Press Releases

The American Civil Liberties Union has media staff available to handle inquiries from journalists on issues affecting civil liberties, including questions on legislative matters that touch on civil liberties and constitutional freedoms and inquiries related to ACLU lawsuits. Reporters with questions about ACLU work, please contact media@aclum.org.

Apr 27, 2022

Advocates support permanent remote access option for Boston public meetings

With virtual public meetings set to expire statewide on July 15, several advocacy organizations today announced support for a new Boston proposal to permanently establish virtual participation options for public meetings.
Issue Areas: Government Transparency
Apr 13, 2022

ACLU launches new “Know Your Sheriff” voter education campaign

Through community events and voter outreach, the new “Know Your Sheriff” campaign seeks to build public awareness of the life-changing decisions that sheriffs make, and how voters can move sheriffs to make communities safer and more just for all. 
Issue Areas: Criminal Law Reform
Apr 01, 2022

Massachusetts State Court Requires Police to Get a Warrant Before Securing “Tower Dumps”

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today ruled that police must get a warrant before securing “tower dumps” that provide location data about multiple people over multiple days—even if each individual “dump” covers just “small increments” of data.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Mar 24, 2022

Advocates applaud Massachusetts House’s hybrid hearing plans

Across the Commonwealth, remote access to public meetings has significantly increased public participation in state and local government.
Issue Areas: Government Transparency
Mar 22, 2022

Legislative commission recommends further reforms on face surveillance technology

After more than a year of study and deliberation, the Commission has concluded Massachusetts needs tighter regulation on face surveillance technology in order to protect Bay Staters’ civil liberties and community safety.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance, Police Accountability
Feb 28, 2022

ACLU, American Oversight Ask Judge to Order Further Searches in Lawsuit Related to Federal Prosecution of State Court Judge

The ACLU and American Oversight filed a brief in support of their lawsuit against ICE for the release of records concerning the prosecution of a Massachusetts state judge, including the emails and text messages of seven agency officials.
Issue Areas: Government Transparency
Jan 27, 2022

Massachusetts House passes the VOTES Act

Passage of the VOTES Act in the Massachusetts House represents important progress, and we are grateful that state lawmakers adopted reforms—from widespread mail-in voting to improved access for eligible incarcerated voters—that will address barriers to the ballot and expand the hard-won right...
Issue Areas: Voting Rights
Jan 20, 2022

Following Defeat of Federal Voting Bill in U.S. Senate, Election Modernization Coalition urges Massachusetts Legislature to pass VOTES Act

The Massachusetts Election Modernization Coalition is deeply disappointed that the U.S. Senate cannot find a way to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act to protect access to the ballot box across the country.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights
Jan 06, 2022

ACLU statement on Boston Police Department commissioner search

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu today announced a Boston Police commissioner search committee.
Issue Areas: Criminal Law Reform