Blog Post

  • How the FCC’s Voluntary Nutrition Label Program Could Equip Consumers to Shop for Secure Connected Devices

    The FCC's Cybersecurity labels for the Internet of Things (IoT) should be dual-layered, should be accompanied by robust enforcement, and should not serve as a safe harbor for cybersecurity deficiencies.

    • Communications Privacy

    • Consumer Privacy

    • Cybersecurity

    • Data Protection

    • Health Privacy

    • Location Tracking

    • Analysis

  • Tracking Real Algorithmic Harms in California as CCPA Obligations Near

    • Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights

    • Commercial AI Use

    • Consumer Privacy

    • U.S. State Privacy Laws

    • Analysis

  • NetChoice v. Bonta: The Case That Threatens the Future of Privacy

    Last month, a California district court judge enjoined enforcement of the state’s Age-Appropriate Design Code, or AADC, based on a dangerously overbroad reading of the First Amendment. The weaponization of the constitution in NetChoice v. Bonta should raise alarms for all privacy and consumer protection advocates. 

    • AI Policy

    • Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights

    • Children's Privacy

    • Data Protection

    • Enforcement of Privacy Laws

    • Location Tracking

    • Privacy Laws

    • Student Privacy

    • U.S. State Privacy Laws

    • Analysis

  • ICE’s Privacy Impact Assessment on Surveillance Technologies is an Exercise in Disregarding Reality  

    A recent Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) published by the DHS in 2022 details ICE Homeland Security and Investigations’ use of several categories of surveillance technologies. The PIA outlines ICE’s narrow conception of a “reasonable expectation of privacy” that allows the agency to conduct broad surveillance without judicial oversight.

    • Privacy in Public

    • Surveillance Oversight

    • Analysis

  • Strengthening Privacy and Data Protection Policy in the National Cybersecurity Strategy

    EPIC is launching a new project on Strengthening Privacy and Cybersecurity Standards, with the support of craig newmark philanthropies’ Cyber Civil Defense Initiative, to advance important elements of the National Cybersecurity Strategy.

    • Communications Privacy

    • Consumer Privacy

    • Cybersecurity

    • Data Protection

    • Data Security

    • Encryption

    • Health Privacy

    • Location Tracking

    • Presidential Directives

    • Privacy Laws

    • U.S. Privacy Laws

    • U.S. State Privacy Laws

    • Analysis

  • In Acheson Hotels v. Laufer, a Dangerous Opportunity for SCOTUS to Make it Harder to Establish Informational Standing

    This morning, the Supreme Court will hear argument in an interesting—and, unfortunately, salacious—case about Article III standing. Acheson Hotels v. Laufer is about whether a person with disabilities has the right to sue a hotel when the hotel fails to provide accessibility information on their website as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. 

    • Access to Information

    • Article III Standing

    • Consumer Privacy

    • Democracy & Free Speech

    • Privacy Laws

    • Proposed U.S. Legislation

    • U.S. Privacy Laws

    • U.S. State Privacy Laws

    • Analysis

  • Why the Supreme Court Must Turn Back Payday Lenders’ Attack on the CFPB’s Existence

    Today, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) v. Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA). In the case, payday loan companies are trying to evade the CFPB’s consumer protection regulations by attacking the existence of the agency itself.

    • Consumer Privacy

    • Data Brokers

    • Data Protection

    • Analysis

  • The CFPB Moves Ahead with FCRA Rulemaking to Rein in Data Brokers

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took a major step last week toward establishing stronger guardrails for data brokers and better protections for consumers.

    • Consumer Privacy

    • Data Brokers

    • Analysis

  • Google Ad Topics: Another Cog in the Surveillance Advertising Machine

    After falling behind its competitors and facing criticism for previous plans to phase out third-party cookies, Google now touts Ad Topics for its benefits to user privacy and transparency. But Google’s new tool is far from a perfect solution to the harms of surveillance advertising.

    • Competition and Privacy

    • Consumer Privacy

    • Analysis

  • Generative AI and Elections: The Approaching Train Wreck

    If you already find parsing through election ads and campaign speeches to get to the truth difficult, just wait for what is ahead with a 2024 election season filled with generative AI generated ads. Misinformation and disinformation already exist in our elections, but generative AI will exacerbate this problem, leaving voters flooded with information and unable to sort out what is real.

    • AI Policy

    • Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights

    • Commercial AI Use

    • Consumer Privacy

    • Cybersecurity

    • Data Protection

    • Democracy & Free Speech

    • Election Security

    • Government AI Use

    • International Privacy

    • Voter Privacy

    • Web Scraping

    • Analysis