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Technology & Civil Liberties

The Technology and Civil Liberties Program at the ACLU of Northern California fights for social justice in the digital age. We work to ensure that technology serves the people instead of the interests of the powerful and privileged. Find out more about our work to build a just digital age, stop high-tech government surveillance, strengthen privacy and corporate accountability, and protect and promote digital rights.

Our movements for civil rights and social justice are as critical today as ever – but now that we live in a digital world and rely on technology to communicate, connect, mobilize, and access basic necessities – we must fight on new terrain.

We lead cutting-edge intersectional advocacy in our courts, our communities, and with companies and legislatures, working with partners across movements to build a world where technology enriches our lives, connects us with opportunities, and supports a just and equitable society.

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Making Artificial Intelligence Work for the People
People deserve to have control over their lives and futures. And increasingly, that means having a say in how AI will be used to shape the world around us. To that end, we've created resources for policymakers, companies, and people who want to ensure AI is used the right way.
 Read our resources
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Seeing Through Surveillance: Why Policymakers Should Look Past the Hype

With AI looming and rights under attack, surveillance is becoming more powerful, and more dangerous. This report gives policymakers the resources they need to see through the surveillance hype in order to pursue real public safety.
Read the report
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Local, State, and National Advocacy Organizations Write to Congress – Strongly Oppose APRA’s Approach to Preemption
Over 50 local, state, and national advocacy organizations wrote to Congress to raise strong opposition to the potentially broad preemption in the federal privacy bill. A federal privacy bill should be a floor, not a ceiling — and should never wipe out important local and state privacy laws.
 See the letter
GenAI Use

Comment on Governor Newsom's Executive Order on GenAI
There must be a robust process guided by impacted people about the whether to use AI, and why, before jumping to the how.
 Read on
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Once Again, California Refused to Endorse Face Surveillance. Now It’s Time to Ban It.
For the third time in five years, California rejected a bill that would have greenlit government use of facial recognition across the state.
Check out our blog
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Privacy and Free Speech: It's Good for Business
Our primer gives companies a step-by-step guide on how to protect their users' rights — and their brand's reputation. With concrete recommendations and dozens of case studies, we explain why companies can and must weave privacy and free speech into their business model.
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California Constitutional Right to Privacy
Article I, Section 1 of the California Constitution guarantees an “inalienable” right to privacy that applies both to government and private entities. For the last five decades, it has helped to safeguard our homes, our families, our bodies, our thoughts, and our associations from invasion by government and corporate interests.
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