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.

Dec 14, 2021

Worcester passes municipal ban on face surveillance technology

The Worcester City Council today voted to pass an ordinance that bans municipal government agencies from acquiring or using face recognition technology. Worcester is the eighth municipality in Massachusetts to ban government use of face surveillance, joining Boston, Brookline, Cambridge...
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Nov 30, 2021

Statement of ACLU of Massachusetts on vaccine verification technology

The ACLU is monitoring how Massachusetts and other states roll out these vaccine verification systems to ensure that civil liberties and civil rights are protected.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Nov 23, 2021

ACLU, Rights Groups Testify in Favor of Face Surveillance Regulations

The ACLU of Massachusetts, together with privacy experts, racial justice advocates, and community activists, testified today in favor of legislation that would introduce stronger regulations on the government’s use of dangerous, often racially biased face recognition technology.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Nov 02, 2021

Statement of ACLU of Massachusetts on Facebook plans to shut down its face recognition software

Facebook today announced it will shut down its face recognition system and delete the faceprints of more than 1 billion people. In recent years, Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM have also heeded ACLU and other activists’ calls, pausing or stopping the sale of their face recognition products to law enforce
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Oct 20, 2021

Boston passes law requiring community control of police surveillance

The City of Boston voted to pass an ordinance that will require community control over police surveillance (CCOPS). Boston now joins over 20 other municipalities nationwide—including Cambridge, Lawrence, and Somerville in Massachusetts—with CCOPS laws that empower local communities.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Oct 13, 2021

ACLU supports new Massachusetts bill to advance online privacy and equity

The ACLU of Massachusetts today testified before state lawmakers in support of the Massachusetts Information Privacy Act (MIPA), landmark legislation that would provide residents with the most robust digital privacy and equity protections in the nation.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Sep 13, 2021

Students call for ban on face surveillance in Massachusetts schools

Students shouldn’t have to worry that their every move is being monitored or that their photos could end up in a police or immigration database simply because they came to class. Massachusetts lawmakers must protect students, teachers, and families from face surveillance technology.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Jul 01, 2021

Limited face recognition regulations take effect today

Our movement to stop face recognition has been successful so far because policymakers and residents alike understand this technology is dangerous when it works, and when it doesn’t. But we have more to do to guarantee our basic freedoms thrive in the 21st century.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance
Jun 15, 2021

ACLU comment on Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act

In Massachusetts and nationwide, people should be able to seek medical treatment, attend religious services, and visit friends and family without worrying that government agencies are keeping tabs on their every movement.
Issue Areas: Privacy and Surveillance