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Activism Links
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Written by Scott M. Jones
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Saturday, 20 July 2024 19:42 |
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Subject to change without notice. Please check back frequently for the
latest updates.
Thursday, August 29, 2024
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Time |
Program |
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7:00 p.m. |
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deepfakes
Deepfakes are digital manipulations to replace one person's likeness convincingly with that of another, to intentionally deceive or to damage one's reputation. Originally done with tools like Photoshop, the rapidly evolving world of generative AI has taken the threats to a whole new level.
TJ Mihill (moderator), Meredith Filak Rose, Andrew Greenberg, Phillip Pournelle, Todd Jones
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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8:30 p.m. |
California's Delete Act (and the Federal Version Too)
California passed the Delete Act in 2023, which allows people to request and enforce removal of their data by data brokers. A similar bill was being drafted at the federal level in 2023. What rights do California citizens now have, and could these rights be expanded nationwide?
Amie Stepanovich, Rich Gatz, Matthew Lane, Lia Holland (moderator)
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
Friday, August 30, 2024
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Time |
Program |
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10:00 a.m. |
Neuralink Has Its First Human Subject
Neuralink is developing implantable brain-computer interfaces, and has announced its first human patient. How is this patient doing, are we getting the whole story, and what is the ultimate goal of all of this?
Jessica Cail, Amie Stepanovich (moderator), Cory S. Rosenberger, Phillip Pournelle
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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11:30 a.m. |
Internet Shutdowns in Foreign Countries
Human rights organization Access Now reports that governments across the world shut down Internet access at least 187 times across 35 countries in 2022 alone. In many cases these shutdowns were associated with violence. What can be done to protect access, and could we see shutdowns in the U.S.A.?
Kurt Opsahl (moderator), Bill Budington, Starchy Grant
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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1:00 p.m. |
The Struggle to Opt Out of Automobile Telematics
Today's automobiles are essentially rolling smartphones, collecting an astounding amount of data which can then be shared or resold with little knowledge or awareness of the owner. Opting out of data collection is surprisingly difficult, with few protections for owners.
Amie Stepanovich, Bill Budington, Matthew Guariglia, Jon Padfield (moderator)
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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2:30 p.m. |
FTC Bans Non-Compete Clauses: Will the Ban Hold?
The FTC has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking, protecting workers from agreements not to work in other jobs in similar industries, which reduces the market power and choices of workers. Will the ban be upheld in court, and if not, what are the next steps?
Dwayne Keith Goetzel (moderator), Courtney Lytle, José M, TJ Mihill
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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4:00 p.m. |
Surveillance Tech “Copaganda” in Fiction
The movie Minority Report was only the tip of the iceberg. We'll take a look at how police tech and surveillance have been depicted in fiction versus the reality on the streets, and how that has affected the debate on what the future of policing should be in our communities.
Lia Holland (moderator), Matthew Lane, Meredith Filak Rose, Jon Padfield
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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5:30 p.m. |
AI and the 2024 Election
There's growing concern about how AI could be used, or misused, to influence the outcome of the 2024 election. Is this concern real, or overstated? How are candidates using the technology ethically today, and are there misinformation campaigns in progress now?
Dwayne Keith Goetzel, Amie Stepanovich, Cory S. Rosenberger, Ron Daniels (moderator), James P. Nettles
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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7:00 p.m. |
The Effort to Shape Public Opinion in the Israeli-Hamas War
Americans are divided in their opinions of the Israeli-Hamas war, however, social media has had an outsized role in shaping opinions as opposed to traditional media outlets. What tactics are being used to shape opinion, why, and what are the outcomes so far?
Starchy Grant, José M, Phillip Pournelle
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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8:30 p.m. |
WebComics
A behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce a successful web-based comic strip series, given by both new and established webcomic artists.
Jennie Breeden, Comfort Love, Adam Withers, Bill Holbrook (moderator)
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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10:00 p.m. |
Age Verification Laws Shut Down Adult Websites in Eight States
Age verification laws have been enacted in at least eight states ostensibly to protect children from adult content, but the identification requirements have caused some adult sites to block access from these states. What are the risks of providing such identity, and do we have a right to anonymity?
Lia Holland, Starchy Grant
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
Saturday, August 31, 2024
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Time |
Program |
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10:00 a.m. |
Brainwave Privacy Law Passed in Colorado
What exactly is "brainwave privacy", and why has the state of Colorado moved to protect it in law?
Amie Stepanovich (moderator), Lia Holland
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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11:30 a.m. |
AI Regulation: Can Congress or the EU Get It Right?
In an atmosphere of great concern and fearmongering, regulators are being pressured to put laws in place to ensure that AI technologies are used ethically. Can we successfully regulate AI to ensure ethical use, or will regulators overshoot the mark?
Dwayne Keith Goetzel, Amie Stepanovich, Rich Gatz, Matthew Lane, Kurt Opsahl (moderator), Mitch Stoltz
Hilton Crystal Ballroom, Attendance: TBD |
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1:00 p.m. |
Digital Music Streaming: Where Does All the Money Go?
Streaming has overtaken physical media as the way music is heard these days, but the payouts to artists are so low that many can't make rent, and even Taylor Swift is complaining about it. How much money is really being made, how is it being distributed, and how open and fair is the process?
Lia Holland, Matthew Lane, Meredith Filak Rose (moderator), Andrew Greenberg
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD
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2:30 p.m. (4 Hours) |
Learn to Hack Workshop
Beginner hacker? Never hacked before? Try your hand at (legally) hacking into a virtual server in our own virtual cyber range. A small number of laptops will be available, first come, first served; no need to bring your own (unless you want to). Unstructured; come any time/leave any time.
Stephen Kraus (moderator), Professor Roger Whyte
Marriott A601-602, Attendance: TBD |
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2:30 p.m. |
Insurance Rates and Your Privacy in the Era of Drones, Satellites, and Data
The advent of data brokers, satellites, and drones has created a vast ocean of data that insurers could use to theoretically eliminate virtually all risk, while at the same time reducing the size of the premium pool. Should insurers be allowed to do this, and is the public interest being served?
Rich Gatz (moderator), Jon Padfield, Matthew Guariglia, James P. Nettles
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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4:00 p.m. |
Holding Private Police Foundations Accountable to the Public Interest
Should private police foundations be held accountable when they fund or perform the functions of government, and are there consequences if we fail to do so? We will take a look at Atlanta's Public Safety Training Center ("Cop City") as an example.
Lia Holland, Marlon Kautz, Matthew Guariglia, José M (moderator)
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD
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5:30 p.m. |
Kryptos and Other Unsolved Codes
Enjoy an entertaining presentation with the latest on famous and not-so-famous unsolved codes, including Kryptos, NKrypt, and the WWII pigeon cryptogram.
Elonka Dunin
Hilton Crystal Ballroom, Attendance: TBD
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5:30 p.m. |
Breaking into Software Development, and Surviving
What does it take to break into software development and thrive? Ask our panelists, from places such as Stack Overflow and CNN, about insights, tips, and personal experiences to help newcomers and experts alike navigate their career path and understand trends.
Ben Matthews (moderator), David Benedict, Branden Hughes, Adam Lear, Shannon Morgan
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD
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7:00 p.m. |
Passkeys: Are They Better Than Passwords?
Passkeys eliminate the need to memorize passwords and use password managers, except for the initial device unlocking. What problems do they solve, and is there a down side? Also, how to you reset a password that you never see and don't have to remember?
Starchy Grant (moderator), Xavier Ashe, Andrew Hirsch
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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8:30 p.m. |
How Georgia is Undermining the Constitutionally Protected Right to Protest
While protests over "Cop City" and the plight of Palestinians continue, Georgia has enacted laws which may infringe on freedom of assembly and speech rights. What are these laws, and could they be successfully challenged in court?
Bill Budington, Matthew Guariglia, José M (moderator), Marlon Kautz
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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10:00 p.m. |
10 Rules for Dealing with Police Encounters
Knowing and asserting your rights along with common sense can greatly improve the outcome of any police encounter. This is a documentary from flexyourrights.org. A question and answer session will follow the film.
Andrew Greenberg (moderator), Cory S. Rosenberger
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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11:30 p.m. |
Hacking 101
Hacking 101 returns for another glorious year! Just what is a hacker anyway? Culture, history, contacts, resources, and pointers for more info.
Dustin Smith (moderator), Rich Gatz, Xavier Ashe, Jesse Roberts, Grady DeRosa, Isaac Sheff
Marriott A601-602, Attendance: TBD |
Sunday, September 1, 2024
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Time |
Program |
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10:00 a.m. |
Dethany: The Phantom of the Swim Team
Bill Holbrook and his daughter, H.H. Glynn, will launch the graphic novel "The Phantom of the Swim Team" at Dragon Con. Published by Hermes Press, it's the sequel to "Dethany and the Other Clique" which featured Dethany Dendrobia, the cheerful 12-year-old Goth from "On The Fastrack".
Bill Holbrook (moderator), H.H. Glynn
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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11:30 a.m. |
Understanding the Federal TikTok Ban: Is It Constitutional?
While not technically a ban, the U.S. recently passed legislation creating ownership restrictions that would be intolerable to the TikTok platform and would likely result in having the platform blocked to U.S. residents. What are the First Amendment issues in play?
Rich Gatz, Matthew Lane, Amie Stepanovich, Courtney Lytle, Cory S. Rosenberger
Hilton Crystal Ballroom, Attendance: TBD |
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1:00 p.m. |
RISAA Expansion of Government Surveillance: Now We All Work for the NSA?
The Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act is an overly broad solution to a narrow problem stemming from a recent court case and is part of the Section 702 FISA reauthorization. What does all of this mean, and how is it impacting our Fourth Amendment rights?
Matthew Guariglia, Starchy Grant
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD
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2:30 p.m. |
Cryptography 101: How to Solve Ciphers
Ever found an encrypted message in the attic, and you'd like to know how to solve it? This is the place for you! Learn how to identify which type of encryption system might have been used, and then how to crack it. Or just come by to learn more about cryptography stuff!
Elonka Dunin
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD
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4:00 p.m. |
Steamboat Willie and Tigger Too: How to Exploit the Public Domain
As iconic copyrighted characters such as Steamboat Willie and Tigger fall into the public domain, what rights do we have to use these characters, and what cautions do we still need to observe?
Courtney Lytle, Matthew Lane, Mitch Stoltz, Meredith Filak Rose, James P. Nettles (moderator)
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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5:30 p.m. |
Social Media Bans for Kids
Florida has banned social media for kids under 14 while requiring 14 and 15 year-olds to have parental consent. Other states are eyeing similar restrictions. Do minors have First Amendment rights, and how is age verification accomplished?
Matthew Lane, Cory S. Rosenberger, Heidi Tandy
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD
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7:00 p.m. |
Automated Speed Enforcement in Georgia
Speed cameras that can send enforceable tickets are now allowed in Georgia around school zones, and are potentially bringing in millions of dollars. Do these devices actually improve safety, or are they just a new kind of driving tax? How is the money that is raised being used?
Ron Daniels (moderator), Cory S. Rosenberger, José M
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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8:30 p.m. |
The Fight to Save the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provided discounts on private Internet service for eligible households during the pandemic, but was shut down around June 2024. What are the justifications for bringing it back, or even making it permanent?
Chris Lewis, Amie Stepanovich
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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10:00 p.m. (4+ Hours) |
Hacking 201
Q&A from our panel of experts; play “Stump the Hacker”!
Dustin Smith (moderator), Rich Gatz, Bill Budington, Xavier Ashe, Jesse Roberts, Joe Soulemon
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
Monday, September 2, 2024
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Time |
Program |
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10:00 a.m. |
Legal Exposure from Running Your Own Mastodon Server/Instance
Mastodon is a federated social network with decentralized control, where each server has its own policies and moderation. What legal obligations does one take on when they choose to run their own server with its own policies and moderation, as compared to using monolithic services such as Twitter/X?
Kurt Opsahl, TJ Mihill
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD
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11:30 a.m. |
Civil Asset Forfeiture "Overhaul" in Congress
Civil asset forfeiture is the seizure of property allegedly involved in a crime. The process can be important for law enforcement but is also subject to overuse and abuse. Efforts are under way in Congress to align practices with Fourth Amendment protections.
Ron Daniels, Cory S. Rosenberger
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD
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1:00 p.m. |
Defending Against Cell Site Simulators (IMSI Catchers)
IMSI catchers are "fake" cell sites used by law enforcement (and increasingly now by scammers and SMishers) to track cell phones and intercept data. Is there a way to detect when such devices are being used, and to defend against their use when using mobile technology?
Bill Budington
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD
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2:30 p.m. |
Historical Cryptograms from the Zodiac Killer and Mary, Queen of Scots
Some big stories have hit the news recently about long lost, or long unsolved, codes. Come hear about the Zodiac Killer solution, and the discovery of the recently found and decrypted letters by Mary, Queen of Scots.
Elonka Dunin
Hilton Room 313-314, Attendance: TBD |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 August 2024 11:56 |
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