http://www.aclu.org/privacy/feed.xml Visit ACLU.org to learn more and get involved. en-us 10 2008-10-31T10:39:54-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37306prs20081022.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON – The extraordinary powers of customs and border agents to invade the privacy of individuals at the U.S. border are spreading inland and creating what amounts to a “Constitution-free Zone” that covers fully two-thirds of the American population, the American Civil Liberties Union said today in a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37306prs20081022.html 2008-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37307prs20081022.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) improvements of the privacy protections in its Secure Flight program; however, the ACLU detailed significant problems that remain in the passenger prescreening program. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37307prs20081022.html 2008-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37251prs20081020.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union will host an event this Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at the National Press Club, to spotlight the fact that government is turning vast swaths of our country into a “Constitution-Free Zone” in which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can exercise extraordinary authority that would not normally be permitted under the Constitution. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37251prs20081020.html 2008-10-20T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37168prs20081016.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union will host an event at the National Press Club next Wednesday, October 22, 2008, to spotlight the fact that government is turning vast swaths of our country into a “Constitution-Free Zone” in which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can exercise extraordinary authority that would not normally be permitted under the Constitution. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37168prs20081016.html 2008-10-16T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37088prs20081008.html?s_src=RSS http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37088prs20081008.html 2008-10-08T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36951prs20080929.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union was pleased to see the Travelers’ Privacy Protection Act introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced S. 3612, with Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) signing on as original cosponsors, while Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) introduced H.R. 7118. The proposed legislation is a response to the troubling stories that Americans reentering the United States have had their personal belongings, such as laptops, cell phones and digital cameras, confiscated and searched without probable cause. The Senate and House bills raise the privacy protections for travelers without sacrificing national security at our borders. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36951prs20080929.html 2008-09-29T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/internet/36934prs20080925.html?s_src=RSS Washington, DC – The Senate Commerce Committee continued exploring the issue of Internet privacy and online marketing today with a hearing on Internet service providers’ (ISPs) use of deep packet inspection (DPI). Use of this technology allows ISPs to scrutinize Internet users’ e-mail and browsing activities, to monitor usage and communications traffic, and sell that information to advertisers or turn it over to government officials. The risks posed by this technology are significant and should not be underestimated. The ACLU urges members of the committee to zealously guard the privacy of the American people. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/internet/36934prs20080925.html 2008-09-25T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36692prs20080909.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON, DC – As the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection holds a hearing today on cleaning up the watch lists, the American Civil Liberties Union calls for congressional action to scrap the current approach to airline security in favor of systems that are far more effective, and, at the same time, protect innocent Americans from the immeasurable hassles and frustration of being swept up erroneously by the watch lists. Currently, the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) is charged with maintaining a series of lists that, in theory, contain names of suspected threats to American security. In July, the ACLU estimated that the watch lists grew to over 1 million records. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36692prs20080909.html 2008-09-09T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/biotech/36617prs20080828.html?s_src=RSS BOSTON - The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today welcomed the return of the DNA sample voluntarily provided by Keith Amato as part of the investigation into the 2002 murder of Christa Worthington. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/biotech/36617prs20080828.html 2008-08-28T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36548prs20080822.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON, DC – In response to today’s Wall Street Journal article on the flaws found in the terrorist watch lists by a preliminary congressional investigation, the American Civil Liberties Union calls on all presidential candidates, as well as current President Bush, to pledge to put a moratorium on the use of the lists unless major overhauls are made. The investigation found the current database system beleaguered with flaws and technological hurdles. Not only that, but the program being designed to replace the current database is facing similar systemic difficulties, while the contractors hired for its creation are struggling to move toward completion. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36548prs20080822.html 2008-08-22T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36491prs20080820.html?s_src=RSS Washington, DC – Once again the federal government is expanding its collection of data on innocent travelers, the American Civil Liberties Union said today, with the Department of Homeland Security creating dossiers of travelers who pass through U.S. border checkpoints, maintain these files for 15 years, and share this data broadly – including providing access to courts and attorneys in civil litigation like divorce proceedings. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36491prs20080820.html 2008-08-20T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/36185prs20080729.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON – The nation’s growing network of “fusion centers” is part of an incipient de facto domestic intelligence system, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Today the ACLU released a report detailing spying on Maryland peace demonstrators, a mysterious domestic-spying scandal at a California military base and other recent incidents, confirming that its warnings about fusion centers were coming true. http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/36185prs20080729.html 2008-07-29T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/medical/36097prs20080723.html?s_src=RSS Washington, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union today urges the House Energy and Commerce Committee to require patient control of medical records and compensation for privacy breaches to be a part of the standards set for converting to electronic patient records. The ACLU cautions that H.R. 6357, the “Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment, and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008” or the PRO(TECH)T Act, has insufficient privacy provisions and leaves patients vulnerable to bad, lost, stolen or misused data. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/medical/36097prs20080723.html 2008-07-23T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/internet/36058prs20080721.html?s_src=RSS Washington, DC – Today as part of the FCC field hearing at Carnegie Mellon University on broadband and the digital future, the American Civil Liberties Union will submit written comments about how Deep Packet Inspections (DPI) and other practices threaten Americans’ online privacy and a neutral Internet. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/internet/36058prs20080721.html 2008-07-21T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/36026prs20080717.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON, DC – Today, when Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee, the American Civil Liberties Union calls on the committee to exercise vigorous oversight of the many DHS programs that endanger U.S. citizens’ privacy and civil liberties without increasing security. DHS’s unchecked detention and deportation powers have resulted in abusive interrogations of families with children at checkpoints, creation of militarized zones within the U.S. and widespread fear in immigrant communities facing natural disasters. Collectively, these practices illustrate how DHS has mismanaged its authority and wasted resources. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/36026prs20080717.html 2008-07-17T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/internet/36021prs20080717.html?s_src=RSS Washington, DC – Americans’ online privacy was discussed today at a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. The hearing, titled “What Your Broadband Provider Knows About Your Web Use: Deep Packet Inspection and Communications Laws and Policies,” was meant to shed light on the practice of Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) by Internet service providers (ISPs). DPI allows ISPs to track users’ Internet browsing activities and can be data mined for targeted marketing purposes. The ACLU urges members of the committee to be wary of the privacy landmines inherent in DPI. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/internet/36021prs20080717.html 2008-07-17T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36040prs20080717.html?s_src=RSS RALEIGH – The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina (ACLU-NC) today applauded the NC House of Representatives for taking an important stand against the controversial federal Real ID Act, a law imposing onerous new requirements for the issuance of drivers' licenses. House Bill 2136 passed overwhelmingly today with bipartisan support, by a vote of 69-45. Eleven (11) states have already passed legislation refusing to comply with Real ID, and if the NC Senate passes H. 2136 before the session adjourns this month, then North Carolina could become the twelfth (12th) state to block implementation of this law. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36040prs20080717.html 2008-07-17T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36034prs20080717.html?s_src=RSS PORTLAND, ME - Leaders of the repeal REAL ID effort vowed today that they will press forward and ensure that Maine takes no further steps toward compliance. Their optimism is fueled by the stunning turn-out of 652 volunteers who gathered 24,125 signatures from 398 towns across the state in the grassroots effort to repeal Maine's REAL ID compliance law. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/36034prs20080717.html 2008-07-17T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/35968prs20080714.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON, DC – The nation's terrorist watch list has hit one million names, according to a tally maintained by the American Civil Liberties Union based upon the government's own reported numbers for the size of the list. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/35968prs20080714.html 2008-07-14T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37159prs20080710.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON – Today, as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing to discuss a State Department report on the breaches of passport files by government officials and staff, highlighting the need for privacy protections for all Americans, the American Civil Liberties Union reaffirms its belief that there must be limits on the government’s collection of and access to sensitive personal information. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/37159prs20080710.html 2008-07-10T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35990prs20080710.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON – The state of Louisiana recently enacted legislation that prohibits the state from complying with the Real ID Act of 2005, federal legislation that mandates to all states that they create a national ID card. The Department of Homeland Security has been trying to gain support for the Act, but has faced growing resistance from the states. Louisiana is the 11th state to pass a law barring compliance with Real ID, and the 21st state to formally express its displeasure with the federal mandate. The legislation was passed by a vote of 72-22 in the Louisiana House, and by a vote of 36-2 in the Senate before Governor Bobby Jindal signed the bill into law. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35990prs20080710.html 2008-07-10T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35886prs20080702.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union will mark the addition of the one millionth name to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) terrorist watch list in a July 14th Press Club event. The roll-over to one million confirms the warnings the ACLU has been making for years: the TSA is pinning American security on a system of watch lists that are bloated, inefficient, ineffective and unfair. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35886prs20080702.html 2008-07-02T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35883prs20080701.html?s_src=RSS PORTLAND - Leaders of the drive to Repeal REAL ID announced Wednesday they will be "Defending the Fourth on the Fourth," by mobilizing hundreds of volunteers for a final push for signatures to repeal the state's REAL ID law, which violates the privacy rights guaranteed under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35883prs20080701.html 2008-07-01T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/spying/35881prs20080701.html?s_src=RSS The negotiations underway between U.S. security agencies and their European counterparts over the transatlantic transfer of personal data are just the latest attempt to overcome a looming problem that has consistently interfered with the Bush Administration’s attempts to collect the personal information of an ever-increasing share of the world’s population. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/spying/35881prs20080701.html 2008-07-01T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/spying/35880prs20080626.html?s_src=RSS Maine's privacy complaint against Verizon got a reprieve Thursday as the Senate delayed legislation that would have given the phone companies immunity from litigation on the issue. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/spying/35880prs20080626.html 2008-06-26T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/medical/35780prs20080625.html?s_src=RSS Washington, DC – Today, lawmakers will be making decisions about the future of patients’ medical privacy as legislation aimed at pushing the health care industry toward a conversion from paper to electronic health records is due for a vote by a House panel. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/medical/35780prs20080625.html 2008-06-25T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/biotech/35744prs20080619.html?s_src=RSS BOSTON -- Cape Cod men who voluntarily agreed to provide DNA samples in the investigation of the murder of Christa Worthington have brought suit seeking to prevent the State Police Crime Lab from keeping their DNA in a secret "shadow" DNA data bank. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/biotech/35744prs20080619.html 2008-06-19T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35696prs20080617.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON - Today, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano signed into law legislation that would prohibit the state from complying with the Real ID Act of 2005, a federal mandate imposing a national ID card on all Americans through their state drivers' licenses. The measure passed both the Arizona House and Arizona Senate with overwhelming support: 51 to 1 and 21 to 7 respectively. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35696prs20080617.html 2008-06-17T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35695prs20080617.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) applauds Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for holding a hearing to explore whether the federal government is doing enough to protect personal information. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35695prs20080617.html 2008-06-17T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/genetic/35645prs20080612.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union urges Congress to oppose an amendment sponsored by Representative Adam B. Schiff (D-CA) that is designed to test arrestees as part of an expansion of the federal DNA program. Schiff’s amendment, which recently passed the House Judiciary Committee, will provide incentives for state law enforcement officials to create a permanent DNA database of arrestees that includes people who are detained on misdemeanor charges, wrongfully arrested and others. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/genetic/35645prs20080612.html 2008-06-12T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/internet/35746prs20080611.html?s_src=RSS Richmond, VA - The ACLU of Virginia today filed a lawsuit in federal court in Richmond on behalf of privacy advocate B.J. Ostergren, challenging a new Virginia statute that prohibits the dissemination of public records that contain Social Security Numbers, even when the records are obtained from government websites available to anyone. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/internet/35746prs20080611.html 2008-06-11T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/internet/35594prs20080610.html?s_src=RSS PHILADELPHIA - The American Civil Liberties Union is in court today, once again urging the courts to uphold a ban on a law that criminalizes constitutionally protected speech on the Internet. The Child Online Protection Act (COPA) would impose draconian criminal sanctions, with penalties of up to $50,000 per day and up to six months imprisonment, for online material acknowledged as protected for adults but deemed "harmful to minors." http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/internet/35594prs20080610.html 2008-06-10T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35558prs20080606.html?s_src=RSS http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35558prs20080606.html 2008-06-06T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/medical/35519prs20080604.html?s_src=RSS Washington, DC—The American Civil Liberties Union urges the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health at today’s hearing to develop privacy and security standards at the same time the health care industry converts from paper to electronic patient records. The ACLU warns that without real patient controls and compensation for misused data, American medical records are extremely vulnerable to being lost or stolen from these systems. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/medical/35519prs20080604.html 2008-06-04T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35470prs20080529.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin returned a bill to the legislature that would prevent the state from funding implementation of the federal Real ID Act. By neither signing nor vetoing the bill 20 days after overwhelming passage in the legislature, Governor Palin allowed the bill to become law, effective August of this year. Real ID is a federal mandate imposing a national ID card on all Americans through their state drivers' licenses. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35470prs20080529.html 2008-05-29T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/genetic/35430prs20080521.html?s_src=RSS Washington, DC – The ACLU today commended Congress and the president for enacting the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which will stem a growing tide of employer and health insurer bias. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/genetic/35430prs20080521.html 2008-05-21T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35107prs20080430.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed skepticism about the announcement yesterday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of a new program intended to remedy the nation’s disastrous watch list system. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35107prs20080430.html 2008-04-30T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/35081prs20080429.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON – Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office testified today about the privacy and security concerns with creating a federal identity document every American will need in order to fly on commercial airlines, enter government buildings, or open a bank account. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia held an oversight hearing on the Real ID Act and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, examining the federal government’s capacity to implement the new identification systems. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/35081prs20080429.html 2008-04-29T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/genetic/35011prs20080424.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON DC - After more than a decade of debates, hearings and votes, Congress is expected to pass legislation referred to as the first civil rights bill of the 21st century that is a critical step toward securing civil liberties in the emerging field of medical technology. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/genetic/35011prs20080424.html 2008-04-24T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/youth/35343prs20080421.html?s_src=RSS A spokesperson for the ACLU of Colorado announced today that it welcomes a decision of the Boulder Valley School District ("BVSD") to limit searches of students' cell phone text messages, an issue the ACLU raised in a letter made public in October, 2007. In that letter, the ACLU asserted that non-consensual searches of text messages violate a Colorado criminal statute designed to protect the privacy of telephone and electronic communications. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/youth/35343prs20080421.html 2008-04-21T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35341prs20080417.html?s_src=RSS BALTIMORE - As part of a growing national movement in opposition to implementation of the federal Real ID Act by the states, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland has launched a campaign to educate young people and all Marylanders about why Real ID should be rejected. The "Real ID, Real Exposed" campaign features a video on YouTube, posters, postcards, website, and Myspace page designed to raise the profile of Real ID in Maryland and help organize the increasing number of people and organizations who oppose this misguided law. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35341prs20080417.html 2008-04-17T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35340prs20080416.html?s_src=RSS AUGUSTA - The Maine Civil Liberties Union today expressed disappointment in the enactment of LD 2039. The final bill requires the Secretary of State to enact regulations requiring driver's license applicants to demonstrate a "legal presence" in order to obtain a license. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35340prs20080416.html 2008-04-16T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35339prs20080411.html?s_src=RSS St. Paul, Minn - Governor Pawlenty signed H.F. 3708 into law today. Among the provision of this bill are changes for complementary and alternative health care practitioners. Specifically, this law deals with when alternative health care providers can engage in a private sexual relationship with former clients. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35339prs20080411.html 2008-04-11T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/34898prs20080411.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON – This week, Idaho Governor Butch Otter signed into law legislation that prohibits the Idaho Department of Transportation from complying with the Real ID Act of 2005, a federal law requiring the states to implement a national identification card. The bill landed on the governor’s desk after receiving overwhelming bipartisan support in both the Idaho House and Senate, not receiving a single vote against passage. Idaho now joins Georgia, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Washington as states that have passed laws prohibiting compliance with Real ID. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/34898prs20080411.html 2008-04-11T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35334prs20080403.html?s_src=RSS PORTLAND - Today, the Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation filed a public records request with the Office of Governor John E. Baldacci for records relating to the debate over REAL ID. After more than a week of back and forth between the Governor's Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the two parties announced yesterday that Maine was granted a waiver in exchange for promises by the Governor to propose changes to Maine driver license law. Just last year, Governor Baldacci signed into law a statute prohibiting Maine's participation Real ID. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/35334prs20080403.html 2008-04-03T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/34755prs20080402.html?s_src=RSS Washington, DC – A new document obtained by the Washington Post supports warnings by the American Civil Liberties Union regarding the post-9/11 institutions known as fusion centers. A story published today in the Post confirms fusion centers’ growing role in law enforcement and reveals their expanding ties to private industry, including relationships with massive data-brokering companies. The ACLU released a report last year outlining serious concerns with fusion centers. http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/34755prs20080402.html 2008-04-02T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/34756prs20080402.html?s_src=RSS http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/34756prs20080402.html 2008-04-02T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/34705prs20080331.html?s_src=RSS WASHINGTON - The governor of South Carolina today issued a blistering critique of the Department of Homeland Security's national identification program, Real ID. The state is facing a DHS-imposed deadline to request that their drivers' licenses and ID cards continue to be accepted for federal purposes. South Carolina was one of seven states that passed legislation prohibiting participation in the Real ID program, yet five of those states have already been granted waivers on the statutory deadline. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/34705prs20080331.html 2008-03-31T12:00:00-05:00 http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/34608prs20080324.html?s_src=RSS The New York Civil Liberties Union today asked the city to consider the impact the proposed congestion pricing plan would have on New Yorkers’ privacy. http://www.aclu.org/privacy/gen/34608prs20080324.html 2008-03-24T12:00:00-05:00 CrownPeak CMS