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.

May 22, 2023

U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Challenge to Warrantless Pole Camera Surveillance

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Moore v. United States, leaving in place a patchwork of lower court decisions on an important and recurring question about privacy rights.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Apr 07, 2023

Medford passes law requiring community control of public surveillance

We applaud the Medford City Council for passing an ordinance that will empower residents and their elected officials to decide if and how surveillance technologies are used here.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Dec 13, 2022

ACLU files public records lawsuit against MA agencies for withholding documents related to automatic license plate reader technology

Automatic license plate reader technology impacts several civil liberties. The public has a right to know how this technology is used in our state and local communities.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Nov 18, 2022

ACLU Urges U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Warrantless Pole Camera Surveillance

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Massachusetts, along with the law firms of Elkins, Auer, Rudof & Schiff and Thompson & Thompson PC, today filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court urging the court to decide whether long-term police use of a surveillance camera targeted at...
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Oct 31, 2022

Boston implements new surveillance oversight ordinance

A City of Boston working group established by the 2021 surveillance technology oversight ordinance today released recommendations to increase transparency, accountability, and engagement regarding the City’s use of technology that can implicate personal privacy. 
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Sep 12, 2022

ACLU of Massachusetts launches new podcast on technology and the future of civil liberties

In the face of unprecedented threats to our democracy, "Freedom Unfinished" explores how each of us can protect civil rights and civil liberties in the digital era.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Jul 21, 2022

Massachusetts House of Representatives advances face surveillance reforms

The Massachusetts House of Representatives today accepted recommendations from the Special Commission to Evaluate Government Use of Facial Recognition Technology in the Commonwealth, voting with strong bipartisan support to pass a set of reforms to strengthen existing law. Amendment #14 to H.5046...
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
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 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