Privacy

In this age of ever-expanding surveillance, governmental database aggregation, and data mining, our right to privacy is under assault. The ACLU works to protect our personal privacy in a range of settings.

Privacy.

In this age of ever-expanding surveillance, governmental database aggregation, and data mining, our right to privacy is under assault. The ACLU works to protect our personal privacy in a range of settings.

The Latest

News & Commentary
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What Sex Workers Teach Us About CCTV Cameras and Public Safety

Guest writers from the COS-DC coalition detail what it's like for sex workers to be under the constant watch of government surveillance, and how it connects to historically harmed neighbors and even residents across the District.
News & Commentary
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Surveillance Legislation is on the Horizon!

The release of the D.C. Police Reform Commission report recognized D.C.'s need for surveillance oversight legislation, an action the Community Oversight of Surveillance has advocated for the past few years. Is D.C. ready to recognize the dangers of unchecked government surveillance?
Press Release
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ACLU-DC Files Motion to Reconsider in Facebook Warrant Challenge

The ACLU-DC has asked the D.C. Superior Court to reconsider two parts of its November 9 order regarding the personal Facebook accounts of D.C. activists Legba Carrefour and Lacy MacAuley.
Know Your Rights
marijuana

Marijuana Laws for the District of Columbia

Marijuana is decriminalized in D.C., but remains criminalized under federal law.
Legislation
Mar 26, 2021

ACLU-DC Testimony before the D.C. Council on Transportation & the Environment on Smart Street Lighting

While we support the District in moving towards more energy efficiency, the ACLU-DC strongly opposes the creation of infrastructures for pervasive mass surveillance and have concerns about the use of a public-private partnership to execute such a project.
Legislation
Oct 21, 2015

Bills 21-0351, 21-0356, 21-0327 Police "Body Camera" Bills

With good laws in place, recording of police-civilian encounters will promote police accountability, deter officer and civilian misconduct, and provide objective evidence to help resolve civilian complaints against police without significantly infringing on privacy.
Position: Other