Surveillance Technologies
FBI v. Fazaga
In a case scheduled to be argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on November 8, 2021, three Muslim Americans are challenging the FBI’s secret spying on them and their communities based on their religion, in violation of the Constitution and federal law. In what will likely be a landmark case, the plaintiffs — Yassir Fazaga, Ali Uddin Malik, and Yasser Abdelrahim — insist that the FBI cannot escape accountability for violating their religious freedom by invoking “state secrets.” The plaintiffs are represented by the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law, the ACLU of Southern California, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Council for American Islamic Relations, and the law firm of Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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18 Surveillance Technologies Cases
Court Case
Dec 2021
Surveillance Technologies
Free Speech
ACLU v. CBP - FOIA Case for Records Relating to Government’s Aerial Surveillance of Protesters
In December 2021, the ACLU and NYCLU filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking information from nine federal agencies—the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Protective Service (FPS), Marshals Service (USMS), and Secret Service (USSS)—about nationwide aerial surveillance and flight monitoring of protests in 2020 following the death of George Floyd.
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Court Case
Dec 2021
Surveillance Technologies
Free Speech
ACLU v. CBP - FOIA Case for Records Relating to Government’s Aerial Surveillance of Protesters
In December 2021, the ACLU and NYCLU filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking information from nine federal agencies—the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Protective Service (FPS), Marshals Service (USMS), and Secret Service (USSS)—about nationwide aerial surveillance and flight monitoring of protests in 2020 following the death of George Floyd.
Colorado Supreme Court
Sep 2021
Surveillance Technologies
National Security
People v. Tafoya
This case concerns whether the government may surreptitiously record the activities around a person’s home using a remotely operated, pole-mounted video camera for an extended period of time without a warrant. On September 13, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court held that the Fourth Amendment protects against such surveillance and requires that police obtain a warrant.
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Colorado Supreme Court
Sep 2021
Surveillance Technologies
National Security
People v. Tafoya
This case concerns whether the government may surreptitiously record the activities around a person’s home using a remotely operated, pole-mounted video camera for an extended period of time without a warrant. On September 13, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court held that the Fourth Amendment protects against such surveillance and requires that police obtain a warrant.
Maryland
Jun 2020
Surveillance Technologies
Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle v. Baltimore Police Department
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and ACLU of Maryland filed a lawsuit against the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) to challenge the constitutionality of deploying a wide-area aerial surveillance program that will put virtually all Baltimore residents under constant, aerial surveillance.
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Maryland
Jun 2020
Surveillance Technologies
Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle v. Baltimore Police Department
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and ACLU of Maryland filed a lawsuit against the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) to challenge the constitutionality of deploying a wide-area aerial surveillance program that will put virtually all Baltimore residents under constant, aerial surveillance.
Court Case
May 2020
Surveillance Technologies
ACLU v. CBP - FOIA Case for CBP and ICE Records Related to the Use of Cell-Site Simulator Technology
On May 19, 2017, ACLU submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) demanding records on the federal government's acquisition and use of "cell site simulators" (also known as "Stingrays" or "IMSI catchers"), powerful surveillance devices that target cell phones by impersonating a wireless service provider's cell tower. For more than two years, the two agencies failed to properly process the Request or produce any responsive records until the ACLU sued on December 11, 2019.
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Court Case
May 2020
Surveillance Technologies
ACLU v. CBP - FOIA Case for CBP and ICE Records Related to the Use of Cell-Site Simulator Technology
On May 19, 2017, ACLU submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) demanding records on the federal government's acquisition and use of "cell site simulators" (also known as "Stingrays" or "IMSI catchers"), powerful surveillance devices that target cell phones by impersonating a wireless service provider's cell tower. For more than two years, the two agencies failed to properly process the Request or produce any responsive records until the ACLU sued on December 11, 2019.
Court Case
Oct 2019
Surveillance Technologies
ACLU v. DOJ, FBI & DEA
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Court Case
Oct 2019
Surveillance Technologies