News & Commentary

May 20, 2026

After Appeals Court Denies Child Advocate’s Emergency Motion to Prevent the Release of Medical Records of Minors Receiving Care at RI Hospital, Safeguards Remain in Place to Protect the Data

"While we are disappointed in this result, this decision is not the end of our fight to protect Rhode Island children’s medical privacy."

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May 19, 2026

Emergency Motion Filed to Prevent the Release of Private Medical Records of Minors Receiving Medical Care at RI Hospital

Rhode Island’s Child Advocate filed an emergency motion this morning in the federal appeals court

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May 17, 2026

Why Social Media Bans for Kids are a Bad Idea

Not only are these bills bad for students’ ability to find community online, but they also unnecessarily undermine the privacy and speech of all users, regardless of age.

Neon green background with photos of a RI 2026 legislative session bill and a child holding a smartphone.
May 13, 2026

Judge Upholds Children’s Privacy Rights, Quashes Department of Justice Subpoena of R.I. Hospital Records

“DOJ’s request for intimate medical details from one of this country’s most vulnerable populations constitutes a drastic overreach of its investigative authority.”

Light blue background with white and pink images of a doctor and a trans pride flag.
May 04, 2026

Child Advocate Seeks to Block Federal Government Subpoena for Private Medical Records of Minors

Subpoena called an “unprecedented intrusion” into private medical information of children

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Apr 17, 2026

Judge blocks Trump Administration's Attempt to Access Rhode Islanders' Data

“There is no reason the Department of Justice needs this extremely sensitive data other than for questionable, potentially unlawful, and almost certainly privacy-invasive purposes.”

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Mar 30, 2026

Companies are using data about where we go and what we do online to infer our health care decisions. Here’s why you should take action. 

Nobody should be afraid of seeking essential health care because they’re afraid of being tracked or surveilled.

Bright pink graphic with a dark pink and light blue image of a person texting on a smart phone, and a white and dark blue image of the Rhode Island State House.
Feb 05, 2026

ACLU of RI Urges Brown University to Reject Camera Sharing with Providence’s Real Time Crime Center

The ACLU of RI sent letters to colleges and universities with campuses in Providence that have been approached by the police department to share camera feed access after the shooting at Brown in December.

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Feb 03, 2026

ACLU Brief in Major Voting Rights Case Calls Department of Justice Arguments “an Affront to the Rule of Law”

ACLU blasted the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) position that it is entitled to Rhode Island’s entire non-public voter file

Light purple and dark blue graphic with a photo of people in voting booths with USA flags on the outside, and a photo of a RI voter registration form.