San Francisco Police Accessed Business District Camera Network to Spy on Protesters
By Dave Maas and Matthew Guariglia The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) conducted mass surveillance of protesters at the end of May and in early…
Dave Maass
California Agency Blocks Release of Police Use of Force and Surveillance Training, Claiming Copyright
By Dave Maass and Naomi Gilens Under a California law that went into effect on January 1, 2020, all law enforcement training materials must be…
California Privacy Advocates Sue Vallejo Over Cell-Site Simulator
By Dave Maass Special thanks to legal intern Gillian Vernick, who was lead author of this post. The Vallejo Police Department was warned: by rushing…
Digital Security Advice for Journalists Covering the Protests Against Police Violence
By Naomi Gilens and Dave Maass This guide is an overview of digital security considerations specific to journalists covering protests. For EFF’s comprehensive guide to…
California Auditor Releases Damning Report About Law Enforcement’s Use of Automated License Plate Readers
By Dave Mass and Hayley Tsukayama California police and sheriffs are failing to protect the privacy of drivers on city streets, the California State Auditor’s…
Victory: San Diego to Suspend Face Recognition Program, Limits ICE Access To Criminal Justice Data
By Dave Maass We just stopped one of the largest, longest running, and most controversial face recognition programs operated by local law enforcement in the…
Victory: California Orders State Audit of Automated License Plate Readers
By Dave Maass A California legislative committee today voted to direct the State Auditor to launch a probe into the use of automated license plate…
Four Steps Facebook Should Take to Counter Police Sock Puppets
By Dave Maas Despite Facebook’s repeated warnings that law enforcement is required to use “authentic identities” on the social media platform, cops continue to create…
The Foilies: Recognizing The Worst in Government Transparency From 2018
By Dave Maass, Hayley Tsukayama, Camille Fischer, and Aaron Mackey The cause of government transparency finally broke through to the popular zeitgeist this year. It…
Investigative Scoops Worth Rereading: Year in Review 2018
By Dave Maass In an era where political and corporate leaders are attacking the free press as “the enemy of the people,” it’s crucial that…
Before and After: What We Learned About the “Hemisphere” Program After Suing the DEA
By Dave Maass As the year draws to a close, so has EFF’s long-running Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Drug Enforcement Agency about…
Alameda and Contra Costa County Sheriffs Flew Drones Over Protests
By Dave Maass and Mike Katz-Lacabe At the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in October, presenters from the Orlando Police Department issued a…
Sacramento County Welfare Division Terminates Automated License Plate Reader Program
By Dave Maass The Sacramento County’s Department of Human Assistance (DHA) is terminating its invasive automated license plate reader (ALPR) program, following an EFF investigation…
California Shopping Centers Are Spying for an ICE Contractor
By Dave Maas Update 10:45 a.m., July 11, 2018: The Irvine Company has disclosed the three shopping centers are Irvine Spectrum Center, Fashion Island, and…