Politico: Digital privacy gets push from the right

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

Politico reports that Republican lawmakers have shown increasing interest in online privacy rights and proposals to update the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act (“ECPA,” also known as Title 18 § 2511 of the United States Code): Momentum to update the nation’s antiquated email privacy laws is again coursing through the Capitol — and ...

ACLU Delivers Petition to Governor Urging Him to Sign Two-Year Moratorium on Drones

Monday, April 1st, 2013

March 22, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: (212) 549-2666;

Virginia General Assembly Sends Governor Bills Setting Two Year Moratorium on Drones

Monday, April 1st, 2013

ACLU and Patrons Call on Governor to Sign Legislation Making Virginia First State to Limit Use of Drones Feb. 22, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: (212) 549-2666;

ACLU Lawsuit Challenges Warrantless Searches of Cell Phones

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013

Suit Charges that Police Searches of Cellphones at Arrest Without a Warrant Violate Constitutional Rights of Arrestees, and their Friends, Family, and Colleagues March 20, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: (212) 549-2666;

Red Tape Chronicles: Facebook to team up with real-world data brokers to pick ads for you

Wednesday, February 27th, 2013

Red Tape Chronicles reports on a new way that online and offline data about individuals will be combined by marketers to create online targeted behavioral advertising — this time, social-networking site Facebook will reportedly be involved. The story notes that people can opt out of one data-marketing company’s online digital advertising ...

Update on Camera Surveillance System in Washington, D.C.

Monday, February 6th, 2012

A few years ago, then-DC Mayor Adrian Fenty (D) unveiled plans for a city-wide surveillance system  (VIPS). At the time, the Washington Examiner reported: “The Video Interoperability for Public Safety system, or VIPS, links 5,200 District-owned closed-circuit television cameras within a single monitoring office under the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. The goal: ...

Celebrate International Data Privacy Day

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Saturday, January 28, is International Data Privacy Day. Take the time to think about how privacy is important in your life and how you can protect your rights from being infringed upon. Please also take the time to donate to any number of organizations out there trying to protect your privacy rights. Visit the official site to find events near your area. Here ...

Washington Post: As Web sites come and go, so too could the information you entrust them with

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

The Washington Post looks at how Web sites can be ephemeral, and the data you give that site could disappear or you could lose control over the photos, videos, or other information on the site. As a flood of family photos, videos and holiday greetings hits the Internet this time ...

Happy and Safe Holidays from the ITAC Blog

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

Each year, we like to extend a heart-warming thanks to all of our readers and wish them a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.  This is the time of year for reflection, spending time with loved-ones and gearing up for a prosperous new year.  As we all know, unfortunately, ...

Avoid Becoming a Holiday Crime Statistic

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

In the age of technology, nothing is sacred. The information you post online can be used against you. A new generation of thieves rely on your Facebook and Twitter posts as ammunition to break into your homes and steal your belongings while you’re away. With this being said, you ...

Hackers Attacked U.S. Water Utility; Destroyed Pump

Friday, November 18th, 2011

Hackers gained remote access into the control system of the city water utility in Springfield, Illinois, last week and destroyed a pump, according to a report released by a state fusion center and obtained by a security expert. The hackers were discovered on Nov. 8 when a water district ...

World Privacy Forum: Many Failures: A Brief History of Privacy Self-Regulation in the United States

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

The World Privacy Forum’s Pam Dixon and privacy consultant Robert Gellman have released a new report: “Many Failures:A Brief History of Privacy Self-Regulation in the United States” (pdf). From the summary: Major efforts to create self-regulatory, or voluntary, guidelines in the area of privacy began in 1997. Industry promoted privacy ...