Our Work
Founded in 2014, the Center on Privacy & Technology is a leader at the intersection of privacy, surveillance, and civil rights.
Latest Work
Bipartisan, Bicameral Congressional Oversight Letter to FBI, DHS
A bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators sent an oversight letter to the DHS and FBI concerning government use of face recognition technology. The letter followed reports about Center research showing how federal agencies requested face recognition searches of state databases.
“Trusting “somewhat” is not enough: why we need to regulate face recognition” blog
Associate Jameson Spivack published a blog about a Pew Research Center report on how much Americans trust law enforcement to use face recognition tech responsibly and why regulation is a necessity. Read the whole blog here.
Senior Associate Clare Garvie was Quoted in New York Times Article
In the New York Times article, "She Was Arrested at 14. Then Her Photo Went to a Facial Recognition Database," senior associate Clare Garvie was quoted regarding a large police department using facial recognition on juveniles.
“There is no prohibition on face surveillance in Detroit” blog
Research Fellow Allison McDonald published a blog detailing Detroit Mayor Michael E. Duggan's comments on Detroit PD's Project Green Light. Read the whole blog here.
DMV Searches by ICE Earn Criticism and Calls for Investigation in Utah
After The Washington Post reported the Center's research on ICE's FR searches on DMV databases in Utah and Washington, Utah Lt. Gov. Cox expressed concern and said the they would be investigating ICE's access. The Center's findings left lawmakers and civil society groups in Utah outraged.
Center Files Location Privacy Complaint with FCC
The Center filed under the Freedom of Information Act requests showed that ICE had asked at least three states that offer undocumented people driver’s licenses to run face recognition searches of their DMV photos. The documents were released via an exclusive with The Washington Post.
House Oversight Committee Hearing on Face Recognition
Senior Associate Clare Garvie testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. She argued that in the absence of regulation police use of face recognition poses risks to our First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Because of those risks, a moratorium is appropriate.
Privacy Center Senior Associate Testifies at House Oversight Hearing on Face Recognition
On May 22, 2019, Senior Associate Clare Garvie, whose research has exposed face recognition technology's potential for abuse, testified before the House Oversight Committee. The hearing examined the use of face recognition technology by government and commercial entities and the need for oversight on its use on civilians. Read the full press release.
New York Times Calls for Regulation of Facial Recognition
Citing the Center's reports, The New York Times' editorial board called for regulation of NYPD's use of face recognition, warning that "dragnets become tools aimed at minority populations." Earlier, columnist Farhad Manjoo called for a moratorium on the technology based on Center reports.
NPR: San Francisco Bans Facial Recognition Tech
Senior Associate Clare Garvie spoke with NPR's On Point about the recent San Francisco face recognition ban and the privacy and civil liberties concerns surrounding police use of the technology.