Our Work
Founded in 2014, the Center on Privacy & Technology is a leader at the intersection of privacy, surveillance, and civil rights.
Latest Work
Privacy Center at the Georgetown Law Tech Mixer
The Privacy Center tabled at the Georgetown Law Tech Mixer, which is an opportunity for organizations to showcase their work to students and see what others are working on at Georgetown.. The Privacy Center had a two staff members, Emerald Tse and Marianna Poyares, who spoke with 25-30 students about the Privacy Center's work and how to get involved. Some mentioned knowing about our work before arriving at Georgetown and others were eager for the chance to apply for our research assistant positions.
Privacy Center quoted in Fedscoop article about government contracts and surveillance
Executive Director Emily Tucker was interviewed for and quoted in a Fedscoop article, "ICE seeks proprietary data and tech to monitor up to a million people." The article looked at government contract 'request for information' about technology that could monitor up to a million people. Tucker said, “We know that comprehensive surveillance of the U.S. population is a goal of this administration and the scope of this RFI reflects that ambition. The language emphasizing the government’s interest in ‘proprietary data’ for a wide range of policing activities is especially concerning from the perspective of civil and human rights.”
Testimony before Senate Judiciary Committee by Privacy Center Faculty Director
Faculty Director Laura Donohue testified during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Defending Against Drones: Setting Safeguards for Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Authorities." Donohue spoke of the balance of protecting privacy and civil liberties, as well as security, when using unmanned aircraft systems. She also noted that the way to balance civil liberties concerns is to make sure there are restrictions.
Privacy Center at “Trust But Verify” event
Senior Associate, Clarence Okoh, spoke at an event hosted by the National Civic League and the Civic Tech League, "Trust But Verify: Using AI Audits to Guide Responsible Government Tech." Clarence spoke on the harms that occur when communities are excluded from tech governance.
“Entrenching Authoritarianism” report covered in Truthout
In an article by Mike Ludwig, "Rights Groups Detail “Authoritarian” Reality of US Surveillance in Report to UN," media outlet Truthout covered the release of “Entrenching Authoritarianism: Expanding the Terrorism Framework and the Infrastructure of Surveillance to Repress Expression and Stifle Dissent,” a joint submission to the UN Human Rights Council from the Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown Law and seven other organizations. The report shows the surveillance system available to the Trump administration and its use to repress freedom of expression.
“Global Landscapes on Data Privacy” event
The Privacy Center hosted a roundtable discussion with Professor Iagê Miola (Director of the Brazilian National Authority for Data Protection) and Dr. Marianna Poyares (the Privacy Center's post-doc Fritz Fellow). The event, titled "Global Landscapes on Data Privacy: the Brazilian Authority on Data Protection," touched on regulatory principles, how to enact the right to manage one's digital persona, reiterative consent, & the right to digital oblivion. There were 36 attendees.
Privacy Center Senior Associate featured on a panel at University of Maryland School of Law
Senior Associate Clarence Okoh was invited to speak at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law at a symposium hosted by the Maryland Journal of Race, Religion, Gender, and Class. The symposium focused on the impact of technology on race, religion, and gender with panels of speakers dedicated to each topic. Okoh was on a panel titled "Panel on Race, Technology, and the Law" with Chaz Arnett, Margaret Hu, and Jessica Eaglin.
The Privacy Center at the Center & Institutes open house at Georgetown Law
The Privacy Center attended the Georgetown Law Center Centers & Institutes Open House event, an annual event for current students that showcases the work of the Law Center's Centers & Institutes. The Privacy Center had a table at the event and spoke with students about the Privacy Center's work and how to get involved.
Senior Associate quoted in the Capitol Forum
Senior Associate Clarence Okoh was quoted in news article from the Capitol Forum written by Ethan about the implications of a recent federal class action lawsuit against a large data broker firm. Clarence emphasized the need to focus on the implications for vulnerable communities.
“A Theory of Law for the Next Founding Generation” paper published
Executive Director Emily Tucker co-authored a paper with philosopher David N. McNeill titled "A Theory of Law for the Next Founding Generation." The paper argues that no one gives us our rights except ourselves. In order to protect our rights under the autocratic aspirations of the current administrations, there must be a fundamental reformation in our understanding fo the relationship between constitutional legitimacy and democratic self-rule.