Democracy & Free Speech

The right to privacy is deeply intertwined with civic engagement, the health of democratic institutions, and the fight for racial and social justice. Without the secret ballot, voters may face intimidation, reprisals, and the risk of tainted elections. Without census confidentiality measures, the public may be deterred from providing the candid answers needed for a fair and accurate enumeration. Without anonymity or associational privacy, protestors and donors may be chilled from registering their support for causes they believe in. Without the right to read or safeguards against online abuse, individuals cannot safely engage in the free exchange of information and ideas. And without focusing on the special threats that surveillance, data collection, and algorithmic discrimination pose to marginalized populations, we cannot ensure privacy or democratic participation for all.