Public Safety

Why New Calls to Subvert Commercial Encryption Are Unjustified
Law enforcement argues that “warrant-proof” encryption presents a unique and urgent threat by preventing them from accessing user data. But history shows that government efforts to subvert encryption would negatively impact individuals and businesses. As such, banning the technology is not the answer.
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Public Safety
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November 16, 2021
Should Law Enforcement Use Facial Recognition to Identify Capitol Insurrectionists? Not According to EFF
EFF tries to deflect criticism of its position by arguing law enforcement has many other tools at its disposal—but that claim is a crafty bit of misdirection because EFF has opposed those tools too.
September 18, 2021
Virtue-Signaling Connecticut Town Might Accidentally Ban Its Local Officials From Using iPhones
Activists continue to lobby local governments for facial recognition technology bans, falsely arguing it is racist, sexist, and a threat to free speech. They dismiss or ignore all evidence showing how it keeps people safe, and some local officials have fallen for their arguments hook, line, and sinker.
October 2, 2020
No-Contact Government Means More Than Just Online Services
As the global pandemic stretches into the fall with no clear end in sight, public-sector agencies must wrestle with how
July 13, 2020
Why New Calls to Subvert Commercial Encryption Are Unjustified
Law enforcement argues that “warrant-proof” encryption presents a unique and urgent threat by preventing them from accessing user data. But history shows that government efforts to subvert encryption would negatively impact individuals and businesses. As such, banning the technology is not the answer.
May 18, 2020
Podcast: The COVID Privacy Challenge, With Amitai Etzioni
The COVID crisis has shifted the data privacy debate away from its prior focus on individual rights to one more focused on collective needs and responsibilities—for example, when it comes to sharing and analyzing medial data related to the pandemic, or tracking individuals’ contacts. Rob and Jackie discuss these issues with noted scholar and public intellectual Amitai Etzioni.
May 4, 2020
Amazon Sanctioned in France, A Reflection of Double Standards
Editor's Note: A version of this article was published by French media outlet
November 25, 2019
Facial-Recognition Technology: Closer to Utopia Than Dystopia
Rob Atkinson explains in the National Review that with the proper safeguards, facial-recognition technology can help law enforcement catch criminals.
October 21, 2019
In Attempt to Ban Facial Recognition Technology, Massachusetts Could Inadvertently Ban Facebook, iPhones, and More
The Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary will hold a hearing on October 22 to consider a bill that would enact a statewide of ban of government use of facial recognition technology. This is the latest overreaction to the fear, uncertainty, and doubt that activists have managed to harness into legislative action, and it risks far-reaching unintended consequences.
September 26, 2019
An Open Letter to Congress on Facial Recognition
A coalition of 39 organizations and individuals from prominent research institutions, trade associations, law enforcement groups, and technology companies advocates for appropriate safeguards so that law enforcement can use facial recognition technology safely, accurately, and effectively.
August 22, 2019
Comments to the FAA on its Proposed Rules for Supersonic Testing
ITIF has filed comments with the Federal Aviation Administration regarding its draft policy changes for testing of supersonic aircraft.

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