How Privacy Law Can Promote Racial Justice

How Privacy Law Can Promote Racial Justice

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Associate Ali Jessani authored the article “How Privacy Law Can Promote Racial Justice” in the Spring 2021 edition of the D.C. Bar Communities Newsletter. Mr. Jessani—who counsels clients on cybersecurity and privacy issues—probes how Big Data and surveillance technology have been used to target racial justice activists, and how privacy law can protect activists’ rights. 
 
Excerpt: As we reflect on the past year of activism following the murder of George Floyd, one of the stories that has received undeserved attention is the surveillance tactics law enforcement engaged in to monitor and target protestors. At least one report found that police used aerial surveillance, social media monitoring, and other digital surveillance tactics to quell protestors and organizers. This revelation came on top of an investigative report released earlier in 2020 regarding law enforcement’s prevalent use of facial recognition—a controversial technology that has known racial biases. These examples show that, despite constitutional protections, the lack of regulations surrounding government surveillance has a disproportionate impact on people of color and those looking to use social movements to spark change.
 
Read the full article in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion section of the newsletter.

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