【JCJオンライン講演会】「開かずの扉」を開く~再審法改正に向けて~鴨志田 祐美さん(弁護士、日弁連合会再審法改正推進室長)5月31日(土)午後2時から4時

1 day 11 hours ago
■開催趣旨冤罪と闘い続けた袴田巌さんの無罪が確定したのは去年、事件発生から実に58年が経っていた。再審の開始は、その難しさから「開かずの扉」といわれている。 その制度を見直そうと超党派の議員連盟が今の国会で議員立法での改正を目指している。日弁連で先頭にたって取り組んでいる鴨志田弁護士に「再審法」の問題点と、改正へ向けた動きについてお話をうかがいます。■講演者プロフィール:鴨志田 祐美(かもしだ・ゆみ) 弁護士。2004年鹿児島県弁護士会に登録。2021年4月より京都弁護士会に..
JCJ

【お知らせ】沖縄戦80年―戦争体験をどう引き継ぐか!? ひめゆり平和祈念資料館のこれまでとこれから 5月24日(土)午後2時から 文京シビックセンター4階 シルバーホール=沖縄戦首都圏の会<br />

2 days 10 hours ago
戦後80年、戦争体験者が次々と亡くなり、体験者から直接戦争体験を聞くことが難しくなっています。体験者なき後、戦争体験をどう引き継いでいくかが社会的な課題です。元ひめゆり学徒の戦争体験を伝え続けるひめゆり資料館の取り組みを紹介いただきます。沖縄戦の実相を共有し、次世代へ平和をつなげていくためにはどうすればいいのかを考える機会になると思います。ふるってご参加ください。◆講師:ひめゆり平和祈念資料館館長 普天間 朝佳さん・普天間 朝佳(ふてんま・ちょうけい)さん プロフィール195..
JCJ

Security Theater REALized and Flying without REAL ID

3 days 5 hours ago

After multiple delays of the REAL ID Act of 2005 and its updated counterpart, the REAL ID Modernization Act, in the United States, the May 7th deadline of REAL ID enforcement has finally arrived. Does this move our security forward in the skies? The last 20 years says we got along fine without it. There were and are issues along the way that REAL ID does impose on everyday people, such as potential additional costs and rigid documentation, even if you already have a state issued ID. While TSA states this is not a national ID or a federal database, but a set of minimum standards required for federal use, we are still watchful of the mechanisms that have pivoted to potential privacy issues with the expansion of digital IDs.

But you don’t need a REAL ID just to fly domestically. There are alternatives.

The most common alternatives are passports or passport cards. You can use either instead of a REAL ID, which might save you an immediate trip to the DMV. And the additional money for a passport at least provides you the extra benefit of international travel.

Passports and passport cards are not the only alternatives to REAL ID. Additional documentation is also accepted as well: (this list is subject to change by the TSA):

  • REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent and this excludes a temporary driver’s license)
  • State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
  • U.S. passport
  • U.S. passport card
  • DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
  • U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
  • Permanent resident card
  • Border crossing card
  • An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
  • HSPD-12 PIV card
  • Foreign government-issued passport
  • Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
  • Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
  • U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
  • Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

Foreign government-issued passports are on this list. However, using a foreign-government issued passport may increase your chances of closer scrutiny at the security gate. REAL ID and other federally accepted documents are supposed to be about verifying your identity, not about your citizenship status. Realistically, interactions with secondary screening and law enforcement are not out of the realm of possibility for non-citizens. The power dynamics of the border has now been brought to flying domestically thanks to REAL ID. The privileges of who can and can’t fly are more sensitive now.

REAL ID and other federally accepted documents are supposed to be about verifying your identity, not about your citizenship status

Mobile Driver’s Licenses (mDLs)

Many states have rolled out the option for a Mobile Driver's License, which acts as a form of your state-issued ID on your phone and is supposed to come with an exception for REAL ID compliance. This is something we asked for since mDLs appear to satisfy their fears of forgery and cloning. But the catch is that states had to apply for this waiver:

“The final rule, effective November 25, 2024, allows states to apply to TSA for a temporary waiver of certain REAL ID requirements written in the REAL ID regulations.”

TSA stated they would publish the list of states with this waiver. But we do not see it on the website where they stated it would be. This bureaucratic hurdle appears to have rendered this exception useless, which is disappointing considering the TSA pushed for mDLs to be used first in their context.

Google ID Pass

Another exception appears to bypass state issued waivers, Google Wallet’s “ID Pass”. If a state partnered with Google to issue mDLs, or if you have a passport, then that is acceptable to TSA. This is a large leap in terms of reach of the mDL ecosystem expanding past state scrutiny to partnering directly with a private company to bring acceptable forms of ID for TSA. There’s much to be said on our worries with digital ID and the rapid expansion of them outside of the airport context. This is another gateway that highlights how ID is being shaped and accepted in the digital sense.

Both with ID Pass and mDLs, the presentation flow allows for you to tap with your phone without unlocking it. Which is a bonus, but it is not clear if TSA has the tech to read these IDs at all airports nationwide and it is still encouraged to bring a physical ID for additional verification.

A lot of the privilege dynamics of flying appear through types of ID you can obtain, whether your shoes stay on, how long you wait in line, etc. This is mostly tied to how much you can spend on traveling and how much preliminary information you establish with TSA ahead of time. The end result is that less wealthy people are subjected to the most security mechanisms at the security gate. For now, you can technically still fly without a REAL ID, but that means being subject to additional screening to verify who you are.

REAL ID enforcement has some leg room for those who do not want or can’t get a REAL ID. But the progression of digital ID is something we are keeping watch of that continues to be presented as the solution to worries of fraud and forgery. Governments and private corporations alike are pushing major efforts for rapid digital ID deployments and more frequent presentation of one’s ID attributes. Your government ID is one of the narrowest, static verifications of who you are as a person. Making sure that information is not used to create a centralized system of information was as important yesterday with REAL ID as it is today with digital IDs.

Alexis Hancock

Standing Up for LGBTQ+ Digital Safety this International Day Against Homophobia

3 days 5 hours ago

Lawmakers and regulators around the world have been prolific with passing legislation restricting freedom of expression and privacy for LGBTQ+ individuals and fueling offline intolerance. Online platforms are also complicit in this pervasive ecosystem by censoring pro-LGBTQ+ speech, forcing LGBTQ+ individuals to self-censor or turn to VPNs to avoid being profiled, harassed, doxxed, or criminally prosecuted.  

The fight for the safety and rights of LGBTQ+ people is not just a fight for visibility online (and offline)—it’s a fight for survival. This International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, we’re sharing four essential tips for LGBTQ+ people to stay safe online.

Using Secure Messaging Services For Every Communication 

All of us, at least occasionally, need to send a message that’s safe from prying eyes. This is especially true for people who face consequences should their gender or sexual identity be revealed without their consent.

To protect your communications from being seen by others, install an encrypted messenger app such as Signal (for iOS or Android). Turn on disappearing messages, and consider shortening the amount of time messages are kept in the app if you are actually attending an event. If you have a burner device with you, be sure to save the numbers for emergency contacts.

Don’t wait until something sensitive arises: make these apps your default for all communications. As a side benefit, the messages and images sent to family and friends in group chats will be safe from being viewed by automated and human scans on services like Telegram and Facebook Messenger. 

Consider The Content You Post On Social Media 

Our decision to send messages, take pictures, and interact with online content has a real offline impact. And whilst we cannot control every circumstance, we can think about how our social media behaviour impacts those closest to us and those in our proximity, especially if these people might need extra protection around their identities. 

Talk with your friends about the potentially sensitive data you reveal about each other online. Even if you don’t have a social media account, or if you untag yourself from posts, friends can still unintentionally identify you, report your location, and make their connections to you public. This works in the offline world too, such as sharing precautions with organizers and fellow protesters when going to a demonstration, and discussing ahead of time how you can safely document and post the event online without exposing those in attendance to harm.

If you are organizing online or conversing on potentially sensitive issues, choose platforms that limit the amount of information collected and tracking undertaken. We know this is not always possible as perhaps people cannot access different applications. In this scenario, think about how you can protect your community on the platform you currently engage on. For example, if you currently use Facebook for organizing, work with others to keep your groups as private and secure as possible.

Create Incident Response Plans

Developing a plan for if or when something bad happens is a good practice for anyone, but especially for LGBTQ+ people who face increased risk online. Since many threats are social in nature, such as doxxing or networked harassment, it’s important to strategize with your allies around what to do in the event of such things happening. Doing so before an incident occurs is much easier than when you’re presently facing a crisis.

Only you and your allies can decide what belongs on such a plan, but some strategies might be: 

  • Isolating the impacted areas, such as shutting down social media accounts and turning off affected devices
  • Notifying others who may be affected
  • Switching communications to a predetermined more secure alternative
  • Noting behaviors of suspected threats and documenting these 
  • Outsourcing tasks to someone further from the affected circle who is already aware of this potential responsibility.
Consider Your Safety When Attending and Protests 

Given the increase in targeted harassment and vandalism towards LGBTQ+ people, it’s important to consider counterprotesters showing up at various events. Since the boundaries between events like pride parades and protest might be blurred, precautions are necessary. Our general guide for attending a protest covers the basics for protecting your smartphone and laptop, as well as providing guidance on how to communicate and share information responsibly. We also have a handy printable version available here.

This includes:

  • Removing biometric device unlock like fingerprint or FaceID to prevent police officers from physically forcing you to unlock your device with your fingerprint or face. You can password-protect your phone instead.
  • Logging out of accounts and uninstalling apps or disabling app notifications to avoid app activity in precarious legal contexts from being used against you, such as using queer dating apps in places where homosexuality is illegal. 
  • Turning off location services on your devices to avoid your location history from being used to identify your device’s comings and goings. For further protections, you can disable GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and phone signals when planning to attend a protest.
LGBTQ+ Rights For Every Day 

Consider your digital safety like you would any aspect of bodily autonomy and self determination—only you get to decide what aspects of yourself you share with others, how you present to the world, and what things you keep private. With a bit of care, you can maintain privacy, safety, and pride in doing so. 

And in the meantime, we’re fighting to ensure that the internet can be a safe (and fun!) place for all LGBTQ+ people. Now more than ever, it’s essential for allies, advocates, and marginalized communities to push back against these dangerous laws and ensure that the internet remains a space where all voices can be heard, free from discrimination and censorship.

Paige Collings

House Moves Forward With Dangerous Proposal Targeting Nonprofits

3 days 7 hours ago

This week, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee moved forward with a proposal that would allow the Secretary of the Treasury to strip any U.S. nonprofit of its tax-exempt status by unilaterally determining the organization is a “Terrorist Supporting Organization.” This proposal, which places nearly unlimited discretion in the hands of the executive branch to target organizations it disagrees with, poses an existential threat to nonprofits across the U.S. 

This proposal, added to the House’s budget reconciliation bill, is an exact copy of a House-passed bill that EFF and hundreds of nonprofits across the country strongly opposed last fall. Thankfully, the Senate rejected that bill, and we urge the House to do the same when the budget reconciliation bill comes up for a vote on the House floor. 

The goal of this proposal is not to stop the spread of or support for terrorism; the U.S. already has myriad other laws that do that, including existing tax code section 501(p), which allows the government to revoke the tax status of designated “Terrorist Organizations.” Instead, this proposal is designed to inhibit free speech by discouraging nonprofits from working with and advocating on behalf of disadvantaged individuals and groups, like Venezuelans or Palestinians, who may be associated, even completely incidentally, with any group the U.S. deems a terrorist organization. And depending on what future groups this administration decides to label as terrorist organizations, it could also threaten those advocating for racial justice, LGBTQ rights, immigrant communities, climate action, human rights, and other issues opposed by this administration. 

On top of its threats to free speech, the language lacks due process protections for targeted nonprofit organizations. In addition to placing sole authority in the hands of the Treasury Secretary, the bill does not require the Treasury Secretary to disclose the reasons for or evidence supporting a “Terrorist Supporting Organization” designation. This, combined with only providing an after-the-fact administrative or judicial appeals process, would place a nearly insurmountable burden on any nonprofit to prove a negative—that they are not a terrorist supporting organization—instead of placing the burden where it should be, on the government. 

As laid out in letter led by ACLU and signed by over 350 diverse nonprofits, this bill would provide the executive branch with: 

“the authority to target its political opponents and use the fear of crippling legal fees, the stigma of the designation, and donors fleeing controversy to stifle dissent and chill speech and advocacy. And while the broadest applications of this authority may not ultimately hold up in court, the potential reputational and financial cost of fending off an investigation and litigating a wrongful designation could functionally mean the end of a targeted nonprofit before it ever has its day in court.” 

Current tax law makes it a crime for the President and other high-level officials to order IRS investigations over policy disagreements. This proposal creates a loophole to this rule that could chill nonprofits for years to come. 

There is no question that nonprofits and educational institutions – along with many other groups and individuals – are under threat from this administration. If passed, future administrations, regardless of party affiliation, could weaponize the powers in this bill against nonprofits of all kinds. We urge the House to vote down this proposal. 

Jennifer Lynch

[B] 「五月のポリサリオ」【西サハラ最新情報】  平田伊都子

3 days 9 hours ago
5月10日に、西サハラ独立運動の指導組織であるポリサリオ戦線が創設されました。 5月20日に、ポリサリオ戦線は、ラクダ1頭と数丁の旧式ライフルで初出陣しました。 今から52年前にサハラ砂漠で蜂起した話です。 そして、今もそのサハラ砂漠を舞台に、ポリサリオ戦線を中心にして西サハラの人々は独立を目指し苦闘しています。5月病、5月雨、5月晴れ、、と、日本の5月はなにかとうっとおしいものですが、西サハラの人々にとって、5月は特別な月です。
日刊ベリタ

Don’t Let Congress Decide What We’re Allowed to Read Online

3 days 11 hours ago

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is back—and it still threatens free expression online. It would let government officials pressure or sue platforms to block or remove lawful content—especially on topics like mental health, sexuality, and drug use.

To avoid liability, platforms will over-censor. When forums or support groups get deleted, it’s not just teens who lose access—we all do. KOSA will also push services to adopt invasive age verification, handing private data to companies like Clear or ID.me.

Lawmakers should reject KOSA. Tell your Senators to vote NO.

Electronic Frontier Foundation

【Bookガイド】5月の“推し本”紹介=萩山 拓(ライター)

3 days 12 hours ago
ノンフィクション・ジャンルからチョイスした気になる本の紹介です(刊行順・販価は税別)◆黒田基樹『羽柴秀吉とその一族─秀吉の出自から秀長の家族まで』角川選書 5/7刊 1840円「羽柴秀吉とその一族」.jpg 羽柴(豊臣)秀吉といえば歴史上の著名な人物。しかし父母や兄弟、親類の実態は、いまだ謎に包まれたまま。秀吉の父親はどのような職に就いていたのか。弟・秀長の妻子はどのような人物なのか。「秀吉政権」を把握するうえで不可欠な一族・親族の情報を徹底検証。通説が大きく書き改められるい..
JCJ