CINXE.COM

Privacy | Electronic Frontier Foundation

<!DOCTYPE html> <!--[if IEMobile 7]><html class="no-js ie iem7" lang="en" dir="ltr"><![endif]--> <!--[if lte IE 6]><html class="no-js ie lt-ie9 lt-ie8 lt-ie7" lang="en" dir="ltr"><![endif]--> <!--[if (IE 7)&(!IEMobile)]><html class="no-js ie lt-ie9 lt-ie8" lang="en" dir="ltr"><![endif]--> <!--[if IE 8]><html class="no-js ie lt-ie9" lang="en" dir="ltr"><![endif]--> <!--[if (gte IE 9)|(gt IEMobile 7)]><html class="no-js ie" lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="fb: http://ogp.me/ns/fb# og: http://ogp.me/ns#"><![endif]--> <!--[if !IE]><!--><html class="no-js" lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="fb: http://ogp.me/ns/fb# og: http://ogp.me/ns#"><!--<![endif]--> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://www.eff.org/sites/all/themes/frontier/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <link rel="profile" href="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/vocab" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta http-equiv="cleartype" content="on" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://www.eff.org/sites/all/themes/phoenix/apple-touch-icon.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="https://www.eff.org/sites/all/themes/phoenix/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png" /> <meta name="description" content="New technologies are radically advancing our freedoms, but they are also enabling unparalleled invasions of privacy. National and international laws have yet to catch up with the evolving need for privacy that comes with new digital technologies. Respect for individuals&#039; autonomy, anonymous speech, and the right to free association must be balanced against legitimate concerns" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width" /> <link rel="image_src" href="https://www.eff.org/files/eff-og.png" /> <meta name="generator" content="Drupal 7 (http://drupal.org)" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.eff.org/issues/privacy" /> <meta name="rights" content="https://www.eff.org/copyright" /> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.eff.org/taxonomy/term/540" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Electronic Frontier Foundation" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.eff.org/issues/privacy" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Privacy" /> <meta property="og:description" content="New technologies are radically advancing our freedoms, but they are also enabling unparalleled invasions of privacy. National and international laws have yet to catch up with the evolving need for privacy that comes with new digital technologies. Respect for individuals&#039; autonomy, anonymous speech, and the right to free association must be balanced against legitimate concerns like law enforcement. EFF fights in the courts and Congress to maintain your privacy rights in the digital world, and works with partners around the globe to support the development of privacy-protecting technologies. Your cell phone helps you keep in touch with friends and family, but it also makes it easier for the government to track your location. Your Web searches about sensitive medical information might seem a secret between you and your search engine, but companies like Google are creating a treasure trove of personal information by logging your online activities, and making it potentially available to any party wielding enough cash or a subpoena. And the next time you try to board a plane, watch out—you might be turned away after being mistakenly placed on a government watch list, or be forced to open your email in the security line. Several governments have also chosen to use malware to engage in extra-legal spying or system sabotage for dissidents or non-citizens, all in the name of “national security.” As privacy needs evolve, so too should our regulatory regimes. National governments must put legal checks in place to prevent abuse of state powers, and international bodies need to consider how a changing technological environment shapes security agencies’ best practices. Above all, we need to respect the rights of autonomy, anonymity, association, and expression that privacy makes possible, while also taking into account legitimate law enforcement concerns. Read our work on privacy issues below, and join EFF to help support our efforts. For information about the law and technology of government surveillance in the United States check out EFF&#039;s Surveillance Self-Defense project." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.eff.org/files/issues/icon-2019-privacy.png" /> <meta property="og:image:url" content="https://www.eff.org/files/issues/icon-2019-privacy.png" /> <meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://www.eff.org/files/issues/icon-2019-privacy.png" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/png" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1200" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="600" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@eff" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Privacy" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="New technologies are radically advancing our freedoms, but they are also enabling unparalleled invasions of privacy. National and international laws have yet to catch up with the evolving need for" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.eff.org/files/issues/icon-2019-privacy.png" /> <meta name="twitter:image:width" content="1200" /> <meta name="twitter:image:height" content="600" /> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/eff" /> <meta itemprop="name" content="Privacy" /> <meta itemprop="description" content="New technologies are radically advancing our freedoms, but they are also enabling unparalleled invasions of privacy. National and international laws have yet to catch up with the evolving need for privacy that comes with new digital technologies. Respect for individuals&#039; autonomy, anonymous speech, and the right to free association must be balanced against legitimate concerns like law enforcement. EFF fights in the courts and Congress to maintain your privacy rights in the digital world, and works with partners around the globe to support the development of privacy-protecting technologies. Your cell phone helps you keep in touch with friends and family, but it also makes it easier for the government to track your location. Your Web searches about sensitive medical information might seem a secret between you and your search engine, but companies like Google are creating a treasure trove of personal information by logging your online activities, and making it potentially available to any party wielding enough cash or a subpoena. And the next time you try to board a plane, watch out—you might be turned away after being mistakenly placed on a government watch list, or be forced to open your email in the security line. Several governments have also chosen to use malware to engage in extra-legal spying or system sabotage for dissidents or non-citizens, all in the name of “national security.” As privacy needs evolve, so too should our regulatory regimes. National governments must put legal checks in place to prevent abuse of state powers, and international bodies need to consider how a changing technological environment shapes security agencies’ best practices. Above all, we need to respect the rights of autonomy, anonymity, association, and expression that privacy makes possible, while also taking into account legitimate law enforcement concerns. Read our work on privacy issues below, and join EFF to help support our efforts. For information about the law and technology of government surveillance in the United States check out EFF&#039;s Surveillance Self-Defense project." /> <link rel="publisher" href="https://www.eff.org/" /> <meta itemprop="image" content="https://www.eff.org/files/issues/icon-2019-privacy.png" /> <title>Privacy | Electronic Frontier Foundation</title> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.eff.org/files/css/css_nXM0KA3RGQrvjXQT0qh2VTGjBLSf1fLpbrXTBnsMfL8.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.eff.org/files/css/css_buHZ3mEyZNeqxP5RfQbVuhZthZr5OMkXqg3_KO6mRZQ.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.eff.org/files/css/css_XHR4l4eATZ3Z8G5dXumYjAu2Fu0j4By-TFNkuRO34U8.css" media="all" /> <script>/** * @licstart The following is the entire license notice for the JavaScript * code in this page. * * Copyright (C) 2025 Electronic Frontier Foundation. * * The JavaScript code in this page is free software: you can redistribute * it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License * (GNU GPL) as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 * of the License, or (at your option) any later version. The code is * distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU GPL * for more details. * * As additional permission under GNU GPL version 3 section 7, you may * distribute non-source (e.g., minimized or compacted) forms of that code * without the copy of the GNU GPL normally required by section 4, provided * you include this license notice and a URL through which recipients can * access the Corresponding Source. * * @licend The above is the entire license notice for the JavaScript code * in this page. */ </script> <script src="https://www.eff.org/files/js/js_qd8BaywA4mj4edyGLb52Px4-BwFqScI7dgPymNmaueA.js"></script> <script src="https://www.eff.org/files/js/js_kaYxN8bdnAzIBsc8pBhHJ3Y3TsZUi_aDI3qCYX-iKLY.js"></script> <script src="https://www.eff.org/files/js/js_aoyqGMMZgQZIP71HQUw7zecjGCeyEcqUU5RtU5-iyzw.js"></script> <script src="https://www.eff.org/files/js/js_y1uYH2PvtptWVLgOmUvUNuAIjnLuq1wIqWQzj9lg8AM.js"></script> <script src="https://www.eff.org/files/js/js_ni4sNn7z45mA975KRMtQ-qWQYA3MYgzJX62wtvwezeU.js"></script> <script>jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","setHasJsCookie":0,"ajaxPageState":{"theme":"phoenix","theme_token":"A5VqA9tsaOSIVPcp0qjfpAcsalU5QlyQBALnCTN5PRY","jquery_version":"1.12","jquery_version_token":"8x5SHd6lGiVj-qNt8Vp_S2rpH5azwuodxwplJWNZZEo","js":{"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/piwik_noscript\/piwik_noscript.js":1,"0":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/replace\/jquery\/1.12\/jquery.min.js":1,"misc\/jquery-extend-3.4.0.js":1,"misc\/jquery-html-prefilter-3.5.0-backport.js":1,"misc\/jquery.once.js":1,"misc\/drupal.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/omega\/omega\/js\/no-js.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/forcejs\/forcejs.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/js\/jquery_browser.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.core.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.widget.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/external\/jquery.cookie.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/replace\/jquery.form\/4\/jquery.form.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/libraries\/chosen\/chosen.jquery.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.button.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.position.min.js":1,"misc\/ui\/jquery.ui.position-1.13.0-backport.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/ui\/minified\/jquery.ui.menu.min.js":1,"misc\/form-single-submit.js":1,"misc\/ajax.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/js\/jquery_update.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/custom\/eff_whyb\/js\/whyb.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/custom\/kittens\/banner.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/custom\/mytube\/mytube.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/custom\/privacy_badger\/js\/badger.behaviors.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/caption_filter\/js\/caption-filter.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/lightbox2\/js\/lightbox.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/ctools\/js\/auto-submit.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/views\/js\/base.js":1,"misc\/progress.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/views\/js\/ajax_view.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/responsive_menus\/styles\/meanMenu\/jquery.meanmenu.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/responsive_menus\/styles\/meanMenu\/responsive_menus_mean_menu.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/chosen\/chosen.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/phoenix\/js\/tablesaw\/tablesaw-init.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/phoenix\/js\/tablesaw\/tablesaw.stackonly.jquery.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/phoenix\/js\/jquery-ui\/jquery.ui.selectmenu.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/phoenix\/js\/clipboard\/clipboard.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/phoenix\/js\/datatables\/datatables.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/phoenix\/js\/phoenix.behaviors.js":1},"css":{"sites\/all\/themes\/omega\/omega\/css\/modules\/system\/system.base.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/omega\/omega\/css\/modules\/system\/system.menus.theme.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/omega\/omega\/css\/modules\/system\/system.messages.theme.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/omega\/omega\/css\/modules\/system\/system.theme.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/calendar\/css\/calendar_multiday.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/date\/date_api\/date.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/date\/date_popup\/themes\/datepicker.1.7.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/date\/date_repeat_field\/date_repeat_field.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/omega\/omega\/css\/modules\/book\/book.theme.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/custom\/eff_library\/css\/media-browser.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/footnotes\/footnotes.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/custom\/mytube\/mytube.css":1,"modules\/node\/node.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/omega\/omega\/css\/modules\/field\/field.theme.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/video_filter\/video_filter.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/views\/css\/views.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/omega\/omega\/css\/modules\/search\/search.theme.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/omega\/omega\/css\/modules\/user\/user.base.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/omega\/omega\/css\/modules\/user\/user.theme.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/caption_filter\/caption-filter.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/media\/modules\/media_wysiwyg\/css\/media_wysiwyg.base.css":1,"sites\/all\/libraries\/chosen\/chosen.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/chosen\/css\/chosen-drupal.css":1,"misc\/ui\/jquery.ui.core.css":1,"misc\/ui\/jquery.ui.theme.css":1,"misc\/ui\/jquery.ui.button.css":1,"misc\/ui\/jquery.ui.menu.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/ctools\/css\/ctools.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/lexicon\/css\/lexicon.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/lightbox2\/css\/lightbox_alt.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/panels\/css\/panels.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/custom\/eff_library\/plugins\/layouts\/eff_lefthand_sidebar_stacked\/eff-lefthand-sidebar-stacked.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/node_embed\/plugins\/node_embed\/node_embed.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/responsive_menus\/styles\/meanMenu\/meanmenu.min.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/custom\/eff_library\/plugins\/layouts\/eff_site_layout\/eff-site-layout.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/omega\/omega\/css\/omega.development.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/phoenix\/css\/phoenix.reset.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/phoenix\/css\/phoenix.styles.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/phoenix\/js\/jquery-ui\/jquery.ui.selectmenu.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/phoenix\/js\/tablesaw\/tablesaw.stackonly.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/phoenix\/js\/datatables\/datatables.css":1}},"lightbox2":{"rtl":"0","file_path":"\/(\\w\\w\/)public:\/","default_image":"\/sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/lightbox2\/images\/brokenimage.jpg","border_size":10,"font_color":"000","box_color":"fff","top_position":"","overlay_opacity":"0.8","overlay_color":"000","disable_close_click":1,"resize_sequence":0,"resize_speed":10,"fade_in_speed":300,"slide_down_speed":10,"use_alt_layout":1,"disable_resize":0,"disable_zoom":1,"force_show_nav":0,"show_caption":1,"loop_items":1,"node_link_text":"","node_link_target":0,"image_count":"","video_count":"","page_count":"","lite_press_x_close":"press \u003Ca href=\u0022#\u0022 onclick=\u0022hideLightbox(); return FALSE;\u0022\u003E\u003Ckbd\u003Ex\u003C\/kbd\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to close","download_link_text":"","enable_login":false,"enable_contact":false,"keys_close":"c x 27","keys_previous":"p 37","keys_next":"n 39","keys_zoom":"z","keys_play_pause":"32","display_image_size":"original","image_node_sizes":"()","trigger_lightbox_classes":"","trigger_lightbox_group_classes":"","trigger_slideshow_classes":"","trigger_lightframe_classes":"","trigger_lightframe_group_classes":"","custom_class_handler":0,"custom_trigger_classes":"","disable_for_gallery_lists":true,"disable_for_acidfree_gallery_lists":true,"enable_acidfree_videos":true,"slideshow_interval":5000,"slideshow_automatic_start":true,"slideshow_automatic_exit":true,"show_play_pause":true,"pause_on_next_click":false,"pause_on_previous_click":true,"loop_slides":false,"iframe_width":600,"iframe_height":400,"iframe_border":1,"enable_video":0,"useragent":"Mozilla\/5.0 (Linux; Android 10; K) AppleWebKit\/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome\/133.0.0.0 Mobile Safari\/537.36"},"chosen":{"selector":".node-form select:visible","minimum_single":5,"minimum_multiple":5,"minimum_width":0,"options":{"allow_single_deselect":false,"disable_search":false,"disable_search_threshold":0,"search_contains":false,"placeholder_text_multiple":"Choose some options","placeholder_text_single":"Choose an option","no_results_text":"No results match","inherit_select_classes":true}},"urlIsAjaxTrusted":{"\/updates\/540":true,"\/views\/ajax":true,"\/search\/site":true},"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:a6a97258462b16e0e6d3c81f270338a9":{"view_name":"updates","view_display_id":"block_1","view_args":"540","view_path":"taxonomy\/term\/540","view_base_path":"updates","view_dom_id":"a6a97258462b16e0e6d3c81f270338a9","pager_element":0}}},"responsive_menus":[{"selectors":"#header-sls-menu","container":"body","trigger_txt":"\u003Cspan class=\u0022mean-burger\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022mean-burger\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022mean-burger\u0022 \/\u003E","close_txt":"X","close_size":"18px","position":"right","media_size":"480","show_children":"1","expand_children":"0","expand_txt":"+","contract_txt":"-","remove_attrs":"1","responsive_menus_style":"mean_menu"}],"piwikNoscript":{"image":"\u003Cimg style=\u0022position: absolute\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/anon-stats.eff.org\/js\/?idsite=1\u0026amp;rec=1\u0026amp;url=https%3A\/\/www.eff.org\/issues\/privacy\u0026amp;action_name=\u0026amp;urlref=\u0022 width=\u00220\u0022 height=\u00220\u0022 alt=\u0022\u0022 \/\u003E"}});</script> </head> <body class="html not-front not-logged-in page-taxonomy page-taxonomy-term page-taxonomy-term- page-taxonomy-term-540 page-issues-l1 i18n-en section-issues no-secondary-nav no-right-sidebar"> <a href="#main-content" class="element-invisible element-focusable">Skip to main content</a> <div id="mobile-nav" class="navigation"> <div> <div class="panel-pane pane-main-nav-menu"> <ul class="menu"><li class=""><a href="/about">About</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/about/contact">Contact</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/press/contact">Press</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/staff" title="Details and contact information for the EFF&#039;s staff">People</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/about/opportunities">Opportunities</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="active-trail"><a href="/work">Issues</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/issues/free-speech">Free Speech</a></li> <li class="leaf active-trail"><a href="/issues/privacy" class="active-trail active">Privacy</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/issues/innovation">Creativity and Innovation</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/issues/transparency">Transparency</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/issues/international">International</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/issues/security">Security</a></li> </ul></li> <li class=""><a href="/updates">Our Work</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/deeplinks">Deeplinks Blog</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/updates?type=press_release">Press Releases</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/updates?type=event">Events</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/pages/legal-cases" title="">Legal Cases</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/updates?type=whitepaper">Whitepapers</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/taxonomy/term/11579/" title="">Podcast</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/about/annual-reports-and-financials" title="">Annual Reports</a></li> </ul></li> <li class=""><a href="https://act.eff.org/">Take Action</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="https://act.eff.org/">Action Center</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/fight">Electronic Frontier Alliance</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/about/opportunities/volunteer">Volunteer</a></li> </ul></li> <li class=""><a href="/pages/tools">Tools</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/privacy-badger" title="">Privacy Badger</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/surveillance-self-defense" title="">Surveillance Self-Defense</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/certbot" title="">Certbot</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/atlas-surveillance" title="">Atlas of Surveillance</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/cover-your-tracks" title="">Cover Your Tracks</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://sls.eff.org/" title="">Street Level Surveillance</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="https://github.com/EFForg/apkeep" title="">apkeep</a></li> </ul></li> <li class=""><a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate/join-eff-today" title="Donate to EFF">Donate</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate/join-eff-today">Donate to EFF</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/givingsociety" title="">Giving Societies</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://shop.eff.org">Shop</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/thanks#organizational_members" title="">Org. Membership</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/helpout">Other Ways to Give</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/pages/membership-faq" title="Frequently Asked Questions and other information about EFF Memberships.">Membership FAQ</a></li> </ul></li> <li class=""><a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate/site-m--h" title="Donate to EFF">Donate</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate/site-m--h">Donate to EFF</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://shop.eff.org" title="">Shop</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/helpout">Other Ways to Give</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last leaf"><form class="search-block-form search-site" action="/search/site" method="post" id="search-block-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="container-inline"> <h2 class="element-invisible">Search form</h2> <div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-search-block-form"> <label class="element-invisible" for="edit-search-block-form--2">Search </label> <input autocomplete="off" type="text" id="edit-search-block-form--2" name="search_block_form" value="" maxlength="128" class="form-text" /> </div> <div class="form-actions form-wrapper" id="edit-actions"><button aria-label="search" type="submit" name="op"></button></div><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-FuOy_GLx-ot_RnfZZgyJW6witgjdISyM6c6-dKMBfCg" /> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_block_form" /> </div> </div></form></li> </ul> </div> </div> <hr/> <div id="mobile-signup"> Email updates on news, actions,<br/> and events in your area. </div> <div id="mobile-signup-button"> <a href="https://eff.org/signup">Join EFF Lists</a> </div> <div id="mobile-footer-bottom"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-footer-bottom"> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/copyright">Copyright (CC BY)</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/pages/trademark-and-brand-usage-policy" title="Trademark and Brand Usage Policy">Trademark</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/thanks">Thanks</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="masthead-mobile-wrapper"> <div id="masthead-mobile"> <div class="branding"> <div class="panel-pane pane-page-site-name"> <a href="/">Electronic Frontier Foundation</a> </div> </div> <div class="hamburger"></div> <div class="donate"> <a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate/site-m--m">Donate</a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="site_banner"> </div> <header id="header"> <div id="page"> <div id="masthead-wrapper"> <div id="masthead"> <div class="branding"> <div class="panel-pane pane-page-site-name"> <a href="/">Electronic Frontier Foundation</a> </div> </div> <div id="main-menu-nav" class="navigation"> <div> <div class="panel-pane pane-main-nav-menu"> <ul class="menu"><li class=""><a href="/about">About</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/about/contact">Contact</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/press/contact">Press</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/staff" title="Details and contact information for the EFF&#039;s staff">People</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/about/opportunities">Opportunities</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="active-trail"><a href="/work">Issues</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/issues/free-speech">Free Speech</a></li> <li class="leaf active-trail"><a href="/issues/privacy" class="active-trail active">Privacy</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/issues/innovation">Creativity and Innovation</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/issues/transparency">Transparency</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/issues/international">International</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/issues/security">Security</a></li> </ul></li> <li class=""><a href="/updates">Our Work</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/deeplinks">Deeplinks Blog</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/updates?type=press_release">Press Releases</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/updates?type=event">Events</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/pages/legal-cases" title="">Legal Cases</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/updates?type=whitepaper">Whitepapers</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/taxonomy/term/11579/" title="">Podcast</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/about/annual-reports-and-financials" title="">Annual Reports</a></li> </ul></li> <li class=""><a href="https://act.eff.org/">Take Action</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="https://act.eff.org/">Action Center</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/fight">Electronic Frontier Alliance</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/about/opportunities/volunteer">Volunteer</a></li> </ul></li> <li class=""><a href="/pages/tools">Tools</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/privacy-badger" title="">Privacy Badger</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/surveillance-self-defense" title="">Surveillance Self-Defense</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/certbot" title="">Certbot</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/atlas-surveillance" title="">Atlas of Surveillance</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/cover-your-tracks" title="">Cover Your Tracks</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://sls.eff.org/" title="">Street Level Surveillance</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="https://github.com/EFForg/apkeep" title="">apkeep</a></li> </ul></li> <li class=""><a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate/join-eff-today" title="Donate to EFF">Donate</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate/join-eff-today">Donate to EFF</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/givingsociety" title="">Giving Societies</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://shop.eff.org">Shop</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/thanks#organizational_members" title="">Org. Membership</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/helpout">Other Ways to Give</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/pages/membership-faq" title="Frequently Asked Questions and other information about EFF Memberships.">Membership FAQ</a></li> </ul></li> <li class=""><a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate/site-m--h" title="Donate to EFF">Donate</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate/site-m--h">Donate to EFF</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://shop.eff.org" title="">Shop</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/helpout">Other Ways to Give</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last leaf"><form class="search-block-form search-site" action="/search/site" method="post" id="search-block-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="container-inline"> <h2 class="element-invisible">Search form</h2> <div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-search-block-form"> <label class="element-invisible" for="edit-search-block-form--2">Search </label> <input autocomplete="off" type="text" id="edit-search-block-form--2" name="search_block_form" value="" maxlength="128" class="form-text" /> </div> <div class="form-actions form-wrapper" id="edit-actions"><button aria-label="search" type="submit" name="op"></button></div><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-FuOy_GLx-ot_RnfZZgyJW6witgjdISyM6c6-dKMBfCg" /> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_block_form" /> </div> </div></form></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="search-box"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <noscript> <div class="primary-nav-nojs"> </div> </noscript> <!-- See if there's anything above the banner --> <div class="above-banner"> <div class="panel-pane pane-page-title"> <h1></h1> </div> </div> <!-- See if there's anything in the banner --> <div class="banner-wrapper"> <div class="panel-pane pane-banner column"> <div class="banner"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/issues/icon-2019-privacy.png" alt="Privacy issue banner, a colorful graphical representation of a padlock" /><h1>Privacy</h1> </div> </div> </div> <div id="main-content"> <div id="breadcrumb"> </div> <div class="main-column"> <div class="panel-pane pane-page-title"> <h1></h1> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-page-content"> <div id="panel-lefthand-sidebar"> <!-- See if there's anything in the banner --> <div class="content-wrapper"> <div class="lefthand-sidebar-columns-inner"> <div class="lefthand-sidebar-main-column-inner"> <div class="panel-pane pane-term-description"> <p>New technologies are radically advancing our freedoms, but they are also enabling unparalleled invasions of privacy. National and international laws have yet to catch up with the evolving need for privacy that comes with new digital technologies. Respect for individuals' autonomy, anonymous speech, and the right to free association must be balanced against legitimate concerns like law enforcement. EFF fights in the courts and Congress to maintain your privacy rights in the digital world, and works with partners around the globe to support the development of privacy-protecting technologies.</p> <p>Your cell phone helps you keep in touch with friends and family, but it also makes it easier for the government to track your location.</p> <p>Your Web searches about sensitive medical information might seem a secret between you and your search engine, but companies like Google are creating a treasure trove of personal information by logging your online activities, and making it potentially available to any party wielding enough cash or a subpoena.</p> <p>And the next time you try to board a plane, watch out—you might be turned away after being mistakenly placed on a government watch list, or be forced to open your email in the security line.</p> <p>Several governments have also chosen to use malware to engage in extra-legal spying or system sabotage for dissidents or non-citizens, all in the name of “national security.”</p> <p>As privacy needs evolve, so too should our regulatory regimes. National governments must put legal checks in place to prevent abuse of state powers, and international bodies need to consider how a changing technological environment shapes security agencies’ best practices. Above all, we need to respect the rights of autonomy, anonymity, association, and expression that privacy makes possible, while also taking into account legitimate law enforcement concerns.</p> <p>Read our work on privacy issues below, and join EFF to help support our efforts.</p> <p><b>For information about the law and technology of government surveillance in the United States check out EFF's <a href="http://ssd.eff.org/">Surveillance Self-Defense</a> project.</b></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="onecol column"> <div class="panel-pane pane-term-list"> <h2 class="pane-title">Privacy Topics</h2> <ul><li><a href="/issues/biometrics">Biometrics</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/know-your-rights">Know Your Rights</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/international-privacy-standards">International Privacy Standards</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/mandatory-data-retention">Mandatory Data Retention</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/anonymity">Anonymity</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/ai">Artificial Intelligence &amp; Machine Learning</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/border-searches">Border Searches</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/calea">CALEA</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/cell-tracking">Cell Tracking</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/community-control-police-surveillance-ccops">Community Control of Police Surveillance (CCOPS)</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/covid-19">COVID-19 and Digital Rights</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/cyber-security-legislation">Cyber Security Legislation</a></li> <li><a href="/702-spying">Decoding 702: What is Section 702?</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/digital-books">Digital Books</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/do-not-track">Do Not Track</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/do-not-track-archived">Do Not Track (Archived)</a></li> <li><a href="/fight">Electronic Frontier Alliance</a></li> <li><a href="/encrypt-the-web">Encrypting the Web</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/end-end-encryption">End-to-End Encryption</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/xr">Extended Reality (XR)</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/face-surveillance">Face Surveillance</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/location-privacy">Locational Privacy</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/medical-privacy">Medical Privacy</a></li> <li><a href="/mobile-devices">Mobile devices</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/national-security-letters">National Security Letters</a></li> <li><a href="/nsa-spying">NSA Spying</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/nsl">NSL</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/online-behavioral-tracking">Online Behavioral Tracking</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/open-wireless">Open Wireless</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/patriot-act">PATRIOT Act</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/pen-trap">Pen Trap</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/physical-trackers">Physical Trackers</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/printers">Printer Tracking</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/real-id">Real ID</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/reproductive-rights">Reproductive Justice</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/rfid">RFID</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/search-engines">Search Engines</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/search-incident-arrest">Search Incident to Arrest</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/social-networks">Social Networks</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/street-level-surveillance">Street-Level Surveillance</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/student-privacy">Student Privacy</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/surveillance-drones">Surveillance Drones</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/travel-screening">Travel Screening</a></li> <li><a href="/issues/mass-surveillance-technologies">Surveillance Technologies</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-eff-issue-highlights"> <h2 class="pane-title">Privacy Highlights</h2> <div><article role="article" class="node node--whitepaper node--highlight node--whitepaper--highlight"> <header> <div class="field field--name-field-banner-graphic field--type-image field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Banner Graphic:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="/wp/digital-privacy-us-border-2017"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/highlight/public/banner_library/border-search-1_4.png?itok=_MsdWZ6e" width="380" height="190" alt="" /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="node-content-type-byline whitepaper"><a href="/updates?type=whitepaper">Whitepaper</a> </div> <h3 class="node__title"><a href="/wp/digital-privacy-us-border-2017" rel="bookmark">Digital Privacy at the U.S. Border: Protecting the Data On Your Devices </a></h3> </header> <div class="node__content"> <div class="eff-translation-links"><ul class="links"><li class="ar first"><a href="/wp/digital-privacy-us-border-2017?language=ar" class="language-link" xml:lang="ar">العربية</a></li> <li class="es last"><a href="/wp/digital-privacy-us-border-2017?language=es" class="language-link" xml:lang="es">Español</a></li> </ul></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">by Sophia Cope, Amul Kalia, Seth Schoen, and Adam SchwartzDownload the report <a href="https://www.eff.org/files/2018/01/11/digital-privacy-border-12-2017.pdf">as a PDF</a>.EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe U.S. government reported a five-fold increase in the number of electronic media searches at the border in a single year, from 4,764 in 2015 to 23,877 in 2016.<a class="see-footnote" id="footnoteref1_chjiy4k" title=" Gillian Flaccus,&lt;/body&gt;&lt;/html&gt;">...</a></div></div></div> </div> </article> <article role="article" class="node node--link node--highlight node--link--highlight"> <header> <div class="field field--name-field-banner-graphic field--type-image field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Banner Graphic:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/digital-rights-bytes"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/highlight/public/2024/10/31/og-digitalrightsbytes.png?itok=znIFZf_S" width="380" height="190" alt="Penguin and cat sitting at the Digitial Rights Bytes diner bar being served by a dog" /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="node-content-type-byline link"><span>Resource</span> </div> <h3 class="node__title"><a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/digital-rights-bytes" rel="bookmark">Digital Rights Bytes</a></h3> </header> <div class="node__content"> <div class="eff-translation-links"></div><div class="field field--name-field-link-description field--type-text-long field--label-above"><div class="field__label">Description:&nbsp;</div><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">Get honest answers to the questions that have been bugging you about technology.</div></div></div> </div> </article> <article role="article" class="node node--issues node--highlight node--issues--highlight"> <header> <div class="teaser-thumbnail" style="background: #265969"><a href="/nsa-spying"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/highlight/public/banner_library/og-nsa-1.png?itok=F6Q9lpZ3" width="380" height="190" alt="" /></a></div><div class="node-content-type-byline issues"><a href="/issues">Issues</a> </div> <h3 class="node__title"><a href="/nsa-spying" rel="bookmark">NSA Spying</a></h3> </header> <div class="node__content"> <div class="eff-translation-links"></div><div class="field field--name-field-issue-term field--type-entityreference field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><div class="taxonomy-term--issues taxonomy-term--term-teaser taxonomy-term--issues--term-teaser"> <div class="taxonomy-term__content"> <div class="field field--name-description-field field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">The US government, with assistance from major telecommunications carriers including AT&amp;T, has engaged in massive, illegal dragnet surveillance of the domestic communications and communications records of millions of ordinary Americans since at least 2001. Since this was first reported on by the press and discovered by the public in late...</div></div></div> </div> </div> </div></div></div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-views pane-updates"> <h2 class="pane-title">Privacy Updates</h2> <div class="view view-updates view-id-updates view-display-id-block_1 teaser-feed view-dom-id-a6a97258462b16e0e6d3c81f270338a9"> <div class="view-filters"> <form class="ctools-auto-submit-full-form views-exposed-form-updates-block-1" action="/updates/540" method="get" id="views-exposed-form-updates-block-1" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="views-exposed-form"> <div class="views-exposed-widgets clearfix"> <div id="edit-type-wrapper" class="views-exposed-widget views-widget-filter-type"> <label for="edit-type"> Filter by type: </label> <div class="views-widget"> <div class="form-item form-type-select form-item-type"> <select id="edit-type" name="type" class="form-select"><option value="All" selected="selected">All</option><option value="blog">Deeplinks Blog</option><option value="case">Legal Case</option><option value="podcast">Podcast</option><option value="press_release">Press Release</option><option value="whitepaper">Whitepaper</option></select> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-exposed-widget views-submit-button"> <input class="ctools-use-ajax ctools-auto-submit-click js-hide form-submit" type="submit" id="edit-submit-updates" value="Apply" /> </div> </div> </div> </div></form> </div> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <article role="article" class="node node--blog node--promoted node-teaser node--teaser node--blog--teaser"> <header> <div class="field field--name-field-banner-graphic field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="/deeplinks/2025/02/when-platforms-and-government-unite-remember-whats-private-and-what-isnt"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/social-media-surveillance-1b_0.jpg?itok=kl46Um9-" width="500" height="250" alt="Security camera screens display logos for Facebook, YouTube, SnapChat, Twitter, and Reddit " /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="node-content-type-byline blog"><a href="/updates?type=blog">Deeplinks Blog</a> <span class="node-author"> by <a href="/about/staff/thorin-klosowski-0">Thorin Klosowski</a>, <a href="/about/staff/dr-matthew-guariglia-0">Matthew Guariglia</a></span> <span class="node-date"> | February 12, 2025</span> </div> <h3 class="node__title"><a href="/deeplinks/2025/02/when-platforms-and-government-unite-remember-whats-private-and-what-isnt" rel="bookmark">When Platforms and the Government Unite, Remember What’s Private and What Isn’t </a></h3> </header> <div class="node__content"> <div class="eff-translation-links"></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>For years now, there has been some concern about the coziness between technology companies and the government. Whether a company complies with casual <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/04/google-fights-dragnet-warrant-users-search-histories-overseas-while-continuing">government requests for data, requires a warrant, or even fights overly-broad warrants</a> has been a canary in the digital coal mine during an era where companies...</p></div></div></div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <article role="article" class="node node--press-release node--promoted node-teaser node--teaser node--press-release--teaser"> <header> <div class="field field--name-field-banner-graphic field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="/press/releases/eff-sues-opm-doge-and-musk-endangering-privacy-millions"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/opm-eye-3b.jpg?itok=XV2XMPMc" width="500" height="250" alt="An eye with the OPM logo in the iris, green digital background" /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="node-content-type-byline press_release"><a href="/updates?type=press_release">Press Release</a> <span class="node-date"> | February 11, 2025</span> </div> <h3 class="node__title"><a href="/press/releases/eff-sues-opm-doge-and-musk-endangering-privacy-millions" rel="bookmark">EFF Sues OPM, DOGE and Musk for Endangering the Privacy of Millions</a></h3> </header> <div class="node__content"> <div class="eff-translation-links"></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>NEW YORK—EFF and a coalition of privacy defenders led by Lex Lumina filed <a href="https://www.eff.org/document/afge-v-opm-complaint" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a lawsuit</a> today asking a federal court to stop the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from disclosing millions of Americans’ private, sensitive information to Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency”...</p></div></div></div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"> <article role="article" class="node node--case node-teaser node--teaser node--case--teaser"> <header> <div class="field field--name-field-banner-graphic field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="/cases/american-federation-government-employees-v-us-office-personnel-management"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/opm-eye-3b.jpg?itok=XV2XMPMc" width="500" height="250" alt="An eye with the OPM logo in the iris, green digital background" /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="node-content-type-byline case"><a href="/cases">Legal Case</a> </div> <h3 class="node__title"><a href="/cases/american-federation-government-employees-v-us-office-personnel-management" rel="bookmark">American Federation of Government Employees v. U.S. Office of Personnel Management</a></h3> </header> <div class="node__content"> <div class="eff-translation-links"></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) maintains databases of highly sensitive personal information about tens of millions of federal employees, retirees, and job applicants. Starting in January 2025, OPM disclosed data to the U.S. DOGE Service, led by Elon Musk. This disclosure violates the federal Privacy Act of 1974,...</p></div></div></div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even"> <article role="article" class="node node--blog node--promoted node-teaser node--teaser node--blog--teaser"> <header> <div class="field field--name-field-banner-graphic field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="/deeplinks/2025/02/eff-sues-doge-and-office-personnel-management-halt-ransacking-federal-data"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/opm-eye-3b.jpg?itok=XV2XMPMc" width="500" height="250" alt="OPM logo inside of giant eyeball" /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="node-content-type-byline blog"><a href="/updates?type=blog">Deeplinks Blog</a> <span class="node-author"> by <a href="/about/staff/jason-kelley">Jason Kelley</a></span> <span class="node-date"> | February 11, 2025</span> </div> <h3 class="node__title"><a href="/deeplinks/2025/02/eff-sues-doge-and-office-personnel-management-halt-ransacking-federal-data" rel="bookmark">EFF Sues DOGE and the Office of Personnel Management to Halt Ransacking of Federal Data</a></h3> </header> <div class="node__content"> <div class="eff-translation-links"></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even">EFF and a coalition of privacy defenders have filed a lawsuit today asking a federal court to block Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing the private information of millions of Americans that is stored by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and to delete any data that...</div></div></div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd views-row-last"> <article role="article" class="node node--blog node--promoted node-teaser node--teaser node--blog--teaser"> <header> <div class="field field--name-field-banner-graphic field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><div class="teaser-thumbnail"><a href="/deeplinks/2025/02/privacy-loves-company"><img src="https://www.eff.org/files/styles/teaser/public/banner_library/communityprivacy-kittens.jpg?itok=ezklJ-8d" width="500" height="250" alt="A child and two women cultivate a community garden of wifi poppies." /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="node-content-type-byline blog"><a href="/updates?type=blog">Deeplinks Blog</a> <span class="node-author"> by <a href="/about/staff/paige-collings">Paige Collings</a></span> <span class="node-date"> | February 11, 2025</span> </div> <h3 class="node__title"><a href="/deeplinks/2025/02/privacy-loves-company" rel="bookmark">Privacy Loves Company</a></h3> </header> <div class="node__content"> <div class="eff-translation-links"></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>Most of the internet’s blessings—the opportunities for communities to connect despite physical borders and oppressive controls, the avenues to hold the powerful accountable without immediate censorship, the sharing of our hopes and frustrations with loved ones and strangers alike—tend to come at a price. Governments, corporations, and bad actors too...</p></div></div></div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <h2 class="element-invisible">Pages</h2><ul class="pager"><li class="pager__item pager__item--current">1</li> <li class="pager__item"><a title="Go to page 2" href="/issues/privacy?page=1">2</a></li> <li class="pager__item"><a title="Go to page 3" href="/issues/privacy?page=2">3</a></li> <li class="pager__item"><a title="Go to page 4" href="/issues/privacy?page=3">4</a></li> <li class="pager__item"><a title="Go to page 5" href="/issues/privacy?page=4">5</a></li> <li class="pager__item"><a title="Go to page 6" href="/issues/privacy?page=5">6</a></li> <li class="pager__item"><a title="Go to page 7" href="/issues/privacy?page=6">7</a></li> <li class="pager__item"><a title="Go to page 8" href="/issues/privacy?page=7">8</a></li> <li class="pager__item"><a title="Go to page 9" href="/issues/privacy?page=8">9</a></li> <li class="pager__item pager__item--ellipsis">…</li> <li class="pager__item pager__item--next"><a title="Go to next page" href="/issues/privacy?page=1">next ›</a></li> <li class="pager__item pager__item--last"><a title="Go to last page" href="/issues/privacy?page=858">last »</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clear-block"></div> </div> <p class="faq-toc"><a href="#main-content">Back to top</a></p> </div> <div id="footer"> <div class="panel-pane pane-footer-logo"> <a href="https://www.eff.org"><img src="https://www.eff.org/sites/all/modules/custom/eff_library/images/eff-logo-1color-blue.svg" alt="EFF Home" /></a> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-menu-tree pane-menu-footer-social-links"> <h2 class="pane-title">Follow EFF:</h2> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-ctools-menu-footer-social-links-1 menu-name-menu-footer-social-links parent-mlid-0 menu-level-1"> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-13408"><a href="https://twitter.com/eff" title="EFF on X">x</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-13409"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/eff" title="EFF on facebook">facebook</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-13410"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/efforg/" title="EFF on Instagram">instagram</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-13411"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/efforg" title="EFF on YouTube">youtube</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-13412"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/electronicfrontierfoundation">flicker</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-16445"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/EFF" title="">linkedin</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-16459"><a href="https://mastodon.social/@eff" title="" rel="me">mastodon</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-16460"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@efforg" title="">tiktok</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-16475"><a href="https://www.threads.net/@efforg" title="">threads</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-custom pane-1"> <p>Check out our 4-star rating on <a href="https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/043091431" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Charity Navigator</a>.</p> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-contact-footer-menu"> <h2 class="pane-title">Contact</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/about/contact">General</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/pages/legal-assistance">Legal</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/security">Security</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/contact">Membership</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/press/contact">Press</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-about-footer-menu"> <h2 class="pane-title">About</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/event" title="">Calendar</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/opportunities/volunteer" title="">Volunteer</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/victories" title="">Victories</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/history" title="">History</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/opportunities/interns" title="">Internships</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs?clientkey=28620672D234BF368306CEB4A2746667" title="">Jobs</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/staff" title="">Staff</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/pages/effs-diversity-statement" title="">Diversity &amp; Inclusion</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-footer-menu-issues"> <h2 class="pane-title">Issues</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/issues/free-speech">Free Speech</a></li> <li class="leaf active-trail"><a href="/issues/privacy" class="active-trail active">Privacy</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/issues/innovation">Creativity &amp; Innovation</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/issues/transparency">Transparency</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/issues/international">International</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/issues/security">Security</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-footer-updates-menu"> <h2 class="pane-title">Updates</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/updates?type=blog">Blog</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/updates?type=press_release">Press Releases</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/updates?type=event">Events</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/cases" title="">Legal Cases</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/updates?type=whitepaper">Whitepapers</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="https://www.eff.org/effector" title="">EFFector Newsletter</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-footer-press-menu"> <h2 class="pane-title">Press</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="first last leaf"><a href="/press/contact">Press Contact</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-footer-donate-menu"> <h2 class="pane-title">Donate</h2> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate/donate-df" title="">Join or Renew Membership Online</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://supporters.eff.org/donate/donate-df" title="">One-Time Donation Online</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/givingsociety" title="">Giving Societies</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://shop.eff.org">Shop</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/helpout">Other Ways to Give</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="footer-bottom"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-footer-bottom"> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/copyright">Copyright (CC BY)</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/pages/trademark-and-brand-usage-policy" title="Trademark and Brand Usage Policy">Trademark</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/thanks">Thanks</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <a href="/librejs/jslicense" rel="jslicense" style="display: none">JavaScript license information</a><div id="piwik-noscript"></div><noscript><img style="position: absolute" src="https://anon-stats.eff.org/js/?idsite=1&amp;rec=1&amp;url=https%3A//www.eff.org/issues/privacy&amp;action_name=Privacy%20%7C%20Electronic%20Frontier%20Foundation" width="0" height="0" alt="" /></noscript> <script src="https://www.eff.org/files/js/js_lMrfy51aI91p2ZAdgpEs4r3pZi-E809QDyWJpbMpnTw.js"></script> </body> </html>

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10