France’s Encrypted Communication Crackdown: Tech Firms Rally Against Proposed Laws Threatening Privacy and Internet Freedom

Paris, France — Recent legislative proposals in France are stirring controversy among privacy advocates and tech companies, as the government considers laws that could mandate backdoors in encrypted communication services and impose internet access restrictions. This move has sparked significant backlash from various stakeholders who argue this could undermine user privacy and security. Privacy-focused email provider Tuta, formerly known as Tutanota, alongside the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI), is leading the outcry against these potential legal changes. A primary concern involves an amendment under France’s “Narcotrafic” law which demands that providers of encrypted services install backdoors … Read more

Federal Judge Strikes Down Arkansas Law Threatening Librarians with Criminal Charges Over Book Distribution

In a landmark ruling, a federal judge has declared significant portions of an Arkansas law unconstitutional, due to provisions that could have led to criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for distributing materials deemed “harmful” to minors. This decision underscores a growing national debate over what constitutes acceptable content in libraries and who gets to make those decisions. U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks emphasized that the now-overturned law effectively made librarians and booksellers “agents of censorship,” steering them away from providing a diverse range of books for fear of legal repercussion. This law, Judge Brooks … Read more

Beware of Imposters: Tangipahoa Sheriff Warns of Phone Scam Threatening Arrest for Missed Jury Duty

AMITE, La. — Authorities in Tangipahoa Parish are alerting the community to a sophisticated phone scam where fraudsters are impersonating sheriff’s office staff to extort money. According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, these deceptive calls have been increasingly reported, disturbing the peace of the community. The scam involves callers who falsely identify themselves using the names of actual employees from the sheriff’s office, though the badge numbers they provide do not match any real credentials. These phony officials claim that the recipients of the call have failed to appear for jury duty and must … Read more

Alert: Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Issues Warning on Phone Scam Threatening Arrest for Missed Jury Duty

Amite, La. — Residents of Tangipahoa Parish are being targeted by scam artists impersonating local law enforcement officials, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) warned on Wednesday. These scammers are employing tactics such as phone number spoofing to appear as if the calls are coming directly from the sheriff’s office, threatening arrests for missed jury duty in efforts to extort money. According to TPSO, unsuspecting individuals receive calls from scam artists alleging they have missed jury duty and that an immediate payment is required to avoid arrest. This scheme has utilized advanced spoofing technology to … Read more