Posted on July 11, 2021
Why the Climate Crisis Demands Democracy Reform
American democracy faces unprecedented attacks. July grantee Brennan Center for Justice believes the best way to defend our democracy is to strengthen it. Take a minute to read their recent analysis about why fixing America’s broken political system and building a healthier democracy can contribute to a more just and sustainable world — then cast your vote for Brennan Center at CREDODonations.com to help us distribute a portion of our July grant.
The recent record-breaking heat wave on the West Coast, among other extreme weather events, has underscored the urgency of addressing the global climate crisis. Such efforts will require significant action from the federal government, including policies to reduce carbon emissions and adaptation measures to prepare communities for rising sea levels and extreme weather. Too often, however, the U.S. political system interferes with the government’s ability to carry out the significant action required to address the climate crisis.
The United States needs a healthy system of democracy — one that represents the will of the people — in order to combat climate change, which has emerged as a leading voting issue for Americans. This includes repairing the nation’s campaign finance system, which has allowed corporations and special interest groups — including big spenders from fossil fuel industries — to wield outsize influence in Washington. And it requires ensuring that communities of color and low-income communities, who often bear the brunt of environmental hazards, aren’t disenfranchised.
Suppressing the vote suppresses climate action
The right to vote is a crucial element of a functioning democracy. But in recent years, a surge in voter suppression has threatened America’s progress toward a more inclusive democracy. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling in Shelby v. Holder, which weakened a number of the Voting Rights Act’s key protections, states have accelerated their efforts to pass laws, such as reduced early voting and strict ID requirements, that make it harder for many citizens to vote. These restrictive laws, along with manipulative practices such as extreme gerrymandering, are often designed to target low-income communities of color, threatening their rights to fair political representation.
These are often the same communities that are disproportionately exposed to pollutants and other environmental hazards — along with the associated health consequences, such as a higher risk of certain respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and cancers. And these are the communities that are most vulnerable to the devastating effects of a changing climate, such as extreme heat, rising sea levels, and displacement.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the communities most affected by environmental injustice are those that are most likely to express concern about the climate crisis. Over the past decade, polls have consistently found that people of color — including Black, Latino, and Asian Americans — overwhelmingly support government action on climate change and environmental protection. And, according to a 2017 poll by ecoAmerica, 91 percent of African Americans and 90 percent of Latinos surveyed were “personally concerned” about climate change, compared with 76 percent of people nationwide and 69 percent of white Americans. Similarly, of those surveyed, 82 percent of African Americans and 81 percent of Latinos supported government action to protect against climate impacts, compared with 70 percent of people nationwide and 66 percent of white Americans.
The communities that are most vulnerable to environmental injustice are often the same ones targeted for voter suppression and gerrymandering. A democracy that is more responsive to the concerns of these communities — and, more broadly, to the will of the American people — will be better positioned to address the climate crisis. Federal legislation that is currently under consideration would, if enacted, help bring about that more representative democracy. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore and strengthen the protections of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in elections. And the expansive For the People Act would reverse voter suppression through a variety of reforms — including automatic voter registration, nationwide early voting, and a ban on partisan gerrymandering — all of which would make it easier for eligible voters to participate in American democracy and have their voices heard in elections.
Big money and climate change
But voter suppression is far from the only antidemocratic force that threatens to thwart substantive climate change legislation. Another major factor is the role that big money plays in American politics, including in electoral campaigns. This dynamic has allowed corporations and the wealthiest individuals to hold an astounding amount of influence over the lawmaking process in Washington, often spending aggressively to kill climate change legislation, such as the American Clean Energy and Security Act in 2009, which passed the House of Representatives only to fail in the Senate. According to some estimates, groups spend up to $1 billion per year on lobbying against climate legislation.
If the political system gave an advantage to the fossil fuel lobby and other special interest groups prior to 2010, it tilted even more in their favor with the Supreme Court’s consequential ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The decision, which permitted corporations and other groups to spend unlimited money on elections, sparked a massive increase in political spending from special interests. In particular, Citizens United gave rise to the creation of super PACs — organizations largely powered by the wealthiest donors — and a surge in secret spending from dark money groups, which don’t disclose their donors.
These developments have further expanded the political influence of corporations, wealthy individuals, and special interest groups — including the fossil fuel lobby, which has significantly increased its election spending. In 2006, for example, the oil and gas industry spent an estimated $23.6 million in federal elections, a figure that skyrocketed after Citizens United to $85.7 million in 2012, $104.5 million in 2016, and $138.8 million in 2020. (These figures don’t account for contributions from dark money groups, whose spending is secret.) Critics have pointed out how this spending, combined with lobbying efforts, has stalled climate change legislation in Washington.
A Supreme Court reversal or constitutional amendment to undo Citizens United is extremely unlikely in the short term. In the meantime, however, federal legislation could help counter the role of big money in American politics. The For the People Act includes a provision for a nationwide small donor public financing system for congressional and presidential elections. Under this system, small donors who give to participating candidates would see their contributions matched by public funds. The program would come at no cost to taxpayers, as it would be funded primarily by a surcharge on criminal and civil penalties on corporate defendants and their executive officers.
If enacted, the system would significantly expand the power of small donors, and political candidates would rely less on big checks from wealthy donors and special interest groups, including big fossil fuel spenders. And it would amplify the voices of ordinary citizens, a vast majority of whom support government action to address climate change.
The For the People Act also includes provisions that would increase transparency in election spending. It would, for example, require groups that spend significant amounts of money on campaigns to disclose their donors, closing the legal loophole that led to the rise of dark money.
Climate change threatens our democracy
It’s not only that case that a dysfunctional democracy jeopardizes our ability to address the climate crisis. The inverse also holds true: climate change threatens American democracy, including the integrity of the U.S. voting system itself. For example, scholars have documented how during Election Day in November 2005, three months after Hurricane Katrina, 80 percent of New Orleans voters (two-thirds of whom were African American) remained displaced and nearly three-quarters of polling places had been damaged or destroyed. Such catastrophic events threaten to undermine voter participation even years after they take place.
The stakes of these intersecting crises are high, but there are solutions. Lawmakers can take note of what the vast majority of Americans support, including bold climate action and the democracy reforms needed to achieve it. And they can discern how a healthier democracy can contribute to a more just and sustainable world.
This analysis originally appeared on the Brennan Center for Justice website on July 1, 2021.
Posted on July 8, 2021
Vote for Brennan Center for Justice, The Fairness Project and the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum this July
Every month, CREDO members vote to distribute a monthly donation to three incredible progressive causes – and every vote makes a difference. This July, you can support voting rights, economic justice and civil rights by voting to fund the Brennan Center for Justice, The Fairness Project and National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum.
Brennan Center for Justice
American democracy faces unprecedented attacks. The Brennan Center believes the best way to defend our democracy is to strengthen it. The organization works to craft and advance a transformative reform agenda — solutions that aim to make our democracy work for all.
A grant from CREDO will support the Brennan Center for Justice in its advocacy for real democracy reform, fight against voter suppression tactics, and work for a fair justice system — through in-depth research, top-notch litigation, and bold solutions.
The Fairness Project
When politicians fail, The Fairness Project helps grassroots organizations run ballot initiatives to support working families. In just 5 years, the organization has raised wages and brought health care, paid leave and more to over 17.7 million people.
A CREDO grant to The Fairness Project will help empower voters through ballot initiatives to win progressive policy change for economic, racial, and gender justice by raising wages, expanding Medicaid, guaranteeing paid leave, curbing predatory lending, and more.
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum builds power with Asian American and Pacific Islander women and girls to influence critical decisions that affect our lives, our families and our communities. Using a reproductive justice framework, the organization elevates AAPI women and girls to impact policy and drive systemic change in the United States.
Funding from CREDO would allow NAPAWF to further invest in the AAPI women leaders of tomorrow by providing leadership training and coaching on organizing strategy, public speaking, op-ed writing, and more, and to enable them to connect and organize around the issues that impact their lives.
Your vote this month will determine how we divide our monthly donation among these three progressive groups. Be sure to cast your vote to support one, two or all three by July 31.
CREDO members who use our products and services everyday are the reason we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile and CREDO Energy and join our movement.
Posted on July 7, 2021
How to get the most out of your smartphone in the great outdoors this summer
We use our smartphones all the time. But when we’re camping or hiking, the last thing we want to do is stare at a screen. It’s time to enjoy the great outdoors!
Yet, our smartphones can be extremely helpful tools when we’re venturing out into the wilderness, whether we’re at one of our great national parks, roughing it in the backcountry or out for a lazy weekend camping trip.
Here are a few helpful tips to get the most out of your smartphone this summer while enjoying the outdoors.
Planning a trip to a national park?
First things first, if you’re planning a trip to one of the roughly 400 national parks this summer, you’re in luck! Many parks have reopened, but they will be very busy.
Make sure to plan ahead on the National Park Service website or on the NPS mobile app. And while you’re at it, don’t miss our suggestions for some great national parks to visit in the summer, fall or winter.
Saving your phone’s battery
If you will be away from civilization for any amount of time, you’ll want to preserve the life of your phone’s battery for as long as possible until you’re near a power source — especially if you’re relying on your phone for a map or directions.
Check our recent tip on ways to extend your phone’s battery life, with suggestions on avoiding extreme temperatures, turning on airplane mode, making necessary software updates before you travel, and more.
Additionally, consider purchasing an external USB battery pack, as well a car charger if you are traveling in or camping near your own vehicle. These devices are relatively inexpensive and will be invaluable on longer trips away from power.
Solar phone charger
Speaking of power — specifically green, renewable power — consider purchasing a solar-powered phone charger. These devices can efficiently recharge small electronic devices, including your phone. If you’re off the grid for any amount of time, a solar charger is a must-have. Be aware that if you’re backpacking, some of these devices can be bulky or heavy (think many ounces not multiple pounds).
Here are some recommendations for solar battery packs and chargers from Outdoor Gear Lab and Wirecutter.
Download and use maps offline
Here at CREDO, we have the best and most dependable network, but there may be times when you’re in a very remote area where you may not have great service.
If you’re using your phone to navigate or find points of interest, you’ll want to download and save maps ahead of time if you lack access to your cellular network. Here’s how to use Google Maps (download for iOS or Android) on your phone for offline use:
- Apple: Go to the Google Maps app > Tap your profile image > Offline maps > Select your own map > Choose the map area you want to save > Download
- Android: Go to the Google Maps app > Search for the location > At the bottom, tap the name of the place > Download.
Note: Make sure to download your maps when you still have cellular service, but preferably when you’re connected to a WiFi network.
Making emergency calls without service
Some experts believe the increased reliance on technology in the outdoors can be dangerous, giving inexperienced people a false sense of security.
So if you don’t plan to use your smartphones for GPS navigation or maps, you may want to keep your smartphone nearby (and turned off, to preserve your battery) for an emergency phone call.
You’ve probably seen the message “No network, Emergency calls only” on your phone’s screen at some point. That can mean you do not have service with your primary cellular network, but you may still be able to make an emergency call using a tower of another network service provider if it’s in range.
Need connectivity all the time? Consider a satellite communicator
If you need a connection to the outside world at all times, regardless of cellular reception, consider purchasing a satellite communicator. This is an external device that connects to a global satellite communications network, then to your smartphone, to provide you with network connectivity. These devices range from basic units that send simple two-way messages, all the way up to comprehensive devices that can send and receive calls and text messages and access data virtually anywhere on the planet.
Zoleo is the top choice for Cam, our Senior Data Analyst. Here’s a review of other devices that will match your needs and budget.
Download other content for offline use
Sometimes you just need the digital creature comforts of civilization while you’re enjoying the outdoors. Maybe you want to read a book on top of a mountain, but don’t want to schlep extra pounds up the trail. Or you’d like to listen to a podcast or audiobook while you fall asleep.
Not a problem — but you should plan ahead, since you will want to be connected to a WiFi network and ensure your device has enough storage.
Many of your favorite video streaming apps allow you to download content to access offline (here’s how for Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+), so do your music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora) and popular audiobook platforms (Audible for iOS and Android; Google Play Books)
Your phone is a multi-use tool
Remember, your smartphone is more than just a little internet machine that can make calls and send texts. Your phone is a flashlight (iOS and Android). It can measure lengths and distances.
Most importantly, smartphones come equipped with great built-in cameras. If you have a newer device, your camera is pretty amazing. Unless you’d like to take pictures with professional-level equipment (and lug around a few extra pounds), your phone’s camera will probably be sufficient for many situations to make great memories. Here’s our recent tip on taking better photos with your smartphone.
Posted on July 6, 2021
How journalist Judd Legum holds corporations like AT&T accountable
If you’ve followed CREDO’s story for any amount of time, you know that we aspire to be an ethical company that exists to make the world a better place, from our commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility to the millions in donations to progressive causes over the last 35 years.
Other corporations, like Fox News, AT&T, Exxon, Koch Industries — not so much.
Over the last few years, journalist Judd Legum has been holding the feet of bad corporate actors to the fire with tenacious research and reporting, uncovering shady donations to right-wing politicians working to subvert democracy and undermine our progressive values.
Legum’s work has been invaluable for shining a light on Big Telecom companies like AT&T who claim publicly to be responsible corporate citizens, then privately fund anti-LGBTQ or white supremacist politicians. So, we were lucky to have the opportunity to chat with him recently about corporate accountability, his work as a journalist and his newsletter Popular Information.
If the name Judd Legum sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Many CREDO members may remember Legum as the founder and editor of the popular progressive blog ThinkProgress. During the 2008 presidential race, he served as the research director for Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Today, Legum is the author of Popular Information, a daily political newsletter that shares its name from a quote by James Madison and gets to the heart of Legum’s work:
“A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both.”
His research and investigative work have been cited widely — many with real-world effects. Just one example: His March 3 piece uncovering donations by major corporations, including Coca-Cola, UPS, Delta, and AT&T, to Georgia politicians supporting racist voter suppression bills resulted in a rapid response advocacy campaign by a coalition of voting rights activists (including CREDO grantees NAACP and Black Voters Matter).
We also should mention that Legum’s corporate accountability work appears frequently on this blog, regularly highlighting the malfeasance of Big Telecom and uncovering AT&T’s donations to anti-LGBTQ politicians, Florida and Georgia lawmakers supporting voter suppression, Texas lawmakers supporting voter suppression, and insurrectionist members of Congress who enabled Trump’s deadly riot on the Capitol.
The following Q&A has been edited for length and clarity and does not imply endorsement by Judd Legum.
CREDO: You’ve uncovered a lot of stories missed by big media outlets, some of them sitting in plain sight (or in FEC reports) that later made big waves in the mainstream media. Why are many traditional reporters not connecting the dots, say between advertisers and Fox News, or corporations buying influence with their right-wing beneficiaries?
JUDD LEGUM: I think part of the reason why so many people miss these stories is because it’s just the way things are done in Washington, D.C and in American politics. The reason why we were the first to do a story about which corporations donated to the members of Congress that voted to overturn the election is that most people were like, “Oh, of course those corporations donated to Kevin McCarthy and Mo Brooks and all the other people who voted to overturn the election. That’s what corporations do.”
But as it turns out, when you do the work to identify these corporations, the people who do business with these companies are very interested in how they operate — and the corporations themselves are very sensitive to how their customers feel about them. So while [not reporting on these donations] may be the way things are done in Washington, we’re still going to get the information out to people, and that’s important.
CREDO: So it’s “conventional wisdom,” really, among the traditional media that, “of course, these corporations donate to politicians,” so it’s not a story.
JUDD LEGUM: Right. For a long time, corporations rested on the fact that they give to both parties, so one cancels out the other. But that’s not always the case. If you give $100,000 to one party that is voting to overturn a democratic election, and then you give $100,000 to lawmakers voting not to overturn the election, that doesn’t cancel each other out. That’s a big story.
And the same goes for voting rights. It’s not enough to divide up your contributions to people who support the right to vote and to people who try to make it extremely difficult to vote — especially if you’re a company that says, publicly, that you support voting rights and wrap yourselves in the legacy of John Lewis and other civil rights heroes.
CREDO: You’ve been reporting on corporate bad actors and calling out companies for their hypocrisy for a while now — whether it’s a company saying publicly that they support LGBTQ rights or Black Lives Matter or voting rights, then they’re quietly donating to Republican lawmakers — sometimes substantial amounts — who completely oppose those values, when they think no one is looking. Recently, you uncovered some companies who promised to stop donations to insurrectionist politicians, then when the dust settled, they opened their wallets to lawmakers who still continue to spread Trump’s Big Lie.
Why do you think these companies keep doing it, even though they know people like you are paying such close attention?
JUDD LEGUM: There’s an infrastructure built into these corporations that’s based on, effectively, purchasing access to politicians. Part of the toolkit in a “government relations” department is not only trading access based on relationships, but it’s also donating money so that you get your phone calls returned. There’s certainly some people within these companies who are pushing to reform the way they do business [with regards to political donations], but there are others who believe that if Republicans get back into power in 2022, they need to restart these donations, even after what happened on Jan. 6, and get back to business as usual.
CREDO: In the last few years, it feels like people are paying more attention to how corporations act in the political space. Do you feel like you’ve been seeing a heightened expectation from consumers for companies to uphold their values?
JUDD LEGUM: I think that’s absolutely right. Consumer behavior is changing and companies are trying to respond. That’s why you see so many companies taking public stances on social issues. After George Floyd’s murder, you saw all those companies express their support on social media for the Black Lives Matter movement — because a lot of people [who support Black lives] didn’t want to be associated with companies that didn’t.
The problem is that these companies haven’t taken the next step — which is how you spend your money with those expressed values. So there’s still a gap. Part of what we saw after Jan. 6, and what I think we’ll see in the future, is a response to enhanced expectations by consumers.
CREDO: At CREDO, we’re particularly interested in how you’ve really held AT&T to account for their donations that support right-wing causes and politicians — they are kind of the antithesis to what CREDO stands for. To you, what makes these actions by AT&T particularly egregious?
JUDD LEGUM: Well, they are a very large contributor, even among large corporations. They are usually at the top of any list for contributions made to any politicians. If they aren’t on top, they are near the top.
The other thing that really stuck out to me about AT&T is how the company really leaned in hard into civil rights and into the legacy of civil rights leaders. There was a video that was posted by AT&T on YouTube where they recreated John Lewis’ march on Selma, which is fine. And to be fair to the company, Black AT&T employees were involved in that video, so I don’t fault them for it.
But, once you do that, you can’t [donate to politicians who support voter suppression.] For example, AT&T may be the #2 donor in Texas with regards to contributions to the sponsors of voter suppression legislation, but when asked, the CEO issued a statement essentially saying that [voting laws] weren’t their area of expertise.
So that’s why AT&T ends up in a lot of our stories; I go where the data takes me. Frequently, it takes me to AT&T.
CREDO: Last question: What’s some advice you can give to CREDO customers and other progressives who want to make sure that they aren’t spending their money with companies that donate to Republicans and right-wing causes and instead try to be vigilant and do business with companies that share their values?
JUDD LEGUM: Well, they can subscribe to my newsletter, Popular Information, because that is one thing that I try to cover. But I also think that making your voice heard really can drive a lot of corporate behavior. So if you’re going to change your service, I would let the company know why you’re making the switch. You’d be surprised how a relatively few number of people can raise the eyebrows of a large company and get attention.
We’d like to thank Judd Legum for this great interview and all the work he’s doing to hold companies accountable, especially when they support the politicians and causes that don’t align with our values as CREDO members. We encourage you to sign up and subscribe to his newsletter, Popular Information, for daily or weekly analysis, insight and research. We’ll be sure to feature his work on our blog again.
Posted on July 2, 2021
Our June grantees thank you for your support
Each month, CREDO members vote on how we distribute funding to three incredible nonprofits. Those small actions add up – with one click, you can help fund groups working for LGBTQ rights, climate justice and public land conservation. In June, CREDO members voted to distribute our monthly donation to Freedom For All Americans, Rainforest Foundation US and Trust for Public Land.
These donations are made possible by CREDO customers and the revenue they generate by using our services. The distribution depends entirely on the votes of CREDO members like you. And for that, our April grant recipients thank you.
Freedom For All Americans
$47,600
“Thank you! We know 8 in 10 Americans want their LGBTQ neighbors protected from discrimination. With help from CREDO members like you, we can activate every single one of them to support the Equality Act and get this critical legislation passed.” – Kasey Suffredini, CEO & National Campaign Director
To learn more, visit www.freedomforallamericans.org.
Rainforest Foundation US
$53,250
“Thank you for your contribution! By counting on the support of passionate people like yourself, Rainforest Foundation US is able to help indigenous peoples protect the tropical forests we all depend on.” – Suzanne Pelletier, Executive Director, Rainforest Foundation US
To learn more, visit rainforestfoundation.org.
Trust for Public Land
$49,090
“Thank you for being a part of this transformational change. By donating to The Trust for Public Land, you are an essential contributor to the parks, trails, schoolyards, and open spaces that are strengthening neighborhoods and helping people thrive.” – Diane Regas, President and Chief Executive Officer, Trust for Public Land
To learn more, visit tpl.org.
Now check out the three groups we are funding in July, and cast your vote to help distribute our donations.
CREDO members who use our products are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile, the carrier with a conscience.
Posted on July 1, 2021
The Top 5 Phone Tips of 2021 So Far: Blocking robocalls, scanning documents, extending your phone’s battery & more
Are you still getting annoying spam and robocalls on your phone? Having trouble securely keeping track of all your passwords? Or is your phone’s battery dying a lot sooner than it should?
We’ve got you covered. Today, we want to share with you the top 5 best phone tips of 2021 so far in case you missed them the first time around. Enjoy!
#5: 8 easy ways to extend your phone’s battery life
If your smartphone is a little older, you know what it’s like when your battery dies unexpectedly. It’s the side effect of having a powerful yet tiny computer in your pocket.
Luckily, there are some easy ways to preserve and extend the battery life of your smartphone. Here are 8 tips to keep your phone running a little longer.
#4: How to securely erase your phone before selling or trading in
If you’re planning to sell, trade in or give away your current phone, there are a number of steps you should take to prepare your phone in order to protect your personal information and secure your data and accounts.
That means unpairing, backing up, logging out, and most importantly, securely erasing all of your data before you hand over your device. Here’s what you should do with your phone before selling, trading it in or giving it away.
#3: Here’s why you need to start using a password manager — and how you can get started
It’s tough to remember all our passwords — but if you’re not using unique and complex passwords for each of your accounts, you’re making it easy for hackers or criminals to compromise your sensitive information.
A password manager can help. It keeps all of your accounts secure by creating, encrypting and storing your passwords so you don’t need to write them on a sticky note next to your computer anymore.
#2: How to quickly scan documents right from your mobile phone
Whether you’re applying for a new apartment or loan, or saving old recipes or receipts, at some point you’ve probably needed to scan a document or two. But scanning can be difficult if you don’t own a scanner or all-in-one printer.
#1: How to Block Annoying Robocalls and Spam Calls on Your Phone
We hate robocalls and spam calls, and we know you do too. They are persistent, annoying and dangerous.
Posted on June 29, 2021
The survey results are in: Equality and LGBTQ nondiscrimination across America
Despite significant victories for equality in recent years, LGBTQ Americans continue to face discrimination in many parts of our country.
That’s why, this Pride Month, we teamed up with our June grantee Freedom For All Americans to survey CREDO members about equality and discrimination in their area to help FFAA fight for full nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people nationwide.
Thousands of CREDO members took our survey, and here are the results.
We began the survey asking respondents whether they were aware of protections in their state against LGBTQ discrimination. Many people were not sure if the LGBTQ community is fully protected in their state.
Next, we highlighted that 29 states — more than half of all U.S. states — have not passed full nondiscrimination laws to protect LGBTQ people. A plurality of respondents expected this to be the case, and more than a quarter were surprised it is so high.
Click here to see if your state offers full LGBTQ nondiscrmination protection.
Recent polling from the Public Religion Research Institute found that 76% of all Americans, including 85% of Democrats, 78% of independents, and 62% Republicans, support full nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people. A majority of survey respondents did not expect the support for these laws to be so popular.
We then asked a series of questions about the Equality Act, a bill in Congress that would extend protections to LGBTQ people at the federal level, which is a priority for our allies at FFAA.
A overwhelming majority — more than 86% of respondents — are aware of the Equality Act.
More than half of all survey takers have taken action at least once to support the Equality Act, with more than one third taking action multiple times.
Finally, we asked our members what grassroots actions they’d be willing to take to make sure the Equality Act becomes law. We learned that a large majority want to use their voice to make change, so here are some ways you can take action today to help us and our partners at Freedom for All Americans ensure the Equality Act will protect the LGBTQ community nationwide:
- Email your senators and tell them to vote “YES” on the Equality Act
- Tweet at your senators and urge them to #Act4Equality
- Call your senators and urge them to support the Equality Act
Visit CREDODonations.com and vote for Freedom For All Americans and our other great grantees this month to help distribute our monthly donation
Posted on June 24, 2021
Your phone apps are tracking you. Here’s how to stop them.
Have you ever searched for something on your phone, like a new shirt, plane ticket or computer, then get the sinking feeling you’re being followed online with ads for the same product for the next few days?
You’re not alone. Your phone apps are helping marketers target and track you across the internet. For some, it’s a useful way to see products you might purchase. For others, it feels like an invasion of privacy.
Here are a few simple tips to protect your privacy and prevent these apps from tracking you online.
Turn off app tracking
A new feature built into iOS 14.5 released this April was App Tracking Transparency, which allows you to give explicit permission to apps to share your data, location and other identifiers that can allow third parties to serve you with targeted ads. Here’s how to manage this new feature:
- For new apps that you download, you will automatically receive a pop-up notification upon opening that asks if you would like the app to track your activity and explains how it will use your data. You can choose Ask App not to Track or Allow.
- For apps that you have already downloaded and use, you can control tracking permissions on an app-by-app basis. Go to Settings > Privacy > Tracking, and for each app in the list, you can choose which apps to allow or prevent tracking.
- You can turn off app tracking altogether by going to Settings > Privacy > Tracking, and turning off Allow Apps to Request to Track. This should prevent new apps from tracking by default and stop current apps from tracking you.
If you have an Android phone, this feature is not available to you — at least not yet. Google has announced that it will start allowing users to opt-out of ad tracking sometime in late 2021 for devices that run Android 12. Android users can still turn off ads personalization in the Google ad network by going to Settings > Google > Ads and toggling off Opt out of Ads Personalization.
Turn off location tracking (iOS and Android)
Sharing your location data with certain apps is absolutely essential for the app to work properly, like navigation and map apps, rideshare apps, or weather apps. Sharing your location data for apps like these is pretty helpful, if not critical, to ensure the best experience.
But marketers can also use your geolocation data to target you with advertisements. If you’d like to read more, check out this visual explanation from the Boston Globe on how it all works.
If you’d like to control how you share your location data, here’s how:
- In iOS, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Here, you will see a list of all the apps that have asked to access your location data. Choose the app you’d like to change permissions for, and select Never, Ask Next Time, While Using the App, or Always.
- Alternatively, you can also toggle Location Services to Off, but that could prevent some of your apps from not being able to function properly.
- For Android devices (this will be dependent on your device manufacturer and Android version), go to Settings > Location > App Permissions. Choose the specific app you’d like to change and choose Deny.
- You can also disable location services altogether by going to Settings > Location > App Permissions and toggling off the Location at the top of the menu.
Turn off access to your phone’s microphone
It’s all happened to us: We’re having a conversation with friends about the latest TV show or gadget, and then we see an ad on our phone soon after. It really seems like our phone was listening to us. Many people have reported this exact same experience, too, yet app developers claim they do not use ambient noise from our phone’s microphones to determine which ads to show users.
If you’re concerned that your phone is listening to you, you can turn off microphone access app-by-app. Here’s how:
- In iOS, go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone. You will see a list of all the apps that have requested access to your device’s microphone. Toggle which app you’d like to turn on or off.
- You can also turn off Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, which also uses your microphone. Go to Settings > Siri & Search. Toggle off Listen for “Hey Siri” and Press Side Button for Siri.
- For Android devices (this will be dependent on your device manufacturer and Android version), go to Settings > Privacy > App Permissions > Microphone and choose which apps you’d like to turn on or off.
- You can also turn off Google Assistant. Go to Settings > Google > Account Services > Search > Voice > Voice Match and turn it off.
If you want another layer to protect your data from advertisers, consider joining CREDO Mobile. CREDO customers never have to worry that their data is for sale. As a carrier, we don’t share your cell phone usage data with advertisers. In fact, data privacy is at the core of our business, and CREDO customers can rest assured that we take your privacy very seriously.
Click here to learn more about how CREDO protects your data — and how other major carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile do not.
Posted on June 21, 2021
AT&T donated more than $1.1 million to anti-LGBTQ lawmakers
This Pride Month, as it always has, AT&T changed its corporate logo to a rainbow, issued statements for equality and tweeted out support for LGBTQ youth — all for a month-long marketing campaign.
But a stunning new report from Popular Information found that over the last two years AT&T donated $1,079,500 to anti-LGBTQ federal politicians, as well as $59,450 to state-level lawmakers who sponsored anti-trans bills that target LGBTQ youth.
These recent donations are in addition to the $2.755 million that AT&T donated to 193 anti-LGBTQ politicians in 2017 and 2018.
AT&T can tout its support for equality and inclusivity, but its millions in donations to right-wing bigots tell another story.
In its recent report, Popular Information found that 25 major corporations donated more than $10 million to anti-LGBTQ politicians who earned a zero rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s latest Congressional scorecard, which measures support for equality by lawmakers in Congress.
AT&T’s donation put the telecom giant near the top of the list of companies donating to lawmakers who scored zero, second only to Comcast:
The report also highlighted a business statement organized by HRC, signed by AT&T more than 130 other companies, opposing anti-LGBTQ legislation at the state level which explicitly called out attacks on trans youth, saying:
We are deeply concerned by the bills being introduced in state houses across the country that single out LGBTQ individuals – many specifically targeting transgender youth – for exclusion or differential treatment.
Yet, AT&T donated nearly $60,000 to anti-trans lawmakers in Arkansas ($12,950), Tennessee ($4,000), North Carolina ($5,000), Texas ($22,500), and Florida ($17,500) who sponsored anti-trans bills at the state level, some of which specifically target transgender youth.
These new revelations are disturbing, yet completely unsurprising. In 2019, we highlighted Judd Legum’s reporting that found AT&T had donated to $2.7 million to nearly 200 anti-LGBTQ politicians, like Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who supported Donald Trump’s ban on trans people in the military, regularly voted against protections for LGBTQ people and opposed marriage equality, and Ted Cruz, who co-sponsored a bill that would sanction discrimination by businesses against LGBTQ people and urged states to ignore the Supreme Court’s ruling affirming marriage equality.
AT&T has a long history of being on the wrong side of history. The company donated millions to Donald Trump and hired his criminal associates. It lobbied Congress for massive tax breaks to create jobs, then laid off workers. It donated $200,000 to anti-abortion politicians. The company even helped re-elect a white supremacist.
Here at CREDO, we don’t support anti-LGBTQ politicians – and we never will.
In fact, CREDO donates to organizations fighting for LGBTQ rights like the Transgender Law Center and the National LGBTQ Task Force. In total, CREDO members have helped us contribute nearly $15 million to groups fighting for civil rights and equality.
And unlike AT&T and other major carriers, we don’t plaster a rainbow flag on our logo during Pride Month – because we don’t need to. We stand with the LGBTQ community all year long.
This month, our allies at Freedom for All Americans, who are fighting to pass the Equality Act in Congress, are on our June donations ballot. Take a minute to drop them a vote at CREDOdonations.com.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can help fund progressive organizations fighting for climate justice, economic justice, civil rights and equality just by signing up for great mobile service, click here to find out how you can make the switch and join CREDO Mobile.
Posted on June 14, 2021
5 ways to celebrate Juneteenth this year
This week, Americans across the country will celebrate Juneteenth, the day more than a century and a half ago that enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas were finally told they were free.
The day has been celebrated by the African-American community for more than a century as America’s second independence day. There’s been renewed interest in Juneteenth after George Floyd’s murder, the countless other Black people affected by police violence, and nationwide protests calling for justice.
If you’ve never celebrated Juneteenth before, here are some ways to honor and celebrate freedom, equality and Black history.
What is Juneteenth?
On June 19, 1865 — two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation — Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, rode to Galveston to notify enslaved people that the Civil War had ended and they were now free. The name is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, and is also known as “Emancipation Day,” “Freedom Day,” and “Liberation Day.” Here’s a history of Juneteenth from Vox to learn more.
Support Black-owned businesses
The pandemic has been tough for so many small businesses across the country, and Black-owned small businesses have been hit especially hard.
Our allies at Color of Change created the “Black Business Green Book,” a site where you can search Black-owned small businesses by state or keyword, or browse by a number of categories, including Health/Wellness, Food & Drink, Home Goods and more.
You can also check out our curated list to support Black-owned businesses every month from this February.
Protect the right to vote
Today, the right to vote, especially for Black Americans, is under threat. More than 350 voter suppression bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country, and so far, according to our allies at the Brennan Center for Justice, at least 14 states have enacted 22 laws that are designed to make it harder to vote. Many of these laws will suppress the vote in Black communities
Our partners at Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter are doing some incredible work to protect voting rights, especially in the wake of these voter suppression attempts. Learn how you can get involved and volunteer with these two amazing organizations.
Visit locations that celebrate Black culture and history
Take some time to learn more about Black culture and history this Juneteenth. Visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, D.C., the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis or the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle. Fodor’s has curated a list of 15 “unmissable” Black history museums, too.
If you don’t have a venue near you that celebrates Black history (or you’d rather not visit in person), the New York Public Library offers a virtual archive of podcasts, audio recordings, videos and vast digital collections to enjoy.
Advocate to make Juneteenth a national holiday
Juneteenth isn’t a national holiday, yet, but it should be. In 1980, Texas became the first state in the nation to make Juneteenth a state holiday, and since then, nearly every state recognizes the holiday in some form.
The movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday is gaining steam. On June 15, the Senate unanimously passed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, legislation to recognize the day federally, and now the bill heads to the House. Urge your representative to pass this important bill by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, or by emailing your member of Congress here.
Follow the work of our allies
Since 1985, CREDO has donated more than $25 million to our allies who are fighting for civil rights, equality and voting rights.
This month, open up your social media accounts and email inboxes to keep up with the important work of some of our allies who are doing critical work to honor Black culture and history and working to protect communities of color and the right to vote. Here are just a few:
- Color of Change
- Black Voters Matter
- Fair Fight Action
- Zinn Education Project
- Brennan Center for Justice
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Southern Poverty Law Center
- NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Learn more about our donations program and vote for this month’s grantees at CREDODonations.com.
