14 DAY TRIAL // Digital rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has released an app to help smartphone users “end the NSA’s mass spying,” according to a screenshot published as a marketing hook in the Google Play store.
According to the app’s description on Google’s distribution venue for digital goods, the Electronic Frontier Foundation wants to continue to fight for your rights in the digital age by empowering you to join them in their crusade.
Power to the people!
The first of three screenshots posted to promote the app says that EFF Alerts lets you combat the NSA’s mass surveillance practices. Easier said than done, we’re sure.
Other things that the app can be used for include (from the official description):
- Calling or emailing the U.S. Congress to help advocate for better technology laws. - Tweeting at the White House to ask for better policies. - Helping get the word out about a specific project or campaign EFF is running. - Taking actions internationally to help preserve digital rights in your country, and around the world.
Android-only
The reporting tool was meant for both Android and iOS customers, but because of conflicting views between Apple and the EFF, the app hasn’t made it on iPhones and iPads.
In fact, EFF Alerts would have allowed iDevice owners to express discontent at Apple’s Developer Agreement through the app, which makes it somewhat obvious why the California behemoth wouldn’t want anything to do with such an entry in its iTunes Store.
The EFF has therefore refrained from submitting it to Apple. Instead, it has posted a petition that it wants users to sign in order to force Apple to amend its guidelines. Again, easier said than done.