromised—but to me it feels like the path of most resistance for any agencies trying to get at my Amazon receipts and family reunion logistics.

  • On the post: Everyone Creates: New Empirical Data Shows Just How Much The Internet Has Enabled A New Creative Economy

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 17 Feb, 2018 @ 03:46pm

    Welcome to the era of disintermediation

    Guess those gatekeepers better get busy competing, or get busy dying (to paraphrase a quote from Shawshank Redemption).

    Ha ha! who am I kidding?! They will try to buy legislation to impede the competition, which might work in isolated cases in the short term, and there there will be a catastrophic failure of those companies as they scramble to remake themselves into some business—ANY business—that has even a modicum of value.

  • On the post: DOJ Russia Indictment Again Highlights Why Internet Companies Can't Just Wave A Magic Wand To Make Bad Stuff Go Away

    Dave Cortright ( profile ), 16 Feb, 2018 @ 05:13pm

    The "offline industry" litmus test

    Any time people say online platforms should do X or be responsible/liable, that same proposal should be applied to other industries to see how reasonable it is. I think real estate, vehicles, and banking are good ones to use.

    So should the real estate industry do more background checks on people to whom they sell/rent to ensure they won't be used for nefarious purposes? How about car and truck dealers? Or banks?

    Or to put it another way: apply the Alice test. Just because it's "on a computer" or "on the Internet" doesn't mean it should be any different than offline businesses.

    More often than not, I think this simple thought experiment will expose just how ludicrous the original proposal is.

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