News & Commentary

In 2017, Congress and the Trump administration rolled back protections on consumer privacy, allowing internet service providers (ISPs) to comb through our data constantly, and then sell it to the highest bidders. Here are just a few ways that can hurt you.

In June 2018, the Supreme Court decided in a groundbreaking ruling that law enforcement must obtain warrants before demanding cell phone companies hand over information showing where we’ve been in the past and when. 

A federal court will be scrutinizing one of the National Security Agency’s worst spying programs on Monday. The case has the potential to restore crucial privacy protections for the millions of Americans who use the internet to communicate with family, friends, and others overseas.

The Transportation Security Administration is engaging in covert surveillance of innocent fliers — and raising a host of disturbing questions in the process.

Customs and Border Protection is making news again for its aggressive immigration enforcement — this time, questioning Canadian fishing vessels in disputed international waters. According to a CBP spokesperson, the agency has questioned 21 Canadian vessels since October 2017, plus an unknown number of American vessels (mostly Maine fishermen) in the same area. Although CBP claims that these operations fall within its immigration enforcement authority, nobody should be surprised to learn that targeting these fishing boats has yielded no immigration arrests. 

In the wake of Facebook data privacy scandal, Maine legislators now have an opportunity to protect Mainers’ private information from profit-seeking whims of powerful telecommunications giants and internet service providers (ISPs) who may want to exploit that information without consumers’ consent.

Each week we will provide you with a rundown of top news stories and must-read articles.

Here we are, months into the resistance and I know that at times it can feel too tricky to stay on top of the latest outrage.  I’m writing this blog post right now to bring your attention to an urgent privacy issue in Maine that we can’t let slip under the radar.

The Maine Law Court heard oral arguments this week in a case pertaining to the health effects of Central Maine Power’s “smart” electric meters. These meters also happen to be detailed information-gathering devices.