Entries tagged with: privacy

986 result(s) displayed.

EPIC Obtains Records about Utah's Contact Tracing App; State Hasn't Conducted Privacy Audit of App

Through a Freedom of Information request, EPIC has obtained records concerning Utah’s "Healthy Together” COVID-19 app. The documents include a presentation from Twenty Holdings, Inc., the company that developed the app, and include details of its development. The records reveal...

Supreme Court Won’t Disturb Data Breach Decision

The Supreme Court today declined to review Zappos.com, v. Stevens, a decision that allowed consumers to sue the online retailer following a breach of their personal data. More than 24 million Zappos customers were affected by the breach, which included...

EPIC v. NARA

Seeking public release White House records concerning Kavanaugh's work on warrantless wiretapping, Patriot Act, and other surveillance programs Background| EPIC's Interest| Legal Documents| FOIA Documents| Resources| News Top News : () More top news ');"> + () "> Background In...

Kavanaugh White House Counsel: PATRIOT Act, "measured, careful, responsible, and constitutional approach"

On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee released the first production of records for Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh from his time as associate counsel for George W. Bush. Roughly 5,700 pages of documents were made available to the public....

Frank v. Gaos

Whether a settlement is “fair, reasonable, and adequate” in a consumer privacy case where there is no meaningful change in business practices and no monetary relief is given to class members. Background| EPIC's Interest| Legal Documents| Resources| News : ()...

EPIC v. Drone Advisory Committee

Challenging the Drone Advisory Committee's Failure to Release Records and Open All Meetings Top News | Background | EPIC's Interest | Legal Documents | Records Obtained | Resources | News EPIC has filed suit to enforce the transparency obligations of...

In re OPM Data Security Breach Litigation

Whether the government's failure to safeguard sensitive personal data from a breach, and the resulting disclosure of that personal data, violated individuals' constitutional right to informational privacy and caused a cognizable injury under Article III Background| EPIC's Interest| Legal Documents|...

EPIC Urges Senate to Investigate Mulvaney’s Failure to Pursue Equifax Probe

According to recent reports, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has shut down the investigation of the 2017 Equifax data breach that exposed the personal data of 145.5 million Americans. CFPB Acting Director Mulvaney failed to seek subpoenas or obtain sworn...

United States v. Microsoft

Whether the Stored Communications Act authorizes warrants for personal data stored outside of the United States Background| EPIC's Interest| Legal Documents| Resources| News : () More top news » ');"> » () "> Summary The Supreme Court has agreed to...

In re: Google Cookie Placement Settlement

Whether the lower court erred in approving a proposed class action settlement in the Google "cookie placement" litigation that did not provide direct relief to class members and would distribute funds to groups with prior connections to Google and class...

Smith v. Facebook

Whether Facebook's tracking of users' visits to medical websites violates California and Federal privacy laws Background| EPIC's Interest| Legal Documents| Resources| News : () More top news » ');"> » () "> Background Factual Background This class action lawsuit concerns...

EPIC Asks FTC to Stop System for Secret Scoring of Young Athletes

EPIC has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission to stop the secret scoring of young tennis players. The EPIC complaint concerns the "Universal Tennis Rating", a proprietary algorithm used to assign numeric scores to tennis players, many of...

Following EPIC Appeal, Justice Department Submits Trump Wiretap Claims for Declassification Review

Following EPIC’s appeal of a decision to “neither confirm nor deny” the existence of a FISA application to monitor Trump Tower, the Justice Department took the unusual step of submitting the matter for declassification review. After the President tweeted allegations...

Senate to Consider Nomination of Senator Sessions for Attorney General

Tomorrow the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin hearings on the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General. EPIC submitted a statement to the Committee, which stated “Senator Sessions’ record regarding the privacy rights of Americans raises serious questions about...

White House Updates Guidance on Federal Agency Privacy Practices

The Office of Management of Budget released a memorandum that requires the head of each agency to “assess the management, structure, and operation of the agency’s privacy program.” The OMB memo provides updated guidance, requiring the designation of a Senior...

Appeals Court Affirms Consumers May Sue for Violations of Federal Law

A federal appeals court has held that consumers can sue when companies fail to comply with legal obligations established by Congress. The case concerned a hospital that sent debt collection letters to consumers without disclosures required by the Fair Debt...

EPIC Defends Drivers’ Right to Sue for Safety, Privacy Risks As Congress Warns of Risks to Public

EPIC has filed an amicus brief in a case concerning the privacy and public safety risks of “connected” cars. EPIC warned that connected cars "expose American drivers to the risks of data breach, auto theft, and physical injury.” EPIC said...

White House Hosts Drone Workshop, FAA OKs Commercial Use, Ignores Privacy

The White House hosted “Drones and the Future of Aviation.” The FAA Administrator announced that the FAA will approve drone operations over people before the end of the year. The FAA also announced an industry-led task force that will promote...

FAA Reauthorization Grounds Drone Privacy Safeguards

Shortly before adjourning, Congress passed the FAA Extension, Safety and Security Act of 2016 without drone privacy provisions authored by Senator Markey, included in the original legislation. Senator Markey said "Now is the time to prevent these eyes in the...

EPIC, Coalition Seeks Time to Review FBI Biometric Database

EPIC and a coalition of civil rights, privacy, and transparency groups urged the Department of Justice to extend the public comment period for the FBI’s Next Generation Identification database. The FBI database contains biometric data, such as fingerprint and retinal...

Apple v. FBI

Concerning an Order Requiring Apple to Create Custom Software to Assist the FBI in Hacking a Seized iPhone Background|EPIC's Interest|Legal Documents|News|Resources| Summary The dispute between Apple and the FBI arises out of an application that the agency filed with a...

In Court: EPIC Challenges FAA Failure to Establish Drone Privacy Rules

EPIC has filed the opening brief in a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration. EPIC charged that the agency’s failure to establish privacy rules for commercial drones is a violation of law and should be overturned. The EPIC lawsuit followed...

EPIC v. FAA

Challenging the FAA's Failure to Establish Drone Privacy Rules Background | EPIC's Petition to the FAA | Legal Documents | Resources | News Summary Congress required the FAA to develop a "comprehensive plan" to "safely" integrate drones into the national...

Tankersley v. Almand

Concerning Whether Maryland's Policy of Revoking the Licenses of Attorneys Who Refuse to Submit Their Social Security Numbers to the Client Protection Fund Violates the Federal Privacy Act Background | EPIC's Interest in Tankersley | Legal Documents | News Reports...

Big Brother Watch v. UK - Bureau of Investigative Journalism v. UK - 10 Human Rights Organizations v. UK

On Whether Surveillance Activities by British Intelligence Violated Articles 6, 8, 10, and 14 of the European Convention of Human Rights Background | EPIC's Third Party Intervention | EPIC's Interest | Legal Documents | Resources | Top News : ()...

Facebook Modifies User Privacy Policy

Facebook has modified its privacy and data use policies, effective January 1, 2015. Facebook will now allow advertisers to include a “buy” button directly on targeted advertisements on a user’s page. Facebook will also allow advertisers to use the location...

City of Los Angeles v. Patel

Concerning Whether an Individual Can Assert a Facial Challenge Under the Fourth Amendment to a State Ordinance Requiring Hotels to Disclose Guest Information to Police Without a Warrant Background | EPIC's Amicus Brief | Legal Documents | News Introduction At...

Italy Launches Internet Bill of Rights

The Italian Parliament has proposed a Declaration of Internet Rights. The Declaration addresses a wide range of issues including Internet Access, Protection of Personal Data, Anonymity, the Right to be Forgotten, and Internet Governance. Italy, currently chair of the European...

Japan Adopts "Right to Be Forgotten"

A Japanese court has ordered Google to delete about half of the search result for a man linked to a crime he didn't commit. Judge Nobuyuki Seki of the Tokyo District Court said that the search results "infringe personal rights,"...

NSA Releases "12333" Report, Fails to Address Bulk Collection

The NSA released a privacy report on its surveillance activities under 12333, an Executive Order that provides broad authority for data collection. But the report only addresses a narrow aspect of the EO 12333 collection - protections for U.S. persons...

At OECD Global Forum, EPIC Urges "Algorithmic Transparency"

Speaking to delegates at the OECD Global Forum for the Knowledge Economy in Tokyo, EPIC President Marc Rotenberg urged OECD member countries to endorse "algorithmic transparency," the principle that data processes that impact individuals be made public. Mr. Rotenberg explained...

Department of Homeland Security Releases 2014 Privacy Report

The Department of Homeland Security released the 2014 Privacy Office Annual Report to Congress. The report describes a joint review conducted with the European Commission regarding the transfer of EU Passenger Name Records to the US. The European Commission found...

EPIC v. CIA: EPIC Seeks Details of CIA Surveillance of Congress

EPIC has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Central Intelligence Agency for the Inspector General's report on the CIA's spying on a key Congressional oversight committee. The EPIC lawsuit follows from reports that that the CIA infiltrated...

California Enacts Comprehensive Student Privacy Law

California has passed the "Student Online Personal Information Protection Act," a comprehensive student privacy law. Among other provisions, the new law: (1) prohibits K-12 mobile and online service operators from using student information to target advertisements to students; (2) prohibits...

EPIC Urges FTC to Investigate Maricopa Data Breach

EPIC has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission concerning the loss of personal information of almost 2.5 m current and former students, employees, and vendors in Maricopa County. According to EPIC, the District's failure to maintain a comprehensive...

EPIC Files Comments on Financial Privacy

EPIC has filed extensive comments in response to a request from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. EPIC urged the Bureau to limit the information debt collectors gather on consumers. EPIC advised the Bureau to prohibit debt collectors from contacting employers...

FAA Okays Hollywood Drone Use, But Privacy Safeguards Remain Grounded

The Federal Aviation Administration granted six exemptions for the commercial use of drones to companies in the film and television industry this week. The agency found that the proposed operation do not “pose a threat to national airspace users or...

Apple Announces New Privacy Enhancing Techniques

The most recent product announcement from Apple, includes several privacy enhancing techniques that EPIC has favored, including randomized MAC addresses, end-to-end encryption, robust screen lock, and implementation of secure electronic payment systems. Still, EPIC has raised questions about Health Kit,...

EPIC FOIA - FBI Extends "Rap Back" Biometric Collection

EPIC has just received documents about the FBI's Rap Back program. The FBI now routinely collects biometric data for ongoing background checks on nongovernment employees. In response to EPIC's FOIA request, the FBI is currently reviewing thousands of pages about...

EPIC, Coalition Call for Transparency in Public Consumer Database

In comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, EPIC and other public interest organizations urged the Bureau to publish consumer complaint narratives. The Bureau currently publishes limited complaint information on financial products and services, including debt collection and credit reports....

EPIC, Coalition Urge UN Human Rights Council to Review U.S. Spy Programs

In a joint submission to the United Nations, the Brennan Center, EPIC, and other public interest organizations urged the Human Rights Council to review U.S. surveillance programs. The Council regularly performs a Universal Periodic Review of the human rights record...

FBI Says Biometric Database has Reached "Full Operational Capability"

The FBI announced that the Next Generation Identification system, one of the largest biometric databases in the world, has reached "full operational capability." In 2013, EPIC filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit about the NGI program. EPIC obtained documents...

EPIC Files FOIA Lawsuit For Reports on Electronic Voting Reliability

EPIC has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to obtain test reports about an online voting program promoted by the Department of Defense. The records sought relate to the functionality and security of electronic voting systems. The California Secretary...

EPIC, Legal Scholars, Technical Experts Urge Federal Appeals Court to Safeguard Telephone "Metadata"

EPIC has filed an amicus curiae brief, joined by 33 technical experts and legal scholars, in support of a challenge to the NSA telephone record collection program. The case Smith v. Obama will be heard by the Court of Appeals...

FTC To Explore "Big Data" and Discrimination

The Federal Trade Commission will host a workshop entitled "Big Data: A Tool for Inclusion or Exclusion?" The FTC will explore the effects of "big data" analytics on low-income and other underserved communities. Several members of the EPIC Advisory Board...

Pew Survey: Users Online Self-Censor Discussion of Government Surveillance

According to the Pew Research Report "Social Media and the 'Spiral of Silence,'" most users of social media are afraid to talk about government surveillance on Facebook, Twitter, and other social platforms. Users were more willing to share their views...

Education New York Urges Parents to Protect Student Privacy

Education New York, a leading student privacy rights organization, is urging students and parents to opt-out of the use of educational records for marketing purposes. The data typically includes name, address, telephone number, birth date, and other personal information in...

EPIC (Finally) Obtains Memos on Warrantless Wiretapping Program

More than eight years after filing a Freedom of Information Act request for the legal justification behind the "Warrantless Wiretapping" program of President Bush, EPIC has now obtained a mostly unredacted version of two key memos (OLC54) and (OLC85) by...

UPDATE-Army Backs Off Plan for DC Surveillance Blimp

According to the Washington Post, the Department of Army will not deploy video surveillance cameras over the nation's capital. The announcement follows the release of documents to EPIC in a Freedom Information Act lawsuit. The blimps provide radar-based aerial surveillance...

Federal Trade Commission Orders Google to Refund Parents $19 Million for Unauthorized Charges

The Federal Trade Commission has reached a settlement with Google over allegations that the company unfairly charged parents millions of dollars for their children's in-app purchases. The settlement mandates that Google provides full refunds for unauthorized purchases. The FTC agreement...