Oct 13, 2011

These days, most people carry a cell phone with them everywhere they go: to work, to church, on vacation, and more. And cell phone carriers may capture and retain records of your location even when you're not using your phone. Does that mean that the government can simply demand these records from your carrier without a warrant? Unfortunately, according to Judge Royce Lamberth of the D.C. District Court, the answer to that question is ';yes.'

For Immediate Release: Oct 03, 2011
Media Contact: press@aclunc.org, (415) 621-2493
California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed the Reader Privacy Act of 2011, updating reader privacy law to ensure that readers—whether they buy books at traditional bookstores or read e-books online or on electronic devices—will have protection for their privacy. The bill will become law on January 1, 2012. "California will have the strongest laws in the country protecting reader privacy in the digital era. That's good for consumers and supports innovation. Legal protections must keep up with technological advances," said Valerie Small Navarro, Legislative Advocate with the ACLU of California, which supported the Reader Privacy Act.
Sep 23, 2011

BART's shutdown of wireless service last month in response to a planned protest—and the ensuing public backlash—underscored just how essential wireless access has become to our daily lives. Nearly 50 million of us carry smartphones, and we do so because we want to access the full range of ideas and information available on the Internet not just at home or the office but also when we're out and about. And we have the constitutional right to do so when the government sets up a communications service: the First Amendment applies online just like it does offline.

For Immediate Release: Sep 13, 2011
Media Contact: press@aclunc.org, (415) 621-2493
ACLU of Northern CA

Reforming Criminal Justice: 12 Recommendations to Make CA's Realignment Law Work

County officials across the state are scrambling to get their AB 109 implementation plans drafted in the coming weeks, as the new realignment law goes into effect on October 1.

What steps can counties take to enhance public safety, save money and allocate limited jail space?

For Immediate Release: Sep 08, 2011
Media Contact: press@aclunc.org, (415) 621-2493
ACLU of Northern CA

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request regarding immigration enforcement audits of California workplaces by the federal government was filed today by The ACLU of California (ACLU), the Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers International Union, The Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers International Union Local 164B, the Service Employees International Union United Service Workers West ("USWW"), and the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Sep 07, 2011
Taking photographs and video of things that are plainly visible in public spaces is a constitutional right — and that includes the outside of federal buildings, as well as transportation facilities, and police and other government officials carrying out their duties.
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