Privacy

New technologies are radically advancing our freedoms, but they are also enabling unparalleled invasions of privacy.

Your cell phone helps you keep in touch with friends and families, but it also makes it easier for the feds to track your location.

Your Web searches about sensitive medical information might seem secret, known only to you and search engines like Google. But by logging your online activities, these companies are creating a honeypot of personal information, potentially available to any party wielding a subpoena.

And the next time you try to board a plane, watch outâ€”you might be turned away after being mistakenly placed on a government watch list based on erroneous data.

Technology isn't the real problem, though; rather, the law has yet to catch up to our evolving expectations of and need for privacy. In fact, new government initiatives and laws have severely undermined our rights in recent years.

Privacy rights are enshrined in our Constitution for a reason â€” a thriving democracy requires respect for individuals' autonomy as well as anonymous speech and association. These rights must be balanced against legitimate concerns like law enforcement, but checks must be put in place to prevent abuse of government powers.

EFF fights in the courts and Congress to extend your privacy rights into the digital world, and supports the development of privacy-protecting technologies. Donate to EFF to help support our efforts.

Privacy Cases

NSA Multi-District Litigation: Documents Relating to All Cases and Dismissed Cases

Doe v. Mukasey (Doe v. Gonzalez, Doe v. Ashcroft)

Internet Archive et al v Mukasey et al

In December 2007, the Internet Archive, along with its counsel the ACLU and EFF, filed a lawsuit challenging a national security letter issued to the Archive.

» All Privacy Cases

In The News

KANSAS CITY INFOZINE | January 26, 2008 EFF to Urge Reform of State Secrets Privilege at Congressional Hearing MEDIA MATTERS FOR AMERICA | January 31, 2008 Candidates still not asked about wiretaps, FISA, or telecom immunity in debates PC WORLD | January 18, 2008 Could Traffic Filtering Get AT&T Into Trouble? THE REGISTER | January 16, 2008 Showdown over encryption password in child porn case BETANEWS | January 15, 2008 EFF argues placing files in 'Shared Folder' isn't sharing ARS TECHNICA | January 13, 2008 EFF tries to quash labels' "making available" claims WIRED NEWS | January 11, 2008 DRM Is Dead, But Watermarks Rise From Its Ashes NEWS.COM.AU | January 11, 2008 MySpace mum could be charged

» All Privacy News Articles

Other Resources

Total Information Awareness (TIA) NSA Spying & Warrantless Wiretapping: EFF's Case Against AT&T June 20, 2008 Tell The Senate to Vote Against Immunity May 07, 2008 Don't Let the Justice Department Harvest DNA from Innocents May 01, 2008 Protect Digital Privacy at the Border and Beyond April 15, 2008 Repeal the REAL ID Act Privacy Software: Tor

Related Issues

Pen Trap

Real ID

Threatening Your Privacy Through an Unfunded Government Mandate

Cell Tracking

Can the government track your cell phone's location without probable cause?

CALEA

Travel Screening

Before you get on an airplane, the government wants to sift through the personal details of your life. If the data analysis says you're a security risk, too bad -- you may have no way of challenging the error.

Search Engines

Learn about search engine privacy issues.

RFID

Radio Frequency Identification

NSA Spying

Cases brought against corporations complicit in the NSA's warrantless surveillance of millions of Americans' private domestic communications.