Our Work
Founded in 2014, the Center on Privacy & Technology is a leader at the intersection of privacy, surveillance, and civil rights.
Latest Work
Fritz Fellow on the Brazil Unfiltered podcast
Fritz Fellow Marianna Poyares spoke with Prof. James Green (Brown University) on the Brazil Unfiltered podcast episode "The Impact of Big Tech on Brazilian Politics" about the reception in Brazil of Meta's recent decision of ending fact-checking and its impact in the upcoming Brazilian elections.
Privacy Center Fritz Fellow on “The Brazil Unfiltered” podcast
Marianna Poyares spoke with Prof. James Green (Brown University) on the Brazil Unfiltered podcast episode "The Impact of Big Tech on Brazilian Politics" about the reception in Brazil of Meta's recent decision of ending fact-checking and its impact in the upcoming Brazilian elections.
“Raiding the Genome” cited in Electronic Frontier Foundation memo
The Privacy Center's 2024 report "Raiding the Genome" was cited in this Electronic Frontier Foundation memo to the Trump administration. "A recent report from the Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown Law identifies many of the privacy concerns inherent in the program, including its violation of the Fourth Amendment," writes the report.
“Biden Is About to Hand Over a Vast and Unconstitutional DNA Database to Trump” Op-Ed in Truthout
Executive Director Emily Tucker published an op-ed, “Biden Is About to Hand Over a Vast and Unconstitutional DNA Database to Trump” in Truthout about the immense DNA database the Department of Homeland Security has been creating and the danger it holds especially as Donald Trump returns to office. "Every person's privacy, security and civil rights are implicated by this program," wrote Tucker.
Senior Associate quoted in the Columbia Missourian
Senior Associate Clarence Okoh spoke with reporter Lucy Valeski at the Columbia Missourian and was quoted in a piece about the incoming police cameras in Columbia, Missouri. "The technology can be used to further discriminate against people of color, who are already disproportionately impacted by over-policing, according to Clarence Okoh. ... 'The decision about where that license plate gets placed is one that is oftentimes fueled by and reflects and reproduces patterns of racial justice.'"
“Testifying in Support of the DC Consumer Health Information Privacy Protection Act” blog
On October 17, 2024, Associate Emerald Tse testified in a hearing before the D.C. Council Committee on Health in support of the Consumer Health Information Privacy Protection Act (CHIPPA). Modeled after Washington State’s My Health My Data Act, CHIPPA would provide privacy protections for consumer health data. Her full written testimony is on our blog.
Privacy Center Hosts Sixth “Color of Surveillance” Conference
On November 18, 2024, the Privacy Center co-hosted "The Color of Surveillance: Surveillance / Resistance" with the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research (DAIR) Institute. This conference convening leaders in the fight for justice in the digital age, who reflected on their experiences with resistance during four plenary sessions and an evening experimental opera performance. Read the full press advisory.
“DHS Should Halt Latest Tech Investments, Due to History of Rights Violations” blog
Associate Emerald Tse wrote a blog about the Department of Homeland Security's investment in artificial intelligence. "Those technologies may have a theoretical benefit, but we can be certain about how they subvert privacy and civil rights," wrote Tse. Read the whole blog here.
“Our remarks from a White House meeting on international human rights treaty compliance” blog
In 2023, dozens of organizations submitted reports to the Human Rights Committee documenting serious deficiencies in the U.S.’s compliance with the requirements of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. On behalf of the coalition’s working group on privacy, freedom of expression, assembly and association, Director of Research and Advocacy Stevie Glaberson spoke at a White House meeting to cover all of the concerns of all 25 working group members. You can read the full text of her remarks, prepared together with partners at The Center for Constitutional Rights, Asian Law Caucus, UC Irvine School of Law, and input from the full working group, at our blog.
“The Past is Here: How Historical Workplace Surveillance Practices Show Up Today” blog
On April 10, 2024, the Center on Privacy & Technology co-hosted a panel with United for Respect, and the Athena Coalition in which the panelists illustrated, through stories like the one above, how contemporary workplace surveillance policies are repeating patterns from the past. Justice Fellow Brandon McClain summarized four key takeaways on our blog. Read the whole blog here.