Our Work
Founded in 2014, the Center on Privacy & Technology is a leader at the intersection of privacy, surveillance, and civil rights.
Latest Work
“Haven’t You Heard?” blog
Associate Gabrielle Rejouis published a blog about the inequalities of technology. Read the whole blog here.
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.
Two New Privacy Center Reports Reveal Serious Problems With Police Use of Face Recognition
On May 16, 2019, the Privacy Center released "Garbage In, Garbage Out: Face Recognition on Flawed Data" and "America Under Watch: Face Surveillance in the United States," two new research reports that reveal new information on police use of face recognition. Read the full press release.
Privacy Center Condemns Facebook’s Attack on Racial Justice Organization
Following a news report that Facebook hired a political opposition research firm to discredit Color of Change and other critics, the Privacy Center publicly condemned the action as "an attack on every person that has dared to question the company and its immense power." Read the full press release.
Testimony on Consumer Data Privacy Before U.S. Senate Committee by our Deputy Director
On October 10, 2018, technology and privacy experts testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, which was considering drafting federal data privacy legislation. Deputy Director Laura Moy's testimony provided policy recommendations that draw on lessons from the EU's General Data Privacy Regulation and the California Consumer Protection Act. Watch the full video recording and read her written testimony.
Testimony on Customer Proprietary Network Information Before U.S. House Committee by our Deputy Director
On July 11, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing, entitled "Protecting Customer Proprietary Network Information in the Internet Age." Deputy Director Laura Moy testified before the committee Watch the full video recording.
National and Local Civil Rights Groups Urge Strong Ethical Review of Axon’s Police Technology
Following the launch of a new "artificial intelligence ethics board" at Axon, a major U.S. police technology vendor, the Privacy Center joined 41 other civil rights, racial justice, and community organizations in a letter with recommendations for how the board can uphold its ethical responsibilities when reviewing the company's products. Read the full press release.
New DHS Program to Scan Americans’ Faces at Airports Riddled with Legal and Technical Problems
On December 21, 2017, the Privacy Center released "Not Ready for Takeoff." Authored by Associate Harrison Rudolph, Deputy Director Laura Moy, and Executive Director Alvaro Bedoya, the report explains that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been scanning of the faces of travelers at eight U.S. airports without legal authorization or technical safeguards. Read the full press release
Testimony on Impact of Algorithmic Decisionmaking Tools on Consumers by our Deputy Director
On November 29, 2017, the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology and Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection, held a hearing entitled "Algorithms: How Companies’ Decisions About Data and Content Impact Consumers." Deputy Director Laura Moy provided testimony on the pressing need for strong default protections for consumer data privacy. Watch the full video recording.
Testimony for hearing “How to Prevent Future Harms to Consumer Data” before U.S. House Committee on Financial Services by our Deputy Director
On October 25, 2017, the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing entitled "Examining the Equifax Data Breach." Deputy Director Laura Moy's testimony provided policy recommendations that seek to prevent future harms to consumer data. Watch the full video recording.