Our Work
Founded in 2014, the Center on Privacy & Technology is a leader at the intersection of privacy, surveillance, and civil rights.
Latest Work
“On Tardigrades” blog
In April 2022, Alvaro Bedoya, the Founding Director of the Privacy Center, left the Privacy Center to serve as a Commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission. Upon his departure, he summarized his thoughts about his time at the Privacy Center on our blog. Read the whole blog here.
U.S. Senate Confirms Privacy Center’s Founding Director Alvaro Bedoya as New Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission
On May 11, 2022, the full U.S. Senate confirmed Founding Director Alvaro M. Bedoya as Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission. Read the full press release.
“Artifice and Intelligence” blog
Executive Director Emily Tucker published a blog post about the Privacy Center's decision to drop the terms "artificial intelligence," "AI," and "machine learning" from our work. Read the whole blog here.
Emily Tucker Named New Executive Director of the Privacy Center
In February 2022, the Privacy Center welcomed as its new Executive Director Emily Tucker. She previously served as the Center's Director of Research & Advocacy and as an Adjunct Professor of Law. Read Emily's full bio.
First-of-Its-Kind Bill Introduced in D.C. to Stop Discrimination in Automated Decision-Making Tools
D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine introduced the Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act (SDAA), which seeks to prohibit the use of biased or discriminatory algorithms to inform decisions about housing, employment, education, healthcare, and other important services. This bill was the result of a partnership between the Privacy Center, the Georgetown Law Communications & Technology Law Clinic, Color of Change, and the D.C. Office of the Attorney General. Read the full press release.
“Now You See Me — But You Still Can’t Catch Me” blog
Senior Associate Cynthia Khoo published a blog detailing the critical differences between transparency and accountability when it comes to regulating tech companies. Read the whole blog here.
Comments to NIST on “Managing Bias” in Artificial Intelligence
Associate Cynthia Khoo filed comments regarding “A Proposal for Identifying and Managing Bias in Artificial Intelligence” by the National Institute of Science and Technology. The submission focuses on civil rights impacts and the limits of a technical approach to algorithmic bias.
“How police get technology without paying for it” blog
Associate Clare Garvie published a blog detailing how tech companies are giving police departments free surveillance technology and the effects of this exchange. Read the whole blog here.
“Operationalizing values: The hiring process” blog
Deputy Director Katie Evans published a blog detailing the Privacy Center's hiring process and what we value when searching for new candidates. Read the whole blog here.
“Innovation illusion” blog
Associate Jameson Spivack published a blog analyzing how technological "innovation" comes with obscured human costs. Read the whole blog here.