Ethiopia Criminalizes VOIP - RSF Reports

Reporters Without Borders is reporting that the government in Ethiopia is stepping up control of news and information. As part of this crack down, new legislation was ratified on May 24th, 2012. Here is a quote of what this law is reported to say:

"Use of VoIP hardware and software has just been made a crime by the new Ethiopian Telecom Service legislation, which was ratified on 24 May. Anyone violating this provision could be sentenced to up 15 years in prison.

The authorities say the ban was needed on national security grounds and because VoIP posed a threat to the state’s monopoly of telephone communications. The new law also gives the ministry of communications and information technology the power to supervise and issue licences to all privately-owned companies that import equipment used for the communication of information."

Shortwave America takes an interest in this due to the fact that licensed amateur radio operators use VOIP services as an allowed mode of communication world-wide. Use of VOIP in amateur radio is almost universal in regards to widespread international use. There is no information at this time about how or IF this ban will affect licensed amateur radio operators in that region of the world. 

This VOIP ban is only a small part of new law that has taken effect in Ethiopia. The government there has also blocked access to the TOR network, but the folks at TOR have found a way to circumvent this ban by way of the use of  certain TOR bridges in combination with Obfsproxy Tor Browser Bundle. Technical tests so far show that the TOR bridges are not responsive to pinging. Here is that instructional piece at the TOR Blog.

Reporters Without Borders says this: "This new law and the possibility that a Deep Packet Inspection system has been installed mark a turning point in the Ethiopian government’s control of the Internet,” Reporters Without Borders said. “We fear that DPI will be misused for surveillance purposes by a government that already subjects the political opposition and privately-owned media to a great deal of harassment."

On May 31st, 2012, the TOR Blog announced the following statement: (See the TOR link for technical graphs)

"Reports show that Tor stopped working a week ago -- even with bridges configured. Websites such as https://gmail.com/, https://facebook.com/, https://twitter.com/, and even https://torproject.org/ continue to work."

What IS Deep Packet Inspection?

Input/Output.io, "The free thinkin', free speakin', rabble rousin' geek has a tutorial up that tells us how to subvert DPI. (Shortwave America makes no guarantees as to the effectiveness of any advice given or linked to) 

As you read through the information and links provided here, you will have seen that Ethiopia is suspected of using TLS to achieve all of its censorship and monitoring activities. TLS stands for Transport Layer Security. This quote from Wikipedia tells us the basics of what TLS is:

"Transport Layer Security (TLS) and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), are cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet.^[1] TLS and SSL encrypt the segments of network connections at the Application Layer for the Transport Layer, using asymmetric cryptography for key exchange, symmetric encryption for privacy, and message authentication codes for message integrity.

Several versions of the protocols are in widespread use in applications such as web browsing, electronic mail, Internet faxing, instant messaging and voice-over-IP (VoIP).
TLS is an IETF standards track protocol, last updated in RFC 5246, and is based on the earlier SSL specifications developed by Netscape Communications."^[2]

Read the entire Wiki article on TLS here.

 

Chicago City Council Tells City Residents To "Shut - Up!"

Second City Cop brings what is known as the most accurate news around when it comes to the MOST CORRUPT CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

SCC as they are most affectionately known, have brought forth news of the most offensive city council policy yet. According to SCC, Chicago is about to lose the Federal lawsuit against the Illinois Wiretapping Statute which currently makes ALL photography, video recording and audio recording a felony crime in Illinois. This lawsuit has been based on the 1st amendment. The ACLU, along with other legal supporters such as the National Lawyers Guild and Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy are winning. The Fraternal Order of Police are not supporting the 1st amendment right to free expression in this case .

Under the newest proposed city ordinance:

Some of the City Council’s most influential aldermen proposed a crackdown today on crowd participation at council meetings that would ban everything from signs and posters to clapping and booing in the public gallery.

“No demonstration of approval or disapproval from members of the public shall be permitted within the City Council Chambers, including, but not limited to cheering, yelling, clapping, foot stomping, whistling, booing, or jeering, and if such demonstrations are conducted, the gallery or public seating area may be cleared,” states the proposed ordinance, which goes to the Rules Committee for a hearing.

The changes also would prohibit “signs, placards, banners or posters” within the chambers, unless pre-approved by Mayor Rahm Emanuel or the alderman leading the meeting. The sponsors are Alds. Edward Burke, 14th, Richard Mell, 33rd, Carrie Austin, 34th, and Ray Suarez, 31st. - Quote from Second City Cop and Chicago Tribune.

Shortwave America has been following 1st amendment cases very closely over the past many years, and has spoken to some high ranking city law enforcement folks and attorneys specializing in 1st amendment cases on the issues of first amendment rights, and there is something that the main stream media is not telling ANYONE!

When the G8 and NATO summits arrive in Chicago and for the duration of these events, Chicago Police have already arranged with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to shut off ALL cellular phone and internet service citywide, and jam all radio frequencies that are not being used for official public safety purposes. Active word on the street is that amateur radio, citizens band, FRS, GMRS, MURS, and shortwave radio users will be specific targets for a combination of jamming and harassment.

Chicago Aldermen to Chicago Police: Don't Cut Cellular / Wireless Service

Chicago Police deny that any such plan exists, but longtime Chicago residents and political activists know better. 

According to trustworthy contacts on this matter, anyone and everyone observed with ANY communications equipment or cell phones with cameras, actual camera equipment including portable digital cameras, hand held digital recording equipment, or other related items will be stopped, detained, and likely arrested on bogus charges ranging from felony disorderly conduct to terrorism charges.

The city of Chicago was recently handed their own heads on a silver platter by a Federal Judge for abusing their arrest powers against Iraq War Protesters in 2003, and ordered by the court to pay more than 6 million dollars in damages. Given the history of Chicago Police brutality and mistreatment towards most anyone who decides to exercise their 1st amendment rights via protest actions or even individual statements, most recently, Occupy Chicago members who are now in court fighting to have their arrests nullified and voided due to 1st and 14th amendment violations.

Further investigation by Shortwave America reveals that the City of Chicago is now being sued by a Chicago resident who was manhandled by a Chicago Police SGT. while using his cell phone, and the SGT. at the same scene just moments earlier, allowed a white filmer to leave the scene without being detained or otherwise subjected to any hassle.

Other cases we cannot forget and which lend credibility to this article: Chicago's actions towards protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the John Burge torture scandal, the Chicago Police terror scandal involving victims David Stewart and Sharon Wilkins, history repeating itself regarding Chicago Police corruption in the 002nd district involving arrests of CPD personnel, the Chicago Police "Arturo's Tacos" beating of a civilian in the 014th district, the 1993 gang fight amongst police officers during roll call in the 014th district, and the recent case in which Chicago Police attempted to stop a female subject from filing a report of serious officer misconduct by applying the Illinois wiretap statute against her when she recorded them attempting to suppress her (she was found not guilty), oh, yeah...the 2010 FBI raid on an innocent Logan Square - Chicago couple orchestrated by Chicago Police who were cooperating with the FBI because they dared to attend a protest.

Chicago's current Mayor, Rahm Emmanuel, is directly tied to terrorism by way of his own father.

There is confirmed word through various dependable channels in contact with Shortwave America that the city has already told Chicago's local media that they are only to report what they are told to report  by city, state, and federal officials. (in regards to the G8 and NATO summits, and police / emergency activity)

Chicago = the old USSR, current day China, or North Korea. The Chicago way is alive and continually embarrasses the entire planet.

State Of Oregon Looking To Criminalize Social Media Use FOR EVERYONE

According to this Mother Jones article and twitter buzz all day yesterday, the State of Oregon has a bill on the table that would criminalize the use of twitter, or really, ALL social media for all Oregon State residents and anyone living outside of Oregon. The bill specifically states that the law applies to anyone living outside of Oregon.

According to the bill's author, Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett, it is designed to prevent only overt criminal activity, but the bill's language does not clearly state that. The language used in the bill would have the legal effect of making the use or even ownership of a social media account such as Twitter or Facebook a FELONY. The bill has absolutely no First Amendment exemption and no possible legal defense to the charge of  "electronic communication to solicit two or more persons to commit [a] specific crime at [a] specific time and location."

Speakers at yesterday's hearing overwhelmingly opposed the bill, and this following statement was obtained: Dan Meek, an attorney representing the Oregon Progressive Party, added: "I have to say, this is the kind of law that I would expect to see in Myanmar, Turkmenistan, North Korea or Zimbabwe, but not in Oregon."

The real kicker to this bill? The message does not have to actually be seen or even received by anyone as an element of the offense. The thought police are here! 

So, just HOW does this impact radio? The impact on radio because extremely high numbers of licensed amateur radio operators, SWL's, and commercial broadcasters use social media to post political commentary, personal opinions, and to promote programming. The Tweets and Facebook postings made by such people are sometimes cryptic to those outside of the radio circles and as such, this law could be applied to call out some non-existent "conspiracy".

ALL people involved with radio and social media should contact the State of Oregon to voice their lawful statements about this draconian bill.

****UPDATE**** Apparently, this bill died in committee and isn't ever going anywhere. This update as of 2/10/2012