Home : Privacy & Technology : Surveillance & Wiretapping

US-EU Data Sharing Can’t Happen Without U.S. Legislation (07/01/2008)
The negotiations underway between U.S. security agencies and their European counterparts over the transatlantic transfer of personal data are just the latest attempt to overcome a looming problem that has consistently interfered with the Bush Administration’s attempts to collect the personal information of an ever-increasing share of the world’s population.

Maine Phone Privacy Case Still Alive - For Now (06/26/2008)
Maine's privacy complaint against Verizon got a reprieve Thursday as the Senate delayed legislation that would have given the phone companies immunity from litigation on the issue.

Stunning New Report on Domestic NSA Dragnet Spying Confirms ACLU Surveillance Warnings (03/12/2008)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union responded today to a stunning new report that the NSA has effectively revived the Orwellian "Total Information Awareness" domestic-spying program that was banned by Congress in 2003. In response, the ACLU said that it was filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for more information about the spying. And, the group announced that it was moving its "Surveillance Clock" one minute closer to midnight.

MCLU Blasts Sen. Susan Collins for Pandering to the Bush Administration and Selling Mainers’ Privacy Down the River (02/29/2008)
Portland, ME – The Maine Civil Liberties Union condemned a letter sent by Senator Susan Collins today that attempts to pressure Governor John Baldacci into complying with the federal Real ID Act against the will of the people and legislature of Maine.

ACLU Answers Congress’ Question ‘Can SBI Succeed?’: No (10/24/2007)
Washington, DC – Congress asked today in a committee hearing appropriately called "The Future of Border Security: Can SBINet succeed?" and the American Civil Liberties Union has a definitive answer: No. Even Department of Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff himself has admitted the program has problems, calling it "unsatisfactory."

Use of Government Surveillance Cameras Expands in California Without Regulations or Public Debate, Says ACLU Report (08/20/2007)
SAN FRANCISCO -- California cities are moving quickly to install video surveillance cameras on public streets and plazas without regulations, with little or no public debate, and without an evaluation of their effectiveness, according to an American Civil Liberties Union report released today.

NYCLU Says New York City’s “Ring of Steel” Surveillance Plan Raises Privacy Concerns (07/09/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today called on city officials to ensure that any new surveillance plan for New York City is subject to public input and external oversight mechanisms and includes significant privacy protections to prevent abuse.

ACLU to Participate in Privacy Day (05/17/2007)
Washington, DC - The American Civil Liberties Union will be participating in Privacy Day, an all-day event to take place during Washington Whistleblower Week. Privacy Day, Friday, May 18th, will be comprised of two panels on surveillance and a keynote address by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). Privacy Day’s first panel, arranged by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), will focus on expectations of privacy in the workplace; the second will debate on the growing trend of a surveillance society.

Deputy AG’s Testimony Critical of Illegal Spying Program Renews ACLU's Calls for Congressional Scrutiny of DOJ (05/15/2007)
WASHINGTON, DC - Former Deputy Attorney General James B. Comey today admitted before the Senate Judiciary Committee that he and former Attorney General John Ashcroft had grave concerns over the National Security Agency’s illegal warrantless wiretapping program. Ashcroft, who refused to approve the program because he believed it to be unconstitutional, resisted coercion from then-White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales and White House Chief of Staff Andy Card to sign onto it while sick in a hospital bed. Comey considered resigning over the spying program, as did Ashcroft, FBI Director Robert Mueller and other Justice Department officials.

Governor Errs In Proposing Massive Expansion of DNA Databank, NYCLU Charges (05/14/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today sharply criticized Governor Eliot Spitzer's proposal to include in the state's databank DNA samples from nearly every person convicted of a crime, including offenses involving low-level, non-contact crimes.

NYCLU Critical of City Council's Move to Mandate Nightclub Surveillance Cameras Without Necessary Privacy Protections (02/28/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union condemned legislation passed by the New York City Council today requiring nightclubs to install video surveillance cameras without implementing adequate privacy protections to prevent those cameras' abuse.

ACLU Raises Objections Over Expanded Military and CIA Domestic Spying (01/14/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed serious concerns about the use of "National Security Letters" by the Department of Defense and the CIA to collect the financial records of American citizens and called on Congress to launch an immediate investigation.

NYCLU Report Documents Rapid Proliferation of Video Surveillance Cameras (12/14/2006)
NEW YORK - New York City is creating a massive video surveillance infrastructure, according to a New York Civil Liberties Union report released today. The proliferation of video surveillance cameras without legal or regulatory constraints has profound implications for basic rights and liberties, said the NYCLU.

NYCLU Issues Harsh Critique of Proposal to Require Video Surveillance at Nightclubs (10/18/2006)
NEW YORK -- In testimony presented before the New York City Council today the New York Civil Liberties Union issued a detailed and highly critical analysis of pending legislation that would require cabarets and dance clubs to install video surveillance cameras at entrances and exits.

ACLU Seeks Information on Government Spying on Baltimore Peace Groups (08/30/2006)
BALTIMORE -- Following reports that Baltimore peace groups have been targets of illegal spying, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland today filed public information requests with federal and state authorities. The ACLU said it is concerned that the disturbing national trend of government surveillance of political and religious groups may also be happening here in the "Free State."

ACLU Raises Spying Issue at BellSouth Shareholder Meeting on AT&T Merger (07/21/2006)
ATLANTA -- BellSouth's proposed merger with AT&T should be approached with great caution because of AT&T's entanglements with illegal NSA spying, the American Civil Liberties Union said at a BellSouth shareholders meeting held here today to consider the merger.

Lawmakers Confirm NSA Spying Program (06/30/2006)
WASHINGTON - USA Today reported today that fully 19 members of Congress have confirmed that the National Security Agency has built a massive database of American phone records for the purpose of monitoring American calling patterns. USA Today is also reporting that five of those lawmakers have confirmed that AT&T has participated in the program and stated that BellSouth did not. Three lawmakers stated that Verizon did not participate in the program but its subsidiary, MCI, did.

ACLU Urges Court to Reject State Secrets Claim in NSA Case (06/21/2006)
DETROIT -- The federal government should not be allowed to avoid judicial review of the National Security Agency's illegal spying program by invoking the state secrets privilege, argued the American Civil Liberties Union in legal papers released today.

House Judiciary Committee Adopts Request for Illegal NSA Spying Documents; ACLU Welcomes Unexpected Move, Calls for Thorough Congressional Oversight (06/21/2006)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the House Judiciary Committee as that panel unexpectedly adopted a "resolution of inquiry" to formally seek any and all documents held by the president and attorney general relating to warrantless requests made by the National Security Agency and other Federal agencies to telephone service providers regarding the records of their customers’ calls.

ACLU Urges House to Rein In Illegal NSA Spying Program, Bipartisan Proposal Would Require Administration Respect the Rule of Law (06/20/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House of Representatives to support a bipartisan amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2007 that would cut off funding for warrantless wiretapping conducted by the National Security Agency. The measure is sponsored by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Jay Inslee (D-WA), Bob Inglis (R-SC) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).