Our Work
Founded in 2014, the Center on Privacy & Technology is a leader at the intersection of privacy, surveillance, and civil rights.
Latest Work
Oral and Written Testimony on the MA Information Privacy Act
Associate Cynthia Khoo submitted oral and written testimony on the Massachusetts Information Privacy Act, to the MA Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity. MIPA would restrict biometric and worker surveillance and algorithmic discrimination.
News Beat Podcast: Facial Recognition & Wrongful Arrests
News Beat highlighted the wrongful arrests of Michigan residents Michael Oliver and Robert Williams. Center Senior Associate Clare Garvie spoke with hosts about the risks to free speech and privacy posed by the widespread adoption of the technology, misuse, and its racial impacts.
Faculty Director Testifies Before the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Center faculty director David Vladeck testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation at the hearing "Protecting Consumer Privacy."
Coalition Letter to the DHS to End Biased Profiling and In Support of Surveillance Reforms
The Center joined 21 other organizations in a letter to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urging greater transparency around DHS's collection and usage of data, as well as the termination of programs such as social media monitoring, the purchasing of privately-held data, and programs claiming to prevent fraud, violence, or domestic terrorism.
“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.
Associate Cynthia Khoo Interviewed for the National Post in an Article About Government Oversight
Associate Cynthia Khoo was interview for the National Post, "Pervasive role of algorithms in daily life raises concerns over need for government oversight."
Associate Cynthia Khoo as a Guest Speaker on Law Bytes
Associate Cynthia Khoo was a guest speaker on Law Bytes, "Episode 99: “They Just Seemed Not to Listen to Any of Us” – Cynthia Khoo on the Canadian Government’s Online Harms Consultation."
Coalition Letter Urging the FTC To Protect Civil Rights From Commercial Data Practices
The Center has joined a sign-on letter urging the FTC to use all its available authority and tools to protect civil rights from violative commercial data practices. The letter details at least 27 harms that result from such practices, including harms to equal opportunity and consumer privacy.
“ICE access to utility data could lead to a housing crisis” blog
Associate Nina Wang published a blog about how ICE's access to utility data could lead to a housing crisis, among other devastating effects. Read the whole blog here.