News & Commentary written by Jay Stanley

A photo of Jay Stanley

Jay Stanley

Senior Policy Analyst

ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project

Bio

Jay Stanley is senior policy analyst with the ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, where he researches, writes and speaks about technology-related privacy and civil liberties issues and their future. He edits the ACLU Free Future blog, focused on emerging technology, and has authored and co-authored hundreds of influential ACLU reports, white papers, and blog posts on privacy and technology topics.

Featured work

Frontal view of a police car in the dark with all its lights on

Oct 26, 2026

Police Are Increasingly Pulling People Over Because AI Deems Their Driving Patterns “Suspicious”

Police Are Increasingly Pulling People Over Because AI Deems Their Driving Patterns “Suspicious”
A pair of handcuffs against a white background

Oct 22, 2026

How Technologies Move From Empowering to Imprisoning

How Technologies Move From Empowering to Imprisoning
A pair of handcuffs against a white background

Oct 22, 2026

How Technologies Move From Empowering to Imprisoning

How Technologies Move From Empowering to Imprisoning
Still from Orson Welles's "The Trial" showing a giant room full of people sitting at desks.

Oct 19, 2026

$100 Million ICE “Intelligence” Program is a Domestic Secret Police Agency in the Making

$100 Million ICE “Intelligence” Program is a Domestic Secret Police Agency in the Making
A sole car driving at night amid bright blurry lights

Oct 14, 2026

Are Police in Your Community Laundering License Plate Data Through Federal Drug Programs Into a Secretive Central Database?

Are Police in Your Community Laundering License Plate Data Through Federal Drug Programs Into a Secretive Central Database?
A police officer writing a report next to a car.

Aug 28, 2026

Another Problem With AI-Assisted Police Reports: Companies Can Have Incentives to Distort Their Content

Another Problem With AI-Assisted Police Reports: Companies Can Have Incentives to Distort Their Content
A police officer looking at data screens at front of a dark command center

Aug 25, 2026

Beware of Other License Plate Surveillance Companies Besides Flock

Beware of Other License Plate Surveillance Companies Besides Flock
Closeup of a body camera on a man's black polo shirt

Aug 11, 2026

ICE Agents to Wear Body Cameras But the Fix is In

ICE Agents to Wear Body Cameras But the Fix is In
A drone against an orange sky

Jul 31, 2026

Government Playing a Dangerous Game With Drone Cybersecurity

Government Playing a Dangerous Game With Drone Cybersecurity
An overhead drawing of government buildings with dotted lines among them

Jul 22, 2026

State Chief Privacy Officers Can Have Real Power

State Chief Privacy Officers Can Have Real Power