Our Work
Founded in 2014, the Center on Privacy & Technology is a leader at the intersection of privacy, surveillance, and civil rights.
Latest Work
New analysis reveals Customs & Border Patrol took DNA from more than 2,000 U.S. citizens between 2020 and 2024
The Privacy Center released an update to their Raiding the Genome: How the United States Government Is Abusing Its Immigration Powers to Amass DNA for Future Policing which found that the government regularly violates federal law by knowingly taking DNA from U.S. citizens, without authority to do so. Read the full press release.
“Raiding the (U.S. Citizen) Genome” update published
The Privacy Center released new findings about who the Department of Homeland Security has been collecting DNA from. Our latest research, Raiding the (U.S. Citizen) Genome, analyzes records CBP released in response to a Privacy Center FOIA request and found that CBP has knowingly taken DNA from U.S. citizens on a regular basis, with over 2,000 samples taken from citizens between 2020 and 2024. The findings were covered by multiple news outlets including WIRED, The New York Times, The Guardian, Politico’s Morning Tech, and others. This research builds on the Privacy Center’s report Raiding the Genome: How the United States Government Is Abusing Its Immigration Powers to Amass DNA for Future Policing which explained and analyzed the drastic expansion of DNA collection at the Department of Homeland Security. DHS’s DNA collection program operates with essentially no oversight, and the DNA taken is used for future criminal policing and prosecution.
“The Department of Homeland Security Is Unlawfully Collecting DNA” article published
The Center on Privacy & Technology’s Director of Research & Advocacy Stevie Glaberson published a piece in Lawfare, "The Department of Homeland Security Is Unlawfully Collecting DNA" describing the Department of Homeland Security’s expansive and unlawful DNA collection regime. Stevie argued that the agency appears to be violating the statutory bounds of its DNA-collecting authority, is violating the constitution, and that consent of those from whom DNA is collected cannot cure these violations.
“A crypto coin for your privacy — how Altman promises the world in exchange for your biometric data” blog
"The political imagination of our elites raises the slogan “humanity first” only to display a barren concept of what it means to be human: to be a user, a consumer, and a source of data extraction." Our Fritz Fellow Dr. Marianna Poyares writes for our blog about Altman and Blania's World project and their Tools for Humanity retina scanning enterprise. Read the whole blog here.
Privacy Center quoted in NBC4 piece on NIH plans to build database
Associate Emerald Tse was featured in an NBC4 piece about the NIH's plans to build a database of federal and commercial health records. "We know that health information is incredibly sensitive," Tse said. "When people go to their healthcare provider, they're giving up that information because they have to in order to receive a service."
“Bankrupt Genetic Data: Minimizing and Privacy-Protecting Data from the Start” blog
After 23andMe filed for bankruptcy, a judge granted the genetic testing company permission to sell its data on more than 15 million customers. Distinguished Fellow Justin Sherman wrote a blog post on our site detailing what steps companies and policymakers can and should do to mitigate the risks from potential bankruptcy-data fallouts. Read the whole bl0g here.
Privacy Center quoted in NBC article about 23andMe’s bankruptcy filing
Executive Director Emily Tucker was quoted in an article by Kevin Collier of NBC "23andMe bankruptcy filing sparks privacy fears as DNA data of millions goes up for sale." “People must understand that, when they give their DNA to a corporation, they are putting their genetic privacy at the mercy of that company’s internal data policies and practices, which the company can change at any time,” Tucker said in an emailed statement.
“Raiding the Genome” cited in Electronic Frontier Foundation memo
The Privacy Center's 2024 report "Raiding the Genome" was cited in this Electronic Frontier Foundation memo to the Trump administration. "A recent report from the Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown Law identifies many of the privacy concerns inherent in the program, including its violation of the Fourth Amendment," writes the report.
“Biden Is About to Hand Over a Vast and Unconstitutional DNA Database to Trump” Op-Ed in Truthout
Executive Director Emily Tucker published an op-ed, “Biden Is About to Hand Over a Vast and Unconstitutional DNA Database to Trump” in Truthout about the immense DNA database the Department of Homeland Security has been creating and the danger it holds especially as Donald Trump returns to office. "Every person's privacy, security and civil rights are implicated by this program," wrote Tucker.
“Testifying in Support of the DC Consumer Health Information Privacy Protection Act” blog
On October 17, 2024, Associate Emerald Tse testified in a hearing before the D.C. Council Committee on Health in support of the Consumer Health Information Privacy Protection Act (CHIPPA). Modeled after Washington State’s My Health My Data Act, CHIPPA would provide privacy protections for consumer health data. Her full written testimony is on our blog.