Fight for the Future

Fight for the Future
Abbreviation fightfortheftr
Formation October 2011 (2011-10)
Type 501(c)(4) non-profit organization
Purpose Digital rights
Headquarters Worcester, Massachusetts
Website www.fightforthefuture.org

Fight for the Future (often abbreviated fightfortheftr or FFTF) is a nonprofit advocacy group in the area of digital rights founded in 2011.[1] The group aims to promote causes related to copyright legislation, as well as online privacy and censorship through the use of the Internet.[2]

History

The organization was founded by Tiffiniy Cheng and Holmes Wilson in October 2011, and is based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Cheng and Wilson were previously involved in Participatory Culture Foundation, a nonprofit in the area of free culture. Initial funding for the organization was provided by Media Democracy Fund.[1]

Activities

SOPA and PIPA protests

Fight for the Future was involved in the online protests against the Stop Online Piracy Act and PROTECT IP Act in January 2012. The group was involved in coordinating the action in which a number of websites displayed messages advocating against the proposed bills.[1][3]

Internet Defense League

Fight for the Future has created the Internet Defense League as a means of coordinating possible future protests, similar to the ones it helped organize in January 2012.[4]

Opposition to WCIT-12

Along with AccessNow.org, the group has launched an online campaign opposing the changes proposed at the 2012 World Conference on International Telecommunications. The organization believes the changes would threaten the openness of the Internet.[5]

Reset the Net

In response to reports of NSA mass surveillance, Fight for the Future called for increased privacy protections on the internet to decrease the efficiency of surveillance efforts. The organization participated in a day of action on June 5, 2014 to protest NSA surveillance.[6]

Opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership

In the summer of 2016, Fight for the Future teamed up with musician Tom Morello's label Firebrand Records to launch a Rock Against the TPP multi-city tour, featuring concerts, teach-ins, and protests of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.[7]

Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality

Fight for the Future organized The Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality on July 12, 2017 to advocate for net neutrality.

Controversies

Dr. David Lowery of the University of Georgia has accused Fight For The Future of being an "astroturf" organization funded by Silicon Valley interests disguised as a grassroots organization, and has documented large donations from shell companies representing corporations with vested interest in weakening copyright regulation.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Farrell, Michael B. (2012-01-27). "Worcester's Fight for the Future helped ignite an Internet revolt against antipiracy bills". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  2. ↑ "Fight for the Future, defending our basic rights and freedoms". Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  3. ↑ Wortham, Jenna (2012-01-19). "Public Outcry Over Antipiracy Bills Began as Grass-Roots Grumbling". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  4. ↑ Sutter, John D. (2012-05-29). "A 'bat signal' to defend the open Internet". CNN.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  5. ↑ McCullagh, Declan (2012-12-12). "U.N. summit rejects U.S., Europe hands-off-the-Internet plea". CNET. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  6. ↑ Zetter, Kim (2014-05-06). "New Movement Aims to 'Reset the Net' Against Mass Surveillance". Wired. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  7. ↑ McCarthy, Kyle (August 18, 2016). "Nationwide "Rock Against the TPP" Celebrity Concert Tour". The Huffington Post. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  8. ↑ Lowery, David (May 12, 2016). "List of Corporations and Foundations Funding Astroturf Fight For The Future "Free Speech Graveyard"". The Trichordist.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.