American Civil Liberties Union

The Technology & Liberty Project monitors the interplay between cutting-edge technology and civil liberties, actively promoting responsible uses of technology that enhance privacy and freedom, while opposing those that undermine our freedoms and move us closer to a surveillance society.


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Privacy Technology : Anonymity on the Web : Press Releases

Record Industry Cuts Corners in Crusade Against File-Sharers, ACLU and Privacy Rights Groups Say (02/02/2004)
WASHINGTON - The music industry has not shown adequate justification for unveiling the identities of anonymous online music ""pirates,"" Public Citizen, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation today told two federal courts.

Citing Right to Anonymity Online, ACLU Asks Boston Court to Block Recording Industry Subpoena (09/29/2003)
BOSTON - The American Civil Liberties Union and a Boston law firm have asked a federal court to quash a recording industry subpoena filed against a local college student, saying that companies should not have the authority to strip Internet users of anonymity without allowing them to challenge the order in court.

Privacy Groups Demand Protection of Users' Anonymity Online (07/11/2002)
NEW YORK- A coalition of civil liberties and privacy groups today called on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other online companies to adopt policies protecting their users' right to anonymous speech on the Internet. That right has come under attack in recent years through a growing number of ""cyberSLAPP"" lawsuits, in which companies file suit just to discover the identity of their online critics - often in order to silence or intimidate them.

In Two Significant Cases, ACLU Seeks to Protect Anonymous Online Speakers from Legal Intimidation (02/26/2001)
SEATTLE--In two legal actions involving free speech and privacy rights online, the American Civil Liberties Union today came to the defense of anonymous speakers who face legal intimidation from those they criticize in cyberspace.

Privacy Technology : Anonymity on the Web : Legal Documents view all

ACLU Amicus Brief in Support of Plaintiff PBIS's Opposition to RIAA's Motion to Dismiss (11/14/2003)

Motion to Quash in RIAA v. Boston College et al. (09/29/2003)

Melvin v. Doe Appeal to Superior Court (11/15/2000)

AOL Amicus brief in Melvin v. Doe (11/15/2000)

ACLU Legal Brief in Melvin v. Doe (11/10/2000)

Privacy Technology : Anonymity on the Web : Legislative Documents

ACLU Letter to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Commitee Expressing Concerns about S. 2281, the VOIP Regulatory Freedom Act of 2004 (07/21/2004)

Coalition Letter to House Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner and Ranking Member Conyers Expressing Concerns and Urging the Committee to Delay the Markup of H.R. 3754, "The Fraudulent Online Identity Sanctions Act" (05/04/2004)

Letter to Reps. Coble and Berman on Internet Database Accuracy and H.R. 4640 (05/21/2002)

Letter to Attorney General Janet Reno on Unlawful Conduct On the Internet (03/08/2000)

Privacy Technology : Anonymity on the Web : Resources

Important Internet Free Speech Litigation (11/19/2002)
Links to pending ACLU litigation

Offsite Resources on Cyber-Liberties (02/14/2002)
The following sites provide comprehensive or unique resources relating to the work of the ACLU in this issue area. While some of these sites are operated by organizations that work frequently in coalition with the ACLU, the sites may also include materials on positions we do not share. To report a broken or relocated link, or to suggest a site for inclusion on this page, use the feedback button at the bottom of this page.

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