News

SACRAMENTO — Today, the California Senate Appropriations Committee refused to advance SB 561, a bill that would allow Californians to hold tech companies accountable for privacy violations. SB 561 is authored by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, at the request of Attorney General Becerra, and supported by consumer and privacy advocates. “The legislature just put Big Tech before Californians by killi... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the Stop Secret Surveillance Ordinance, a historic law that brings accountability and oversight to surveillance technology and makes San Francisco the first city in the United States to prohibit government use of face surveillance systems.  The law was authored by Supervisor Aaron Peskin. In response to today’s vote, the coali... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the San Francisco Rules Committee unanimously voted to advance the Stop Secret Surveillance ordinance, a bill that requires that there be public notice, clear use policies, and a vote by the Board of Supervisors before a city department can acquire surveillance technology. The ordinance also prevents city departments from using face surveillance technology. The ordinance ... Read More

Download the Spring 2019 ACLU of Northern California Newsletter and read about our latest events and initiatives. Read More

SACRAMENTO — Today, the California Senate Public Safety Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 230 with substantial amendments, including an amendment requiring that SB 230’s passage be contingent on the passage of AB 392: The California Act to Save Lives. AB 392 was introduced by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) to change California’s use of force standard from the “reasonable” standard... Read More

SACRAMENTO — Today, the California Assembly Privacy Committee will hear only consumer privacy bills promoted by tech companies to weaken the California Consumer Privacy Act. This comes after AB 1760, a bill to strengthen privacy protections authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and sponsored by civil rights organizations and digital privacy advocates was pulled when committee members would not to... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration's attempt to suspend the California law SB 54 that limits local and state law enforcement from acting as deportation agents. The ACLU of California, which supported the law — also known as the California Values Act — applauds the court's decision. Please attribute the following quote to Maria Romani, I... Read More

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, the state’s top law enforcement official, is refusing to follow the law that he has been sworn to uphold. It has been a week now since a court of appeal in Contra Costa County ruled that law enforcement agencies must release records prior to January 1 under California’s police transparency law. The judges found the legal challenge by police unions to be ... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO – On Friday, civil rights groups prevailed in their lawsuit against Secretary of State Alex Padilla to expand voter registration at agencies in the state that serve people on public assistance and individuals with disabilities. San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Ethan P. Schulman ruled (see ruling) Padilla must require voter registration at additional agencies and contractors ... Read More

Today, 25 top A.I. researchers called on Amazon to stop selling facial recognition technology to law enforcement. In response, Matt Cagle, Technology and Civil Liberties Attorney at the ACLU of Northern California, released the following statement: This call by top A.I. experts adds a new and uniquely authoritative voice to the chorus of consumers, shareholders, policymakers, and civil right... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO – Today the ACLU Foundation of Northern California (ACLU-NC) filed a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on behalf of Andreas Gal who, on November 29, 2018, was subjected to interrogation and retaliation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for questioning the unwarranted search of his electronic devices. T... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, a judge authorized the release of all records of San Francisco police officers involved in shootings, killings and other serious misconduct, as legally required under SB 1421.  The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU-NC) had gone to court to thwart the San Francisco Police Officer’s Association’s efforts to defy the historic transparency bill by re... Read More