Privacy & Technology

We continue to work diligently to protect our right to privacy, limit government intrusion into our lives, and increase the control we have over our personal information.

Light and dark purple graphic of surveillance cameras.

“The right to be left alone,” U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis noted more than 100 years ago, is a basic human right. Unfortunately, digital technology makes it easier for governments and corporations to learn the minutiae of our private lives, and this information gives them tremendous power over us. Today, the ACLU of RI continues to work diligently to protect our right to privacy, limit government intrusion into our lives, and increase the control we have over our personal information.

Campaign
Sep 2026
Yellow background with gradient of blue Flock cameras.

Flock Safety ALPR Cameras 101: Surveillance in Rhode Island

Flock Safety brand automated license plate reader cameras are capable of much more than just reading license plates. Learn more about their...

The Latest

Know Your Rights
Know Your Rights: Workplace Privacy

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Workplace Privacy in RI

News & Commentary
Pink background with image of Newport transparency portal and a Flock Safety camera.

Claims of Surveillance Camera Transparency by Police and Flock Safety are Less than Meets the Eye, ACLU of RI Says

“Flock Safety is intentionally preventing concerned citizens and watchdog organizations from seeing how their company and offerings change and how police department transparency portals evolve over time.”
Resource
Blue voting bubble graphic with "2026 RI Midterm Candidate Survey Civil Liberties Edition" on a cream colored background. ACLU of RI logo in lower right corner.

RI Midterm Primary Candidate Questions: Civil Liberties Edition

We sent a survey of civil liberties questions to all the candidates running for statewide office (except for Treasurer) that will be on the ballot in the 2026 Rhode Island midterm elections, as well as the Providence mayoral candidates.
News & Commentary
yellow and blue image with photo of Flock Safety camera and solar panel.

ACLU of RI Statement on Governor's Pause on ALPR Camera Installations

"In light of the many abuses of the Flock Safety ALPR system that have already been documented across the country, it cannot be overstated that safeguards need to be as protective as possible in order to meaningfully safeguard the privacy of Rhode Islanders."

Cases, Campaigns & Legislation

Court Case
Jun 17, 2026

Child Advocate for the State of Rhode Island, et al. v. United States

Attorneys for the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island (LCRI) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island (ACLU) filed an emergency motion to quash a subpoena issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking the sensitive private medical records of minor patients who have received medical treatment for gender dysphoria at Rhode Island Hospital. Case name: In the Matter of Administrative Subpoena 25-1431-032 Civil action number: 4:26-MC-00006-O This page was previously titled Administrative Subpoena – Private Medical Records of Minors
Court Case
Jun 29, 2026

United States of America v. Gregg M. Amore

Alongside the National ACLU, we intervened in a lawsuit to prevent the Department of Justice from obtaining sensitive, non-public information contained in the Rhode Island state voter file on behalf of Common Cause.
Court Case
Oct 23, 2024

ACLU of Rhode Island v. Salisbury Jr.

Court Case
Dec 4, 2023

LeBlanc v. City of Pawtucket

A federal lawsuit against Pawtucket city officials on behalf of five firefighters whose personal lockers at the fire station were searched by police without their knowledge or consent.