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 : Internet Privacy : Press Releases

Too Little, Too Late: ACLU Disappointed by Administration Speech on Electronic Privacy (07/17/2000)
WASHINGTON -- This morning's speech on electronic privacy by White House Chief of Staff John Podesta was deeply disappointing. The Administration missed an important opportunity to issue an executive order that would have immediately restrained Federal law enforcement. Instead, it only offered legislative proposals that are highly unlikely to be adopted this year. 

In Unique Tactic, ACLU Seeks FBI Computer Code on "Carnivore" and Other Cybersnoop Programs (07/14/2000)
WASHINGTON -- In what may be the first request of its kind, the American Civil Liberties Union is asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation to disclose the computer source code and other technical details about its new Internet wiretapping programs.

ACLU Urges Congress to Put a Leash on "Carnivore" And Other Government Snoopware Programs (07/12/2000)
WASHINGTON -- Law enforcement officials using new surveillance technologies online are racing far ahead of established privacy law and must be reined in, the American Civil Liberties Union said today.

Lawsuits May Threaten Web Anonymity (06/23/2000)
WASHINGTON, DC -- Corporations are striking back against their online critics in court, threatening the Internet's status as a haven for anonymous free speech, USA Today reported.

Yahoo! Lawsuit Strikes an Important Blow For Internet Privacy and Free Speech (05/11/2000)
NEW YORK--A federal lawsuit filed today in California could establish important protections for Internet privacy and anonymity, according to the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).

Private Conversations Sent By Email Deserve the Same Protection as Telephone Conversations, ACLU Says (04/06/2000)
"Legally, it is easier for the government to snoop through a couple's private emails to one another than it is for the government to listen in on the very same conversations if they take place on the phone," said Gregory T. Nojeim, a legislative counsel for the ACLU. "The distinction cannot be justified -- electronic conversations deserve the same level of protection as our telephone calls." 

ACLU Urges SEC to Halt Internet Snoop Plan; Asks Congress to Strengthen Driver's License Privacy (04/04/2000)
WASHINGTON -- In a letter sent today to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the American Civil Liberties Union called a plan to create an Internet surveillance system for monitoring online fraud "a potential threat to the privacy and free speech rights of Americans," and urged the agency to suspend the plan.

ACLU Calls White House Report on Internet Crime Law Enforcement "Wish List" (03/09/2000)
WASHINGTON-- A White House report on blocking Internet crime contains dangerous recommendations that would strip away basic privacy, free speech and free press protections, the American Civil Liberties Union warned today.

ACLU Renews Calls for Congressional Hearings Into Secret Global Surveillance System (02/25/2000)
"In light of the controversy engendered by this week's hearings before the European Parliament, Congress must move quickly to investigate to determine if ECHELON is as sweeping and intrusive as has been reported," said Gregory T. Nojeim, an ACLU Legislative Counsel. 

Monitoring of Web Users Stirs Privacy Concerns (02/07/2000)
NEW YORK, NY -- Privacy advocates have long been concerned about DoubleClick, a company that tracks consumers' movements around the Web. According to The New York Times, however, that concern has escalated in recent weeks after the company announced that it has begun adding information about consumers' offline behavior to its huge database.

Groups Challenge FBI Wiretap Standards, Say FCC Decision Threatens Communications Privacy (01/20/2000)
WASHINGTON, DC -- Leading Internet privacy advocates today asked a federal appeals court to block new rules that would enable the FBI to dictate the design of the nation's communication infrastructure. The challenged rules would enable the Bureau to track the physical locations of cellular phone users and potentially monitor Internet traffic.

Groups Initiate Court Challenge to FBI Wiretap Standards; Say FCC Decision Threatens Communications Privacy (11/18/1999)
WASHINGTON, DC -- The American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Privacy Information Center today asked a federal appeals court to block new rules that would enable the FBI to dictate the design of the nation's communication infrastructure.

ACLU Launches Web Site On Global Surveillance System (11/16/1999)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today launched a web site designed to shed light on a global electronic surveillance system known by the code name "Echelon" that reportedly allows the United States and other governments to eavesdrop on private citizens. 

Clinton Administration Relaxes Encryption Rules (09/16/1999)
WASHINGTON -- Taking a step forward to insure the privacy of electronic communications, the Clinton Administration today relaxed its rules on the use of encryption software.

ACLU Detects Rotten Odor in Gov't. "Sniffer" Program (07/29/1999)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Clinton Administration plans to create a government-wide network for guarding the nation's most important computer systems are alarming civil liberties groups, USA Today reported.

VA Court Dismisses Libel Lawsuit Against Anonymous Website Author (06/30/1999)
RICHMOND, VA -- In an important development in Internet law, a Virginia court has ruled that a Pennsylvania judge's libel lawsuit against an anonymous website author cannot be brought in Virginia.

ACLU of Virginia Seeks Dismissal of Judge's Libel Lawsuit Against Anonymous Internet Author (04/09/1999)
Although both the judge and the "John Doe" defendant live in Pennsylvania, the case was filed in Loudon County, Virginia because the website is posted through America Online, Inc., whose corporate headquarters are in Virginia. While AOL is not a party to the suit, the judge's lawyer has asked the court to issue a subpoena to AOL to surrender the name of the person who operates the website. 

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