The Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMMs) are the largest mathematics conference in the U.S. with numerous young math PhDs looking for jobs, doing interviews, etc. http://jointmathematicsmeetings.org/jmm
As I understand it, the NSA has their usual recruiting booth at the JMMs this year. There should ideally have been a lobbying effort to get the NSA booted form the JMMs, much like Feds were booted from DEF CON last summer. Alexander Beilinson did suggest that the AMS should separate itself from the NSA in Notices of the AMS, col 60, no. 11. He wrote "The NSA destroyed the security of the Internet and privacy of communications for the whole planet. But if any healing is possible, it would probably start with making the NSA and its ilk socially unacceptable—just as, in the days of my youth, working for the KGB was socially unacceptable for many in the Soviet Union." http://www.ams.org/notices/201311/rnoti-p1432.pdf To my knowledge, there has not been any concerted effort to obstruct the NSA's recruiting efforts at the JMMs specifically. There is not enough time to do much now since the JMMs take place next week, from Tuesday 14 January till Saturday 18 January, at the Baltimore Convention Center. Any thoughts on lobbying the math societies like the AMS, MAA, etc. that run the JMMs to remove the NSA's booth next year? Just another letter to the Notices of the AMS? A generic online petition? Best, Jeff p.s. It'd obviously be lovely if anyone protested the NSA booth at the event, but I doubt conference goers will do so. People without conference badges have never had access to the exhibit hall in past years. p.s. I whipped up the attached letter with the thought of posting it to a generic petition site, but not enough time remains.
Dear Organizers of the Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMMs) and sponsoring societies (AMS, ASL, CMS, MAA, SIAM),
The JMMs' website indicates that, as in past years, the National Security Agency (NSA) will have a "booth in the exhibit hall" for recruiting young mathematicians.
We feel that aiding the NSA's recruitment efforts by allowing them a booth at the JMMs is inappropriate given the NSA's unethical surveillance of staggering numbers of innocent people, pernicious influence on law enforcement, chilling effects on freedom of speech, and harmful influence upon internet security.
We therefore ask you to cancel their exhibit booth as a step towards the healing process proposed by Alexander Beilinson in Notices of the AMS, col 60, no. 11 :
The NSA destroyed the security of the Internet and privacy of communications for the whole planet. But if any healing is possible, it would probably start with making the NSA and its ilk socially unacceptable—just as, in the days of my youth, working for the KGB was socially unacceptable for many in the Soviet Union.
We reiterate Alexander Beilinson's call for the AMS, ASL, MAA, and SIAM to halt publishing recruitment advertisements for the NSA as well.
The NSA's offenses against civil society include :
- The NSA's PRISM program completely bypasses the courts to surveil vast arrays of users, including American citizens. American companies stand to lose tens of billions due to their collaboration with the PRISM program.
- The DEA's Special Operations Division (SOD) takes illegal surveillance of American citizens carried out by the NSA, and falsifies an investigation history to produce information usable in court.
- The NSA has sabotaged various cryptographic products and damaged the credibility of elliptic-curve cryptography.
We have only recently begun seeing much documentation of the chilling effects that NSA surveillance has had on freedom of speech, but early signs indicate extensive effects.
- The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) compiled twenty-two firsthand accounts how NSA surveillance chilled the right to association, largely amongst activists, for their massive lawsuit against the NSA.
- PEN America found that NSA surveillance has driven one in six, U.S. writers to self-censor (pdf) and caused another one in six to seriously consider doing so.
Feds, we need some time apart.
For over two decades DEF CON has been an open nexus of hacker culture, a place where seasoned pros, hackers, academics, and feds can meet, share ideas and party on neutral territory. Our community operates in the spirit of openness, verified trust, and mutual respect.
When it comes to sharing and socializing with feds, recent revelations have made many in the community uncomfortable about this relationship. Therefore, I think it would be best for everyone involved if the feds call a "time-out" and not attend DEF CON this year.
This will give everybody time to think about how we got here, and what comes next.
Academic meetings like JMMs and societies like the AMS, ASL, MAA, and SIAM have at least as much obligation to uphold ethical standards, especially as an example to young mathematicians we educate. We therefore hope you follow DEF CON's good example by asking the NSA not to participate in the JMMs this year and halt publishing recruitment advertisements for the NSA.
Respectfully yours,
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